"Let us go home quickly, for I have a problem to solve."-Edmondo De Amicis. NOTES 1. The above extract is taken from Edmondo De Amicis' "Cuore." 2. Via Dora Grossa,1 an Italian street. 3. Look up the meanings of the following words and expressions: escorts, canted, belabor, lunging, sorry plight, tranquil, scrutinized. EXERCISES 1. To what extent do you think Stardi was justified in telling on Franti? 2. What punishment was given to Franti? 3. What revenge did Franti seek? 4. What is shown of Franti in the manner in which he attempted to start the fight? 5. What did Franti think Stardi would do? 6. Explain "Stardi never paused to reflect." 7. What is shown of Stardi in that he was willing to attack so large a boy? 8. What is shown of Stardi in the words "he roared"? 9. How did the onlookers regard this fight? 10. What did Franti finally attempt to do? 11. Explain, "Franti took to his heels in a sorry plight." 12. Why did the bystanders commend Stardi? 13. Explain, "thinking more of his satchel than of his victory." 14. What had Stardi's last words shown? 15. Do you think it was right for Stardi to fight under such circumstances? ADDITIONAL READINGS BROWNING: Count Gismond. Incident of a French Camp. HUGHES: Tom Brown at Rugby. THE BIBLE: David and Goliath. HUNT: The Glove and the Lions. MRS. HEMANS: Bernardo del Carpio. SCOTT: The Combat, in The Lady of the Lake. 1 Pronounced vē'ä dō'rä grōs'ä. TENNYSON: Charge of the Light Brigade. J. G. ADAMS: The Soldier. ALDRICH: Story of a Bad Boy. SMILES: Character. DE AMICIS: The Sardinian Drummer Boy. ARNOLD: Sohrab and Rustum. A SIMPLE RECIPE1 To be a wholly worthy man, This simple recipe. Be honest both in word and act Be strictly truthful through and through. Fact cannot fail. You stick to fact, And fact will stick to you. Be clean, outside and in, and sweep Both hearth and heart, and hold them bright. Wear snowy linen -aye, and keep Your conscience snowy white. Do right, your utmost, good must come Your very hopes will help you some, And work will do the rest. James Whitcomb Riley. 1 From His Pa's Romance. Copyright 1903. Used by special per mission of the publishers, The Bobbs-Merrill Company. THE ANGELS' SONG EVERY heart dances with delight at the ex pectation of Christmas festivities. Every one looks forward to the glad season when hearts are full of joy — when every one feels like doing something for another. We read with new pleasure the story of the shepherds, and of the angel song above the Judean hills. We seem to hear the sacred voice of the angel of the Lord saying, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. In fancy we see "a multitude of the heavenly host" and hear the angel voices praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Santa Claus, Christmas trees, public dinners for the poor, and the giving of good gifts - these are our ways of showing the spirit of peace and good will. In this beautiful Christmas message, the poet expresses the faith that, in spite of present woe, and sin, and confusion and strife, the people of earth shall one day catch the true spirit of the Holy Child of Christmas and chant back to heaven in the chorus of world-wide peace "the song the angels sing." THE ANGELS' SONG It came upon the midnight clear, From angels bending near the earth Still through the cloven skies they come, Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on heavenly wing, Yet with the woes of sin and strife |