So stately his form, and so lovely her face,
That never a hall such a galliard did grace;
While her mother did fret, and her father did fume,And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume, And the bride-maidens whispered, " "Twere better by far To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar."One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear,When they reached the hall door, and the charger stoodnear;
So light to the croup the fair lady he swung,So light to the saddle, before her, he sprung!
"She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur !
They"ll have fleet steeds that follow ! " quoth young Lochinvar.
There was mounting "mong Graemes of the Netherby clan; Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran; There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lea,But the lost bride of Netherby ne"er did they see. So daring in love, and so dauntless in war,Have ye e"er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?
Sir Walter Scott.
Drawings by Jean Moreton
General.-Here is romance, a Border tale of love and action, graphically thrown on the picture-screen of the mind of the reader. Stanza one gives a close-up view of the hero. Follows a picture of a castle near the Esk (see atlas), then the ball-room, the suspicious father, the dance, the flight, the pursuit, the triumphant escape. How stirringly the story moves, with the long galloping lines! The ballad is from Scott"s "Marmion, " and is supposed to be sung by Lady Heron, a gay English dame, to charm King James IV. of Scotland and keep him from heading his troops at Flodden. Look for the Solway, that estuary where the high tides rush in with force. Call Forster foster, and Fenwick fennick. For composition exercise, let the bride tell the story, let the father tell it, " the laggard in love, " Lochinvar himself. A "galliard " is a gay, sprightly fellow. The puzzle is, when fair Ellen was sitting at the croup of the saddle, how could the agile Lochinvar spring lightly before her? Let horsemen answer.
Lesson 54
THE PLATE OF GOLD
A HINDU LEGEND
In the courtyard of a famous temple in the city of Benares, in India, a strange thing happened. A plate of gold fell from no man knew where, and on it were found the words: "To him who loveth best, a gift from heaven. "Then the priests of the temple sent a crier through the city to let everybody know of this wonder, and to ask that those who thought themselves worthy to own the plate should come to the temple and state their claims. The priests would listen to the tales of their good deeds, and give the prize to him who seemed best fitted to have it.
The news spread far and wide. From every quarter came nobles and commoners, scholars and holy men, many of them famed for splendid acts of kindness. The priests of the temple heard each man"s story; and so, for a year, the case went on.
At last, after careful thought, the judges made up their minds to give the plate of gold to a certain man who seemed to have shown himself the best lover of his race, a man who, during the year, had shared his rich estate among the poor.
Trembling with joy, he came forward to take the heavenlygift, and, behold! as soon as his finger-tips touched it, the gold changed to lead. But, when in dismay he let the plate fall on the floor of the courtyard, the baser metal changed at once to gold.
For another year the priests sat and judged. Three times did they make awards, and three times did the metal change. Meanwhile a host of poor, maimed beggars lay, day and night, before the temple gate, hoping to move that love by which alone men could win the gift. Money was freely given to them by those who hoped for the reward; but none of the givers so much as turned to look into the sad eyes of them that begged.
The second year had almost passed, but still the plate was turned to lead at every touch. At last, from a distance, there came to the temple a poor, simple peasant, who had not heard of the gift. His only purpose was to pray. As he passed through the crowd of beggars, and saw their maimed limbs and their faces all awry with pain, his soul was moved to pity, and tears trembled in his eyes.
Nearest to the gate lay a poor creature, blind, and shunned by all. And, when the peasant saw him, he could not pass him by, but knelt beside him, and took both hands in his, and said softly, "O my poor brother, bear your trouble bravely. God is good! " Then he rose, and walked across the court, and came to the place where men were boasting to the priests of their deeds of love.
He listened sadly for a while, then turned away. At this instant, something moved the priest who held the plate of goldto beckon to the peasant. Not knowing what the sign meant,the latter drew near, stretched out his hand, and took the sacred dish. Then it blazed with thrice its former brightness, till all the dim court shone. "My son, " said the priest, " rejoice ! The gift of God is thine. Thou lovest best! " And every one made answer, "It is well. "Then each went homeward his own way; but the peasant knelt and prayed, bowing his head over the golden plate, and, like morning light, the love of God streamed into his soul.
Author.-There are innumerable interesting Hindu legends, most of them from the ancient religions of Brahmanism and Buddhism. Many English writers and poets have taken their themes from these legends. One of the best known is Sir Edwin Arnold"s Light of Asia.
General.-Is it true that love (otherwise charity, altruism) is thegreatest thing in the world? Why? How does it manifest itself in actions? Charity seeketh not her own, suffereth long, vaunteth not, never faileth. Think of stories that illustrate this. Compare Leigh Hunt"s "Abou ben Adhem. "Lesson 55
LORD ULLIN"S DAUGHTER
A chieftain, to the Highlands bound, Cries, " Boatman, do not tarry,And I"ll give thee a silver pound To row us o"er the ferry. ""Now, who be ye would cross Loch Gyle, This dark and stormy water? ""Oh, I"m the chief of Ulva"s Isle, And this, Lord Ullin"s daughter.
"And, fast before her father"s men,