This third mile may decide the race. Still, if neither Gretel nor Hilda wins, there is yet a chance among the rest for the silver skates.
Each girl feels sure that, this time, she will skate the distance in one-half the time. How they stamp to try their runners! How carefully they look at each strap! How erect they stand at last, every eye upon Madame Van Gleck.
The bugle thrills through them again. They spring forward eagerly, in perfect balance. Each flashing stroke seems longer than the last.
Now they are skimming off in the distance. Again the eager straining of eyes; again the shouts and cheering; again the thrill of excitement as, after a few moments, four or five in advance of the rest come speeding back, nearer, nearer to the white columns.
Who is first? Not Rychie, Katrinka, Annie, or Hilda, not the girl in yellow, but Gretel-Gretel, the fleetest sprite of a girl that ever skated. She was but playing in the earlier race.
Now she is in earnest, or, rather, something within her is driving her on to win. She makes no effort; but she cannot stop-not until the goal is passed.
In vain the crier lifts his voice; he cannot be heard. He has no news to tell; it is already ringing through the crowd:
Gretel has won the silver skates.
From Hans Brinker, by Mary Mapes Dodge
Author.-Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge (1838-1905), was born at New York, U.S.A. She wrote for magazines and was editor of St. Nicholas, a children"s magazine, for many years. Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates is her best-known book, and has been translated into many languages. The descriptions of Dutch people, places, and customs were obtained from men and women of Holland who had settled in America; that is why the book gives such a true picture of Dutch life.
General Notes.-What were the Christian names of some of thegirls in the race? Which two names are exactly the same as two English names? Which two are like two English names? What three family names are mentioned? "Van" is part of many Dutch family names. It means "of" or "from."What Dutch name beginning with "Van" was for many years associated with part of Australia? Draw a plan of the course the girls skated over. The pavilions were tents from which the rich people of the town and their friends watched the race.
You will enjoy reading the whole of The Silver Skates. Other booksabout Dutch children are The Dutch Twins, by Lucy Perkins, and Afke"s Ten, by Ninke Van Hichtum.
Lesson 15
WALkING OuT
I never take my hat and swing Abroad, all fancy free,But I am sure some wondrous thing Is bound to come to me:
Perhaps I"ll find the rainbow"s end Behind the tree-fern"s laceWhen I push past the farthest bend, The rain upon my face.
Or else, as I go breathless there,
I"ll lift my eyes and find
A wonder blossom, white and rare, Hung palely in the wind;Some flower with petalled depths that hide
The wild bees" burnished store-
A perfumed cup that, opened wide, No man has seen before.
Or else on beauty all intent, Just thinking anything,With eyes upon the pathway bent,
I"ll hear the grasses sing,
And see, where smoke hangs blue and thin Like mist upon the air,A white witch with a tilted chin Look sadly through her hair.
Drawn by W. S. Wemyss
"Fair, flimsy towers against an unknown sky."I never, never walk afar
Without the thought: " Tis now,
That I shall know what things there are, And whence they come and how!
And all around my dancing feet The pale dissolving dayWill melt into some magic street That threads the far-away.
And I shall see fair, flimsy towers
Against an unknown sky,
And pluck the blooms of deathless flowers, And hear faint fiddles cry.
And I shall go enraptured, dumb, Through walks that none have known,And hear a whisper: " Lo, she"s come
At last into her own !"
I never take my hat and swing Abroad, all fancy free,But I am sure some wondrous thing Is bound to come to me!
Myra Morris, in The Australasian
Author.-Miss Myra Morris is a living Melbourne writer, well known as a contributor to various periodicals. Her published works include England and Other Verses and Us Five (prose).
General Notes.-Here we have an imaginative little girl dreaming ofstrange things that might happen to her. What possible events does she imagine? Make a list of them. See if you can make up a verse telling of some wondrous thing that you sometimes think will come to you when you swing abroad, all fancy free.
Suggestions for Verse-speaking.-What two verses are the same? Whatother verse is like these? Let the whole class speak these three verses, and let each of the other verses be spoken by a different voice.
Lesson 16
THE CHAmPION
It was in the midst of morning lessons at the school that an odd thing happened. The day was very hot; not a breath of wind came in at the open doors and windows-nothing but the blazing sunlight that lay in hot patches on the floor, and slowly baked blackboards, and slates, and desks.
A very small shadow fell just inside the entrance door at the far end of the room, and a timid knock sounded there. Nobody said "Come in," though a hundred and fifty pairs of eyes went in the direction with the swiftness natural to gratitude for any break in the lesson. Then there stepped over the threshold a little, slight girl-a little girl with a short holland frock, a great sun-hat, and no gloves; a little girl with a white, small face, great frightened eyes shining strangely, and soft lips very tightly closed. Up the long, long room she went, both little hands held tightly together in front of her. No one could tell from the way she walked how her poor little knees were shaking and her poor little heart was beating.
For a minute, Mr. Burnham"s frown did not disappear- not till he noticed how white her face was. " What is it, little girl?" he said, and really thought that he made his voicequite gentle, though to Poppet it sounded terrible. "I--," she said, "you--." Something rose in her throat; her face grew even whiter, and her lips, white too, twitched a little; but the words would not come.