26.-The Heritage. ad-judged', awarded. eɔn-tènt, contentment. giveş, causes. stāte, place in life. PREPARATORY NOTES. This noble poem is by James Russell Lowell (1819-1891), a native of Cambridge, Mass. Mr. Lowell ranks as one of the foremost American poets, and has shown his power both in the serious and the satirical vein. His style is marked by extraordinary force and felicity of expression, and by the use of noble and beautiful imagery. He is also master of a prose style of marvelous strength, wit, and grace. 1. What doth the poor man's son inherit? A hardy frame, a hardier spirit; King of two hands, he does his part A heritage, it seems to me, A king might wish to hold in fee. 2. What doth the poor man's son inherit? 3. What doth the poor man's son inherit? A patience learned by being poor; To make the outcast bless his door,- A king might wish to hold in fee. 4. O rich man's son! there is a toil But only whitens, soft white hands; Worth being rich to hold in fee. 5. O poor man's son! scorn not thy state; There is worse weariness than thine, In merely being rich and great: Worth being poor to hold in fee. 6. Both, heirs to some six feet of sod, LANGUAGE STUDY. I. Write the analysis of: contentment (tenere); courage (cor); record (cor); equal (æquus). Write the analysis of: sinewy; useful; employment; whiten; weariness; heirship. What expression (1) means courage? Explain “king of two hands” (1). "Wishes o'erjoyed," etc. (2); i.e., desires that are more than satisfied, etc. II. Select a declarative sentence; an interrogative sentence; an imperative sentence. III. Notice the structure of this poem, as exemplified in the first three stanzas. The poet, in each, begins by asking a question; then develops the details of the "heritage," and ends with a refrain. (See Definition 23.) What figure of speech in the expression "to toil-worn merit" (2)? (See Definition 7.) What is meant by six feet of sod" (6)? What is the figure of speech? (See Definition 8.) "Best crop" (4): what is the figure of speech? (See Definition 3.) 27.- First Impressions of a Young Sailor. ĕx'e-cut-ed, carried out. in-differ-ent, not very good. lit ́er-al-ly, according to the very meaning of the words. nau’tie-al, maritime, seafaring. rōadṣ, place where ships may lie at anchor a distance from the shore. strains, tones, chant. un-in-těl ́li-ġi-ble, not under stood. PREPARATORY NOTES. This is an extract from "Two Years Before the Mast," by Richard Henry Dana, jun. (1815–1881), a native of Cambridge, Mass., and son of the American poet of the same name. In 1834 Mr. Dana made the voyage described in "Two Years Before the Mast" to California, then an almost unknown region; and as a result of his experiences wrote this exceedingly interesting narrative, depicting in its true colors the real life of the common sailor, (1) "With all my imperfections," etc.: a quotation from Shakespeare's "Hamlet." - (6) watch: that is, the men who attend to managing a ship for an allotted time, — four hours. —(8) eight bells: here means twelve o'clock at night. 1. "With all my imperfections on my head," I joined the crew; and we hauled out into the stream, and came to anchor for the night. The next morning was Saturday; and, a breeze having sprung up from the southward, we took a pilot on board, hove up our anchor, and began beating down the bay. 2. I took leave of those of my friends who came to see me off, and had barely opportunity to take a last look at the city and well-known objects, as no time is allowed on board ship for sentiment. As we drew down into the lower harbor we found the wind ahead in the bay, and were obliged to come to anchor in the roads. We remained there through the day and a part of the night. 3. About midnight the wind became fair, and having called the captain I was ordered to call all hands. How I accomplished this I do not know; but I am quite sure that I did not give the true, hoarse, boatswain call of “A-a-ll ha-a-a-nds! up anchor, a-ho-oy!" In a short time every one was in motion, the sails loosed, the yards braced, and we began to heave up the anchor, which was our last hold upon Yankee-land. 4. I could take but little part in these preparations. My little knowledge of a vessel was all at fault. Unintelligible orders were so rapidly given, and so immedi ately executed, there was such a hurrying about, and such an intermingling of strange cries and stranger actions, that I was completely bewildered. There is not so helpless and pitiable an object in the world as a landsman beginning a sailor's life. 5. At length those peculiar, long-drawn sounds, which denote that the crew are heaving at the windlass, began; and in a few minutes we were under way. The noise of the water thrown from the bows began to be heard, the vessel leaned over from the damp night breeze, and rolled with the heavy ground swell, and we had actually begun our long, long journey. This was literally bidding "good-night" to my native land. 6. The first day we passed at sea was the sabbath. As we were just from port, and there was a great deal to be done on board, we were kept at work all day; and at night the watches were set, and everything put into sea order. I had now a fine time for reflection. I felt for the first time the perfect silence of the sea. The officer was walking the quarter-deck, where I had no right to go; one or two men were talking on the forecastle, whom I had little inclination to join; so that I was left open to the full impression of everything about me. 7. However much I was affected by the beauty of the sea, the bright stars, and the clouds driven swiftly over them, I could not but remember that I was separating myself from all the social and intellectual enjoyments of life. Yet, strange as it may seem, I did |