But every freeman was a host, And felt as though himself were he It did depend on one, indeed: Unmarked he stood amid the throng, Till you might see, with sudden grace, And by the uplifting of his brow, Tell where the bolt would strike, and how. "Make way for Liberty!" he cried: Swift to the breach his comrades fly; "Make way for Liberty!" they cry, And through the Austrian phalanx dart, As rushed the spears through Arnold's heart; While instantaneous as his fall, Rout, ruin, panic scattered all. An earthquake could not overthrow Thus Switzerland again was free, Thus death made way for liberty. -James Montgomery. NOTES 1. Look up the story of William Tell. 2. Rinaldo (rê näl′-dô). The famous warrior figuring in the romantic tales of Italy and France. In a transport of rage he killed Charlemagne's nephew Berthlot. For this crime he was banished from France. After various adventures and disasters he went to the Holy Land and on his return succeeded in making peace with the Emperor. 3. Look up the story of the struggle for Swiss liberty in any good history. The incident here retold is one of splendid sacrifice, and one of the most heroic in the annals of patriotism. 4. Look up the meanings of the following words and expressions: rampart, ignoble, humiliate, unmarked, rumination, instantaneous, horrent, impregnable, phalanx. EXERCISES 1. Upon what story is this poem based? 2. What do the first two lines of the story tell us? 3. Explain "living wall" and "human wood." 4. Explain "conscious stone." 5. Describe the appearance presented by the Austrian îîne. 6. What forces were opposed to the Austrians? 7. In what spirit did this little band oppose the Austrians? 8. Why did not the Swiss patriots begin the battle at once? 9. Why did they not rush at once to their death? 10. Why would the Swiss forces not retreat? 11. Why must they not fail? 12. Explain "Every freeman was a host." 13. What act fired the Swiss army in this critical moment? ADDITIONAL READINGS KNOWLES: William Tell. HALLECK: Marco Bozzaris. BROWNING: Incident of a French Camp. DE AMICIS: The Sardinian Drummer Boy. PRINCE: Who Are the Free? CROLY: Death of Leonidas. MCMURRY: William Tell. BROWNING: The Patriot. DESMOULINS: Live Free or Die. MRS. HEMANS: The Cavern of the Three Tells. SIR HENRY TAYLOR: The Hero. ARNOLD: Self-Dependence. BRYANT: William Tell. TENNYSON: Charge of the Light Brigade. DR. JOHNSON'S LETTER TO HIS DYING MOTHER DEAR HONORED MOTHER: You have been the best mother, and I believe the best woman, in the world. I thank you for your indulgence to me, and beg forgiveness of all that I have done ill, and all that I have omitted to do well. God grant you His Holy Spirit, and receive you to everlasting happiness, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. I am, dear, dear mother, your dutiful Samuel Johnson. son, THE BOSTON TEA PARTY 'HE following incident is familiar to every TH reader of the history of the times preceding the Revolutionary War. The great American historian, Bancroft, has told us vividly the story of one of the early acts which led to the Revolutionary War. The following story ought to be read by every young American who believes in his country; for in this story he can catch the spirit of those patriots who deliberately resisted oppression and who, having put their hands to the plow, did not think of looking back until they had established the colonies as free and independent states. THE BOSTON TEA PARTY The most celebrated tea party ever known was that which was held in Boston Harbor late one evening in December, 1773. There was at that time no great nation of the United States, as there is now, but between the Atlantic Ocean and the Allegheny Mountains there were thirteen colonies which had been founded by the English and some other peoples of Europe, and were still under the control of the British government. George the Third, King of England, and some of his noblemen had done all that they could to oppress the people of these colonies. They had forbidden the colonists sending their own goods to any other country than England. They would not allow the Americans to cut down pine trees outside of enclosed fields, or to manufacture iron goods. They had tried in every way to tax the people of this country, while at the same time they would not allow them to take any part in the making of the laws governing the colonies. At length a tax was laid on all tea sold to the colonies, and several ships were loaded with that article and sent from England to the American ports of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston. But the colonists did not like to be taxed in that way, and everywhere they made agreement among themselves to drink no more tea until the tax should be removed. Not being represented in Parliament, they were unwilling to be taxed by Parliament. About the first of December, one of the three tea ships which had been sent to Boston arrived and anchored in the harbor. A town-meeting was held in the Old South Meeting-house, at which nearly five thousand persons were present. It was the largest assembly that had ever been known in Boston. All the people were opposed to allowing the tea to be landed, and by a vote of every one at that great meeting, it was resolved that it should be sent back to England, and that no duty should be paid on it. |