Sanders' Union Fourth Reader - Part 62
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Part 62

9. The youth was wise enough to profit by the good advice of his instructor, and took some time to gain private information, before he ventured to appear in public. This lesson is for all ages.

QUESTIONS.--1. To what did the young people of Athens aspire? 2. What did Glaucon believe he possessed? 3. Who succeeded in making him change his resolution? 4. How did Socrates do this? 5. What did Socrates finally say to him?

LESSON Lx.x.xVII.

CREST, topmost height.

TOR' RENTS, rushing streams.

TYPE, symbol; token.

AE' RIE, (_a' ry_,) eagle's nest.

VAULT' ED, arched.

LIQ' UID, (_lik' wid_,) clear; flowing.

BASK, lie exposed to warmth.

CAN' O PY, covering.

REV' EL RY, noisy merriment.

BIDE, stay; continue.

VO LUP' TU OUS, devoted to pleasure.

HAUNTS, places of resort.

EX PIRES', dies; becomes extinct.

SMOL' DER ING, burning and smoking without vent.

HER' IT AGE, inheritance.

QUENCH' ED, extinguished.

PEN' NON, flag; banner.

WRENCH, wrest; twist off.

CRA' VEN, base; cowardly.

SONG OF THE AMERICAN EAGLE.

1. I build my nest on the mountain's crest, Where the wild winds rock my eaglets to rest,-- Where the lightnings flash, and the thunders crash, And the roaring torrents foam and dash; For my spirit free henceforth shall be A type of the sons of Liberty.

2. Aloft I fly from my aerie high, Through the vaulted dome of the azure sky; On a sunbeam bright take my airy flight, And float in a flood of liquid light; For I love to play in the noontide ray, And bask in a blaze from the throne of day.

3. Away I spring with a tireless wing, On a feathery cloud I poise and swing; I dart down the steep where the lightnings leap, And the clear blue canopy swiftly sweep; For, dear to me is the revelry Of a free and fearless Liberty.

4. I love the land where the mountains stand, Like the watch-towers high of a Patriot band; For I may not bide in my glory and pride, Though the land be never so fair and wide, Where Luxury reigns o'er voluptuous plains, And fetters the free-born soul in chains.

5. Then give to me in my flights to see The land of the pilgrims _ever free_!

And I never will rove from the haunts I love But watch, from my sentinel-track above, Your banner free, o'er land and sea, And exult in your glorious Liberty.

6. _O, guard ye well the land where I dwell_, Lest to future times the tale I tell, When slow expires in smoldering fires The goodly heritage of your sires,-- How Freedom's light rose clear and bright O'er fair Columbia's beacon-hight, Till ye quenched the flame in a starless night.

7. Then will I tear from your pennon fair The stars ye have set in triumph there; My olive-branch on the blast I'll launch, The fluttering stripes from the flagstaff wrench, And away I'll flee; for I scorn to see _A craven race_ in the land of the free!

QUESTIONS.--1. Where does the eagle build its nest? 2. Describe its flights. 3. Where does it love to dwell? 4. Of what is the eagle a type?

5. What warning does it give to the people of this country? 6. What is there peculiar in the construction of the first, third, and fifth lines of each verse?

LESSON Lx.x.xVIII.

AN' THEM, ode; song.

DAUNT' LESS, bold; fearless.

WAG' ED, carried on.

UN AW' ED, undismayed.

SCROLL, roll of paper; doc.u.ment.

COUNT' LESS, unnumbered.

ROY' AL, regal; n.o.ble.

U' NI VERSE, whole creation.

BAF' FLED, frustrated.

TY RAN' NIC, oppressive; despotic.

CURB, check; restrain.

SUC CEED' ING, following.

HURL' ED, thrown.

PEAL' ED, resounded.

[Headnote 1: HEL' LES PONT, now the Dardanelles, a narrow strait between Asia and Europe.]

[Headnote 2: XER' XES, (_zerks' ees_,) the celebrated king of Persia, during his famous expedition into Greece, caused a bridge of boats to be built over the h.e.l.lespont; but the work having been destroyed by a storm, he was greatly enraged against the sea, and ordered it to be lashed, and fetters to be cast into it to restrain its violence.]

THE ARMY OF REFORM.

SARAH JANE LIPPINCOTT.

1. Yes, _ye are few_,--and _they were few_, Who, daring storm and sea, Once raised upon old Plymouth rock "The anthem of the free."

2. _And they were few_ at Lexington, To battle, or to die,-- That lightning-flash, that thunder-peal, Told that the storm was nigh.

3. _And they were few_, who dauntless stood, Upon old Bunkers hight, And waged with Britain's strength and pride The fierce, unequal fight.

4. _And they were few_, who, all unawed By kingly "rights divine,"

The Declaration, rebel scroll,[Footnote 1]

Untrembling dared to sign.

5. _Yes, ye are few_; for one proud glance Can take in all your band, As now against a countless host, Firm, true, and calm, ye stand.

6. Unmoved by Folly's idiot laugh, Hate's curse, or Envy's frown,-- Wearing your rights as royal robes, Your manhood as a crown,--

7. With eyes whose gaze, unvailed by mists, Still rises, clearer, higher,-- With stainless hands, and lips that Truth Hath touched with living fire,--

8. With one high hope, that ever shines Before you as a star,-- One prayer of faith, one fount of strength, _A glorious few ye are!_

9. Ye _dare_ not fear, ye _can not_ fail, Your destiny ye bind To that sublime, eternal law That rules the march of mind.

10. See yon bold eagle toward the sun Now rising free and strong, And see yon mighty river roll Its sounding tide along!