person and another had struck it to find the opening. At last a learned man looked hard at the image to see if he could find out the secret. The sun was shining brightly. It was noon, and the shadow of the image lay upon the ground. The hand of the shadow was stretched out, and the learned man saw the shadow finger. He marked the spot where the tip of the finger rested, and at night, when all was still, he came again. He had brought a spade with him, and he dug down at the spot he had marked. Soon he came to a trap door. He raised the door, and saw some steps leading down. Then he closed the door above him, and went down the steps. He found himself in a great hall, and in the middle of the hall was a table. The table was set with dishes of gold and silver, with golden knives and cups of gold. At one end sat a king and queen. He knew them by their rich robes, and by the crowns on their heads. Fine nobles, too, sat at the table, and all about were men standing. The wonder was, there was not a sound, and not a single person moved. The king sat still; the queen sat still; the nobles did not stir; the men were fixed. It was as if they were all of stone, and so they were; for when this learned man touched them, he found that they were stone. He went into a room beyond. There he saw many women dressed in purple. They, too, were of stone. He went into a stable; there stood horses in the stalls, and dogs; but they had all been turned to stone. So he went about the palace, for palace it plainly was, and everywhere it was as still as death. Not a living thing was to be seen; but there were riches more than he had ever dreamt of. At last he came back to the great hall. He saw that the light which lighted the hall came from a precious stone in one corner. The light, as he gazed, fell upon a stone archer, who stood with his bow drawn, and the arrow pointed at the precious stone. On the archer's brow were the words: "I am what I am. My shaft is sure; least of all can the precious stone escape me." Now the learned man thought to carry away some of the treasures. He went to the table and chose some of the golden cups. They would be the easiest to carry. But no sooner had he hidden them in his cloak than, whish! the arrow sped from the bow and struck the precious stone. In an instant the stone was shivered to bits and there was total darkness. The learned man groped for the stairs. He could not find them. He went back and forth, but he never found the stairs. He, too, became a stone statue in the secret hall.- Horace E. Scudder. NOTES 1. Rome. Locate the city of Rome and tell something regarding its early history. 2. If possible read other legends from Scudder's "Book of Legends.” Read also the story of "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp." 3. Look up the meanings of the following words and expressions: image, hidden treasure, palace, borrowed, precious, archer, shaft, shivered, groped. EXERCISES 1. What did the people think was the meaning of the words “Strike Here"? 2. As a result, what damage was done to the image? 3. How did the learned man find out the secret? 4. As a result what did he do? 5. What discovery did he make? 6. Describe what he saw in the great treasure hall. 7. What was peculiar about all of the beings in the treasure hall? 8. How was the hall lighted? 9. What thought now came to the learned man? 10. What words were on the archer's brow? 11. What happened the instant the man hid the golden cups under his cloak? 12. What was finally the fate of this learned man? 13. Do you think this man was properly rewarded for his wisdom and shrewdness? 14. Had he been less anxious for treasure and more anxious to serve others, would he have been so rewarded? ADDITIONAL READINGS GRIMM: The Sleeping Beauty. Arabian Nights-Aladdin's Lamp. LOWELL: Vision of Sir Launfal. SARAH PIATT: The Gift of Empty Hands. HAWTHORNE: The Threefold Destiny, The Minister's Black Veil, The Great Carbuncle. POE: MS. Found in a Bottle. HANS ANDERSEN: The Little Match Girl, Garden of Paradise, The Tinder Box. STOCKTON: Fanciful Tales. CARROLL: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. THE SOMEBODY'S MOTHER HE words home, mother, father will always have a peculiar charm for each one of us. To those who are older, these words have the power to awaken memories sad or sweet, but always dear. As happy, care-free children, we seldom say much about it, but deep within our hearts we feel that we love father, mother, and home. We are glad that "Mothers' Day" promises soon to be observed reverently throughout our broad land. When we stop to think of all the sacrifices our parents have made for us, we feel that we can never do enough for them in return. Whoever shows respect or courtesy to an aged father or mother calls forth our sincerest respect. For this reason, the following poem will always be loved by the boys and girls of the land. In this touching incident the unknown poet has voiced the dearest sentiment in the heart of every boy and girl. However thoughtless boys may appear at times, their hearts are right. In this incident, the "gayest laddie of all the group" quietly left his frolicsome companions and carefully helped a poor, bent old woman across the slippery street. His companions looked at him in surprise on his return, but he said with pride, "She's somebody's mother, boys." Could he have known how tenderly the heart of the aged mother was touched, he would have been more than repaid for his thoughtful ness. SOMEBODY'S MOTHER1 The woman was old, and ragged, and gray, Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet At last one came of the merry troop, 1 Originally printed in Harper's Weekly, March 2, 1878, and reprinted by courteous permission of the publishers, Harper & Brothers. |