Sanders' Union Fourth Reader Part 68

LESSON XCV.

MYS TE' RI OUS, secret; mystical.

UN RECK' ED, unheeded.

AR' GO SIES, s.h.i.+ps of great burden.

WR ATH' FUL, furious; raging.

PAL' A CES, splendid mansions.

SCORN' FUL, disdainful.

DE CAY', ruin; destruction.

BOOM' ING, roaring.

FES' TAL, joyous; merry.

RE CLAIM', claim again; recover.

THE TREASURES OF THE DEEP.

MRS. HERMANS.

1. What hid'st thou in thy treasure-caves and cells?

Thou hollow-sounding and mysterious main!

Pale, glistening pearls, and rainbow-colored sh.e.l.ls, Bright things which gleam unrecked of, and in vain!

Keep, keep thy riches, melancholy sea!

We ask not such from thee.

2. Yet more, the depths have more! what wealth untold, Far down, and s.h.i.+ning through their stillness lies!

Thou hast the starry gems, the burning gold, Won from ten thousand royal argosies!

Sweep o'er thy spoils, thou wild and wrathful main!

Earth claims not _these_ again.

3. Yet more, the depths have more! thy waves have rolled Above the cities of a world gone by!

Sand hath filled up the palaces of old, Sea-weed o'ergrown the halls of revelry.

Dash o'er them, Ocean! in thy scornful play!

Man yields them to decay.

4. Yet more, the billows and the depths have more!

High hearts and brave are gathered to thy breast!

They hear not now the booming waters roar; The battle-thunders will not break their rest.

Keep thy red gold and gems, thou stormy grave!

Give back the true and brave!

5. Give back the lost and lovely,--those for whom The place was kept at board and hearth so long, The prayer went up through midnight's breathless gloom, And the vain yearning woke 'midst festal song!

Hold fast thy buried isles, thy towers o'erthrown; But all is not thine own.

6. To thee the love of woman hath gone down; Dark flow thy tides o'er manhood's n.o.ble head, O'er youth's bright locks, and beauty's flowery crown, Yet must thou hear a voice,--_Restore the dead!_ Earth shall reclaim her precious things from thee!

_Restore the dead, thou Sea!_

QUESTIONS.--1. What are some of the treasures of the deep? 2. What treasures has the sea won from trading vessels? 3. Over what does the sea roll? 4. What does the writer call on the sea to restore?

LESSON XCVI.

UN FOR' TU NATE, wretched person.

CER E MENTS, grave-clothes.

SCRU' TI NY, inquiry.

MU' TI NY, resistance to rightful rule.

WON' DER MENT, curiosity.

PROV' I DENCE, care; protection.

A MAZE' MENT, astonishment.

DIS' SO LUTE, abandoned; licentious.

SPUR' RED, pushed on; impelled.

CON' TU ME LY, scorn; insult.

IN HU MAN' I TY, cruel treatment.

IN SAN' I TY, madness.

THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS.

THOMAS HOOD.

1. One more Unfortunate, Weary of breath, Rashly importunate, Gone to her death!

2. Take her up tenderly, Lift her with care, Fas.h.i.+oned so slenderly, Young, and so fair!

3. Look at her garments Clinging like cerements; While the wave constantly Drips from her clothing; Take her up instantly, Loving, not loathing.

4. Touch her not scornfully; Think of her mournfully, Gently and humanly; Not of the stains of her; All that remains of her Now, is pure womanly.

5. Make no deep scrutiny Into her mutiny, Rash and undutiful; Past all dishonor, Death has left on her Only the beautiful.

6. Loop up her tresses Escaped from the comb,-- Her fair auburn tresses; While wonderment guesses Where was her home?

7. Who was her father'?

Who was her mother'?

Had she a sister'?

Had she a brother'?

Or, was there a dearer one Still, and a nearer one Yet, than all other'?

8. Alas! for the rarity Of Christian charity Under the sun!

Oh! it was pitiful!

Near a whole city full, Home she had none.

9. Sisterly, brotherly, Fatherly, motherly, Feelings had changed: Love, by harsh evidence, Thrown from its eminence; Even G.o.d's providence Seeming estranged.

10. Where the lamps quiver So far in the river, With many a light From window and cas.e.m.e.nt, From garret to bas.e.m.e.nt, She stood with amazement, Houseless by night.

11. The bleak winds of March Made her tremble and s.h.i.+ver But not the dark arch, Or the black flowing river, Mad from life's history, Glad to death's mystery, Swift to be hurled-- Anywhere, anywhere, Out of the world!