13. What does he say of the grape-vines?

14. What effect had the sinuous course of the stream on the view? 15. By what living creatures was the slumbrous quiet enlivened ? 16. Describe the landing, and the cooking of their rude meal. 17. What effect had their mirth and their cooking upon the solemnity of the forest?

18. What is said of the conversation ?

19. What was the chief profit of those wild days?

20. What whispers did they continue to hear after they had returned to their homes and the thronged pavements of the city?

21. Note the allusions and exquisite passages in this selection.

REMARKS. One can scarcely imagine anything more beautiful than the nature-picture which Hawthorne here gives us. But without the allusions, the reflections and peculiar suggestions, which frame and ornament the picture, making it glow with living freshness, it would be comparatively tame. This selection is characteristic of the style which gives such a charm to all the writings of this gifted author. To those who are susceptible to such charms, no remarks are necessary, and to those who have not acquired this susceptibility it can only be recommended that, aided by the poet's interpretation, they become more intimate with nature, learning thus to hear the suggestions which she has for us all.

TO A MOUSE.

ROBERT BURNS.

1. In what tender words does the poet address the mouse, and assure it of his kind intentions?

2. How does the poet excuse what we call the thievish habits of

the little creature?

3. In what touching words does he bewail the destruction of the

4.

mouse's dwelling?

How does he describe the mouse's comfortable expectations, and the calamity that so suddenly destroyed them?

5. How does he express sympathy for the unfortunate little thing?

6. How does the mouse's experience find a parallel in that of men?

7. How does he compare the creature's condition with that of his own?

NOTE." Pattle" means a plowstaff; "whyles," sometimes; "maun, must; "a daimen icker in a thrave," an ear of corn in 24 sheaves; "laive," rest; "big," build; "foggage," rank grass; 'snell," sharp; "thole," endure: "cranreuch," hoar-frost. "But house or hald" means without house or hold.

ON SEEING A WOUNDED HARE LIMP BY ME.

ROBERT BURNS.

1. Write a paraphrase of the poem.

RURAL SCENES: REFLECTIONS.

WILLIAM COWPER.

1. What do the poet and his companion first notice from the eminence where they stand?

2. Describe the scene which presents itself as they look along the plain where the Ouse slowly winds.

3. What do they see on the slope that rises beyond the stream till it seems to recede into the clouds?

4. What praise is justly due to these scenes ?

5. What besides rural sights have power to exhilarate the spirit and restore the tone of languid nature ?

6. Describe the music of the winds, and tell its effect.

7. Describe the music of the waters.

8. Compare the music of animated nature with that of inanimate nature.

9. What birds besides the song-birds have charms for the poet's

ear?

10. Why is it that these sounds, so inharmonious in themselves, are pleasing to him?

11. Describe the descent from the eminence, the crossing of the gulf, and the ascent on the opposite side.

12. How does the mole represent the great ones of the earth? 13. Having gained another summit, what evidence does the poet find there of the vanity of mankind?

14. What causes the eye to exult, as it looks off from this height of land?

15. Describe the letting out of the sheep from the sheepfold.

16. What amusing scene do the hay-wagons afford?

17. What、charms are afforded by the woodland scene ?

18. What variety is afforded by different species of trees?

19. How is the appearance of the Ouse beautifully described?

20. How is the little naiad prettily introduced?

21. What beautiful sights does the poet discover while walking through the generous nobleman's grounds?

22. What innocent deception is accomplished by the walks? 23. Describe the threshing scene.

24. How does this sturdy laborer convert the primal curse into a

mercy?

25. How does all that is, subsist?

26. How does nature maintain her health, her beauty, her fer

tility?

27. What is the only condition under which she can live?

28. What upholds the world?

29. Describe the good offices of the winds.

30. How does the oak illustrate the truth already under consideration ?

31. How does the same universal law apply to man?

32. Contrast the condition of the slothful with that of the active. 33. Point out the mental and moral advantages of an active life. 34. How is the coy maiden, Ease, described ?

35. What is nature's dictate ?

36. What do some people seem to admire more than they do the performances of a God?

37. How are the works of Art compared with those of Nature?

38. What special value have the works of a great painter ?
39. Which of the senses alone can they please ?
40. What advantages has Nature in this respect?
41. Where does she spread her bounteous feast?

TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY.

BURNS.

1. What thoughts and passages do you most admire in this sweet poem ?

2. Give a synopsis of his apostrophe to the daisy.

3. How does he connect human interests with the luckless fate of the pretty flower?

4. How does he apply it to himself?

HOW TO FIND THE HIGHEST ENJOYMENT IN NATURE..

COW PER.

1. What must one do who would appreciate the works of nature? 2. When once admitted to His embrace, what will one discover? 3. What change will take place in him?

4. How are brutes that graze the mountain top affected by the grand scenery about them?

5. How does man too often view the works of God unrolled in beautiful panoramas around him?

6. How differently does he contemplate these things whose mind has been touched from heaven, and schooled in sacred wisdom?

7. Where did this world, with all its wonders, exist before it took visible form? — In the thoughts of God.

8. What is such a mind enabled to discern?

9. What is the cause for which the unconverted mind shuns the author of light and happiness, and for which, when converted, that same mind loves and adores him? - God's purity.

10. When once made free by being reconciled to God, what breaks on the soul?

11. What voice of song is never heard by mortal ears, till they have been touched by power divine?

12. What does nature then disclose to the enraptured soul?

13. What is the source and center of all minds and their only point of rest?

14. What is the condition of minds that depart from him? 15. Of what is he the source?

16. What is the crowning gift of all, without which, we are poor, and with which, we are rich, though all else be taken from us?

17. Write a paraphrase of each topic specified in the analysis.

ANALYSIS. I. Acquaintance with God necessary to the enjoyment of his works. 2. The meager pleasure which many take in his works. 3. How they are viewed 4. The transformation

by the truly enlightened mind. which enables men fully to appreciate the works of nature, and above all, their author

He

REMARKS. The fervent piety and sincere devotion of the poet are manifested throughout this selection in terms that cannot be mistaken. The same lofty, though tender and genial, spirit pervades all his writings. recognizes the Creator as the source and center of all wisdom and goodness. To him, nature is but a revelation of its divine author, and the value of everything has to be balanced and estimated in the scales which God has furnished in his Word and in his works.

AMONG THE ISLES OF SHOALS.

CELIA THAXTER.

1. Why may the Isles of Shoals well be bleak and bare ?

2. How do they appear at first sight?

3. How have the barren rocks been made to look hoary, as if

with age?