Discussion. 1. Where is the scene of this story laid? 2. What is the time? 3. Into what three parts does the story naturally divide? 4. Describe the hero of the story. 5. Where were the idle men of the village in the habit of meeting? 6. How were these meetings frequently broken up? 7. Where did Rip Van Winkle go to escape from his home? 8. Describe in your own words what he saw from his resting place high up in the mountain. 9. What was the time of day? 10. How does the mention of the shadows and solitude prepare you for what is to follow? 11. What does Wolf's behavior when Rip's name is called lead you to expect? 12. Why were you surprised at the appearance of the person who called to Rip? 13. Why did the author picture the players in old Dutch dress? What trick did the stranger play on Rip? 14. Describe Rip's awakening. 15. What difficulties did he meet in trying to return home by the way he had ascended the mountain? 16. What strange sights did he see when he entered the village? 17. How was the sign on the inn changed? 18. What does this tell you? 19. What questions did the "tavern politicians" ask Rip? 20. How did Rip make himself known to the villagers? 21. What legend corroborated Rip's story of the strange men on the mountain? 22. How is the interest of the story increased by the particular period which the author chose for Rip's sleep? 23. How much do the appearance and character of Rip's daughter add to the pleasure given by the story? 24. What do you think of the description of Rip's son? Why is this description given? 25. Make a list of passages that are particularly humorous. 26. In addition to amusing you with its humor, this selection has given you glimpses into early life in New York. Mention some features of this early life that interested you. 27. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: descried; obsequious; patrimonial; alacrity; amphitheater; visage; impenetrable; connubial; austere; corroborated; evinced. 28. Pronounce: termagant; insuperable; patriarch; vehemently; august; alternative; unfrequented; gesture; disputatious; phlegm; refugee; draught.

domestic tribulations, 365, 11

with impunity, 365, 26

Tartar's lance, 365, 31

Phrases for Study

gallows air, 367, 17

reciprocated the sentiment, 369, 1 Babylonish jargon, 375, 16

Class Reading. Make a list of descriptions to be read aloud in class. Outline for Testing Silent Reading. Make an outline to guide you in telling the story.

Library Reading. Other stories from The Sketch Book.

EVANGELINE: A TALE OF ACADIE

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

PRELUDE

This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,

Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the

twilight,

Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic;

Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms. 5 Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring ocean Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail of the forest.

This is the forest primeval; but where are the hearts that beneath it

Leaped like the roe when he hears in the woodland the voice of the huntsman?

Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of Acadian farmers

10 Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands, Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an image of

heaven?

Waste are those pleasant farms, and the farmers forever departed!

Scattered like dust and leaves when the mighty blasts of October

Seize them, and whirl them aloft, and sprinkle them far o'er the

ocean.

15 Naught but tradition remains of the beautiful village of Grand

Pré.

Ye who believe in affection that hopes, and endures, and is

patient,

Ye who believe in the beauty and strength of woman's devotion, List to the mournful tradition still sung by the pines of the

forest;

List to a Tale of Love in Acadie, home of the happy.

PART THE FIRST

I

5 In the Acadian land, on the shores of the Basin of Minas, Distant, secluded, still, the little village of Grand-Pré

Lay in the fruitful valley. Vast meadows stretched to the east

ward,

Giving the village its name, and pasture to flocks without

number.

Dikes, that the hands of the farmers had raised with labor in

cessant,

10 Shut out the turbulent tides; but at stated seasons the flood

gates

Opened and welcomed the sea to wander at will o'er the

meadows.

West and south there were fields of flax, and orchards and corn

fields

Spreading afar and unfenced o'er the plain; and away to the northward

Blomidon rose, and the forest old; and aloft on the mountains 15 Sea-fogs pitched their tents; and mists from the mighty Atlantic. Looked on the happy valley, but ne'er from their station descended.

There, in the midst of its farms, reposed the Acadian village. Strongly built were the houses, with frames of oak and of chest

nut,

Such as the peasants of Normandy built in the reign of the

Henries.

Thatched were the roofs, with dormer-windows; and gables pro

jecting

Over the basement below protected and shaded the doorway. There in the tranquil evenings of summer, when brightly the sunset

Lighted the village street and gilded the vanes on the chimneys, Matrons and maidens sat in snow-white caps and in kirtles Scarlet and blue and green, with distaffs spinning the golden Flax for the gossiping looms, whose noisy shuttles within doors Mingled their sound with the whir of the wheels and the songs of the maidens.

10 Solemnly down the street came the parish priest; and the children

Paused in their play to kiss the hand he extended to bless them. Reverend walked he among them; and up rose matrons and

maidens,

Hailing his slow approach with words of affectionate welcome. Then came the laborers home from the field, and serenely the

sun sank

15 Down to his rest, and twilight prevailed. Anon from the belfry Softly the Angelus sounded; and over the roofs of the village Columns of pale blue smoke, like clouds of incense ascending, Rose from a hundred hearths, the homes of peace and content

ment.

Thus dwelt together in love these simple Acadian farmers20 Dwelt in the love of God and of man. Alike were they free from Fear, that reigns with the tyrant, and envy, the vice of re

publics.

Neither locks had they to their doors, nor bars to their windows; But their dwellings were open as day and the hearts of the

owners;

There the richest was poor, and the poorest lived in abundance.

Somewhat apart from the village, and nearer the Basin of
Minas,

Benedict Bellefontaine, the wealthiest farmer of Grand-Pré, Dwelt on his goodly acres; and with him, directing his household,

Gentle Evangeline lived, his child, and the pride of the village. 5 Stalwart and stately in form was the man of seventy winters; Hearty and hale was he, an oak that is covered with snowflakes; White as the snow were his locks, and his cheeks as brown as the oak-leaves.

Fair was she to behold, that maiden of seventeen summers;
Black were her eyes as the berry that grows on the thorn by the

wayside;

10 Black, yet how softly they gleamed beneath the brown shade of her tresses!

Sweet was her breath as the breath of kine that feed in the

meadows.

When in the harvest heat she bore to the reapers at noontide Flagons of home-brewed ale, ah! fair in sooth was the maiden. Fairer was she when, on Sunday morn, while the bell from its. turret

15 Sprinkled with holy sounds the air, as the priest with his hyssop Sprinkles the congregation, and scatters blessings upon them, Down the long street she passed, with her chaplet of beads and her missal,

Wearing her Norman cap and her kirtle of blue, and the earrings Brought in the olden time from France, and since, as an heir

loom

20 Handed down from mother to child, through long generations. But a celestial brightness-a more ethereal beauty

Shone on her face and encircled her form when, after confession, Homeward serenely she walked with God's benediction upon her. When she had passed, it seemed like the ceasing of exquisite music.