Modern Prose And Poetry; For Secondary Schools Part 23

=cripple=:--A dense thicket in swampy land.

=good-will=:--See the Bible, Luke 2:13, 14.

=Cohansey=:--A creek in southern New Jersey.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

Read the selection through once without stopping. Afterward, go through it with these questions:--

Why might the snow mean a "hungry Christmas"? Note the color words in paragraph three: Of what value are they? Why does the pond seem small to the visitor? Does the author mean anything more than persimmons in the last part of the paragraph beginning "I filled both pockets"? What sort of man do you think he is? What is the meaning of "broken bread"? What is meant by entering the woods "at Nature's invitation"? What do you understand by "the long fierce fight for life"? What was it that the c.o.o.n learned "generations ago"? What does the author mean here? Do you know anything of the Darwinian theory of life? What has it to do with what is said here about the c.o.o.n? How does the author make you feel the variety and liveliness of the bird life which he observes? What shows his keenness of sight? What do you know about weasels? Is it, true that "one's woods are what one makes them"? Do you think the author judges the hunter too harshly? How does the author make you feel the charm of the late afternoon? Go through the selection and see how many different subjects are discussed! How is the unity of the piece preserved? Notice the pictures in the piece. What feeling prevails in the selection? How can you tell whether the author really loves nature? Could you write a sketch somewhat like this, telling what you saw during a walk in the woods?

THEME SUBJECTS

A Walk in the Winter Woods An Outdoor Christmas Tree A Lumber Camp at Christmas The Winter Birds Tracking a Rabbit Hunting Deer in Winter A Winter Landscape Home Decorations from the Winter Fields Wild Apples Fishing through the Ice A Winter Camp A Strange Christmas Playing Santa Claus A Snow Picnic Making Christmas Gifts Feeding the Birds The Christmas Guest Turkey and Plum Pudding The Children's Christmas Party Christmas on the Farm The Christmas Tree at the Schoolhouse What he Found in his Stocking Bringing Home the Christmas Tree Christmas in the South Christmas away from Home A "Sensible" Christmas Christmas at our House

SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING

=A Walk in the Winter Woods=:--Tell of a real or imaginary stroll in the woods when the snow is on the ground. If possible, plan the theme some time before you write, and obtain your material through actual and recent observation. In everything you say, be careful and accurate. You might speak first of the time of day at which your walk was taken; the weather; the condition of the snow. Speak of the trees: the kinds; how they looked. Were any of the trees weighted with snow? Describe the bushes, and the berries and gra.s.ses; use color words, if possible, as Mr. Sharp does. What sounds did you hear in the woods? Did you see any tracks of animals? If so, tell about these tracks, and show what they indicated. Describe the animals that you saw, and tell what they were doing. What did you gather regarding the way in which the animals live in winter? Speak in the same way of the birds. Re-read what Mr. Sharp says about the birds he saw, and try to make your own account clear and full of action. Did you see any signs of human inhabitants or visitors?

If so, tell about them. Did you find anything to eat in the woods? Speak briefly of your return home. Had the weather changed since your entering the woods? Was there any alteration in the landscape? How did you feel after your walk?

=The Winter Birds=:--For several days before writing this theme, prepare material for it by observation and reading. Watch the birds, and see what they are doing and how they live. Use a field gla.s.s if you can get one, and take careful notes on what you see. Make especial use of any interesting incidents that come under your observation.

When you write, take up each kind of bird separately, and tell what you have found out about its winter life: how it looks; where you have seen it; what it was doing. Speak also of its food and shelter; the perils it endures; its intelligence; anecdotes about it. Make your theme simple and lively, as if you were talking to some one about the birds. Try to use good color words and sound words, and expressions that give a vivid idea of the activities and behavior of the birds.

When you have finished, lay the theme aside for a time; then read it again and see how you can touch it up to make it clearer and more straightforward.

=Christmas at our House=:--Write as if you were telling of some particular occasion, although you may perhaps be combining the events of several Christmas days. Tell of the preparations for Christmas: the planning; the cooking; the whispering of secrets. Make as much use of conversation as possible, and do not hesitate to use even very small details and little anecdotes. Perhaps you will wish to tell of the hanging of the stockings on Christmas Eve; if there are children in the family, tell what they did and said. Write as vividly as possible of Christmas morning, and the finding of the gifts; try to bring out the confusion and the happiness of opening the parcels and displaying the presents. Quote some of the remarks directly, and speak of particularly pleasing or absurd gifts. Go on and tell of the sports and pleasures of the day. Speak of the guests, describing some of them, and telling what they said and did. Try to bring out contrasts here. Put as much emphasis as you wish upon the dinner, and the quant.i.ties of good things consumed.

