Write directions for playing some game. Make your directions so simple that a boy or a girl of your age could understand them. If possible, make your meaning clearer by drawing a diagram. Plan your directions before you begin. Decide how many paragraphs you will need. If you can find some boy who has not played this game, read your directions to him, and see if he understands you. Do not attempt to explain a very difficult game, like baseball. Take something simple, such as cross tag, or leapfrog, or marbles, or hide and seek.

40

LOCHINVAR

O, YOUNG Lochinvar is come out of the west,

Through all the wide border his steed was the best;
And save his good broadsword, he weapons

He rode all unarm'd, and he rode all alone.

had none,

5 So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,
There never was knight like the young Lochinvar.

He stayed not for brake, and he stopp'd not for stone,
He swam the Eske River where ford there was none;
But ere he alighted at Netherby gate,

10 The bride had consented, the gallant came late;
For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war,
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.

So boldly he enter'd the Netherby Hall,

Among bridesmen, and kinsmen, and brothers, and all. 15 Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword (For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word),

"O come ye in peace here, or come ye in war,
Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar?"

Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide -
And now am I come, with this lost love of mine,
To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.
There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far,
That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar."

The bride kiss'd the goblet: the knight took it up, He quaff'd off the wine, and he threw down the cup. She look'd down to blush, and she look'd up to sigh, With a smile on her lips, and a tear in her eye. 5 He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar, -"Now tread we a measure!" said young Lochinvar.

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,

10 And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume; And the bridemaidens whisper'd, ""Twere better by far, To have match'd our fair cousin with young Lochinvar."

One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear, When they reach'd the hall door, and the charger stood near: 15 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 Loch

invar.

There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan; 20 Fosters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran: There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee,

But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see.

So daring in love, and so dauntless in war,

Have you e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?

border, part of Scotland bordering on England; brake, thicket of bushes; laggard, a loiterer; dastard, coward; craven, a coward; measure, a dance; dauntless, without fear. A Scottish clan consists of families related to each other.

Read this poem through to get the story. Where is the scene of the story? Who is the hero? Quote lines that describe him. Compare him with the bridegroom. If the bridegroom was a "laggard in love," how did he manage to secure the fair Ellen? Describe Lochinvar's entrance into the hall. Describe the feelings of the father, the mother, the bridegroom, the bridemaids. Tell the story of the flight of Lochinvar with fair Ellen.

Notice that the poem begins with two verses describing young Lochinvar, followed by verses describing the ride. In the last stanza we have another wild ride, and the poem closes with two more verses in praise of Lochinvar. As you read them aloud, do you notice the galloping movement of the verses? Have you read How They brought the Good News from Ghent? A poem describing rapid action should move rapidly; does this? Of what other poem does it remind you? (1) in theme, (2) in scene (Scottish Highlands), (3) in rapidity of action.

You will enjoy committing this poem to memory.

Spelling. Dauntless, dastard, craven, broadsword, bridegroom, laggard.

Synonyms. Notice that in poetry unusual words often sound better than common words. In Lochinvar find the words for which the following are synonyms. Notice which are the more suitable for the purpose: horse, fearless, thicket, loiterer, coward, wedding, drank, forbid, swift.

Grammar. - Do not use two negative words when you wish to make a denial; for then your meaning is just the opposite of what you intend it to be. Children sometimes say, "I have not got no time," instead of "I have no time." What would the first sentence really mean?

Little Ellie could not find no swan's nest. Ichabod couldn't see no head on the goblin. He hadn't no chance to escape. The old man wouldn't give up nothing. Lord Ullin cried, "You shan't have no daughter of mine."

Notice this mistake whenever you hear it made. Be very careful not to make it yourself.

41

BRUCE AND THE SPIDER

[Robert Bruce was one of the most famous kings of Scotland. When he came to the throne, he found his kingdom rent asunder by discord and civil war and under the dominion of England, but after fighting bravely against many discouragements, he lived to make Scotland free, happy, peaceful, and prosperous.]

IT was about the time when Bruce's fortunes were lowest that an incident took place, which, although it rests only on tradition, is made probable by the manners of the times. After receiving the last unpleasing intelli5 gence from Scotland, Bruce was lying one morning on his wretched bed and deliberating with himself whether he had not better resign all thoughts of again attempting to make good his right to the Scottish crown, and, dismissing his followers, transport himself and his brothers 10 to the Holy Land and spend the rest of his life in fighting against the Saracens.