Try to quote the remarks of some of the people at the table. If your theme has become rather long, you might close it by a brief account of the dispersing of the family after dinner. You might, however, complete your account of the day by telling of the evening, with its enjoyments and its weariness.

COLLATERAL READINGS

Wild Life Near Home D.L. Sharp A Watcher in the Woods " "

The Lay of the Land " "

Winter " "

The Face of the Fields " "

The Fall of the Year " "

Roof and Meadow " "

Wild Life in the Rockies Enos A. Mills Kindred of the Wild C.G.D. Roberts Watchers of the Trail " " "

Haunters of the Silences " " "

The Ways of Wood Folk W.J. Long Eye Spy W.H. Gibson Sharp Eyes " "

Birds in the Bush Bradford Torrey Everyday Birds " "

Nature's Invitation " "

Bird Stories from Burroughs (selections) John Burroughs Winter Sunshine " "

Pepacton " "

Riverby " "

Wake-Robin " "

Signs and Seasons " "

How Santa Claus Came to Simpson's Bar Bret Harte Santa Claus's Partner T.N. Page The First Christmas Tree Henry Van d.y.k.e The Other Wise Man " "

The Old Peabody Pew K.D. Wiggin Miss Santa Claus of the Pullman Annie F. Johnson Christmas Zona Gale A Christmas Mystery W.J. Locke Christmas Eve on Lonesome John Fox, Jr.

By the Christmas Fire S.M. Crothers Colonel Carter's Christmas F.H. Smith Christmas Jenny (in _A New England Nun_) Mary E. Wilkins A Christmas Sermon R.L. Stevenson The Boy who Brought Christmas Alice Morgan Christmas Stories Charles d.i.c.kens The Christmas Guest Selma Lagerlof The Legend of the Christmas Rose " "

GLOUCESTER MOORS

WILLIAM VAUGHN MOODY

A mile behind is Gloucester town Where the fishing fleets put in, A mile ahead the land dips down And the woods and farms begin.

Here, where the moors stretch free In the high blue afternoon, Are the marching sun and talking sea, And the racing winds that wheel and flee On the flying heels of June.

Jill-o'er-the-ground is purple blue, Blue is the quaker-maid, The wild geranium holds its dew Long in the boulder's shade.

Wax-red hangs the cup From the huckleberry boughs, In barberry bells the grey moths sup, Or where the choke-cherry lifts high up Sweet bowls for their carouse.

Over the shelf of the sandy cove Beach-peas blossom late.

By copse and cliff the swallows rove Each calling to his mate.

Seaward the sea-gulls go, And the land birds all are here; That green-gold flash was a vireo, And yonder flame where the marsh-flags grow Was a scarlet tanager.

This earth is not the steadfast place We landsmen build upon; From deep to deep she varies pace, And while she comes is gone.

Beneath my feet I feel Her smooth bulk heave and dip; With velvet plunge and soft upreel She swings and steadies to her keel Like a gallant, gallant ship.

These summer clouds she sets for sail, The sun is her masthead light, She tows the moon like a pinnace frail Where her phospher wake churns bright, Now hid, now looming clear, On the face of the dangerous blue The star fleets tack and wheel and veer, But on, but on does the old earth steer As if her port she knew.

G.o.d, dear G.o.d! Does she know her port, Though she goes so far about?

Or blind astray, does she make her sport To brazen and chance it out?

I watched where her captains pa.s.sed: She were better captainless.

Men in the cabin, before the mast, But some were reckless and some aghast, And some sat gorged at mess.

By her battered hatch I leaned and caught Sounds from the noisome hold,-- Cursing and sighing of souls distraught And cries too sad to be told.

Then I strove to go down and see; But they said, "Thou art not of us!"

I turned to those on the deck with me And cried, "Give help!" But they said, "Let be: Our ship sails faster thus."

Jill-o'er-the-ground is purple blue, Blue is the quaker-maid, The alder clump where the brook comes through Breeds cresses in its shade.

To be out of the moiling street With its swelter and its sin!

Who has given to me this sweet, And given my brother dust to eat?

And when will his wage come in?

Scattering wide or blown in ranks, Yellow and white and brown, Boats and boats from the fishing banks Come home to Gloucester town.

There is cash to purse and spend, There are wives to be embraced, Hearts to borrow and hearts to lend, And hearts to take and keep to the end,-- O little sails, make haste!

But thou, vast outbound ship of souls, What harbor town for thee?

What shapes, when thy arriving tolls, Shall crowd the banks to see?

Shall all the happy shipmates then Stand singing brotherly?