Selections from the Riverside literature series

Front matter

SELECTIONS

FROM THE

RIVERSIDE LITERATURE SERIES

Preface

It may be of interest to Grade teachers to know how the present volume of readings was compiled, and to be able to judge thereby whether or not the method gives the compilation, as such, exceptional value as a school text.

To give ample scope for individual preference and at the same time to confine the choice to literature of tried and acknowledged value for school reading, the Riverside Literature Series was made the basis of selection. A set of texts was placed in the office of the Superintendent of Schools, where all principals and teachers could readily examine it. Also, every school was supplied with a catalogue of the Series containing a list of the titles included in each number. Every teacher of the Grade and every grammar school principal was then requested to select from the Series a body of readings adequate for the year's work, and in his judgment the best that could be made. These suggestions were in turn submitted to a committee of five of the teachers of the Grade and a separate committee of five principals. When each of these committees had made its selection, the Superintendent had for his final consideration a body of material half again as large as could well be compassed in the time and space allowed for this work in the Grade. It was then that, by careful elimination, sifting many times and each time casting aside the selections seeming least desirable, the present contents was decided upon.

1 PREFACE.

In this way, first by accumulating and then by eliminating, we have here for this Grade a group of readings that fairly represents the choice of the whole Milwaukee teaching force concerned ; and this choice being determined chiefly by the needs, capacity, and ability of the pupils themselves, it may therefore well be claimed that the present Reader offers to all children of this Grade those literary classics that have proved most profitable and enjoyable to other boys and girls of their own age.

C. G. Pearse.

MiLWAUKKB, Wis., July, 1910.

Contents

Page

The Lady of the Lake Sir Walter Scott 7

A-HuNTixG OF THE Deer . Charles Dudley Warner 15

II

As Chief, who hears his warder call, ' To arms ! the f oemen storm the wall,' The antlered monarch of the waste Sprung from his heathery couch in haste. But ere his fleet career he took.

The dew-drops from his flanks he shook; Like crested leader proud and high Tossed his beamed frontlet to the sky ; A moment gazed adown the dale, A moment snuffed the tainted gale,

A moment listened to the cry, That thickened as the chase drew nigh; Then, as the headmost foes appeared.

With one brave bound the copse he cleared, And, stretching forward free and far, Sought the wild heaths of Uam-Var.

III

Yelled on the view the opening pack ; Rock, glen, and cavern paid them back ; To many a mingled sound at once The awakened mountain gave response.

A hundred dogs bayed deep and strong, Clattered a hundred steeds along.

Their peal the merry horns rung out, A hundred voices joined the shout ; With hark and whoop and wild halloo, No rest Benvoirlich's echoes knew.

Far from the tumult fled the roe.

Close in her covert cowered the doe.

The falcon, from her cairn on high.

Cast on the rout a wondering eye, Till far beyond her piercing ken The hurricane had swept the glen.

Faint, and more faint, its failing din Returned from cavern, cliff, and linn. And silence settled, wide and still.

On the lone wood and mighty hill.

IV

Less loud the sounds of sylvan war Disturbed the heights of Uam-Var, And roused the cavern where, 't is told, A giant made his den of old;

Fov ere that steep ascent was won, High in his pathway hung the sun, And many a gallant, stayed perforce, Was fain to breathe his faltering horse, And of the trackers of the deer Scarce half the lessening pack was near ; So shrewdly on the mountain-side Had the bold burst their mettle tried.

V

The noble stag was pausing now Upon the mountain's southern brow, Where broad extended, far beneath, The varied realms of fair Menteith.

With anxious eye he wandered o'er Mountain and meadow, moss and moor, And pondered refuge from his toil.

By far Lochard or Aberfoyle.

But nearer was the copsewood gray That waved and wept on Loch Achray, And mingled with the pine-trees blue On the bold cliffs of Benvenue.

Fresh vigor with the hope returned, With flying foot the heath he spurned. Held westward with unwearied race.

And left behind the panting chase.

VI

'T were long to tell what steeds gave o'er, As swept the hunt through Cambusmore ;

Few were the stragglers, following far. That reached the lake of Vennachar ; And when the Brigg of Turk was won, The headmost horseman rode alone.

lU THE LADY OF THE LAKE

VII

Alone, but with unbated zeal, That horseman plied the scourge and steel; For jaded now, and spent with toil, Embossed with foam, and dark with soil, While every gasp with sobs he drew.

The laboring stag strained full in view. Two dogs of black Saint Hubert's breed. Unmatched for courage, breath, and speed, Fast on his flying traces came.

And all but won that desperate game ; For, scarce a spear's length from his haunch, Vindictive toiled the bloodhounds stanch ; Nor nearer might the dogs attain.

Nor farther might the quarry strain.

Thus up the margin of the lake.

Between the precipice and brake, O'er stock and rock their race they take.

VIII

The Hunter marked that mountain high, The lone lake's western boundary, And deemed the stag must turn to bay. Where that huge rampart barred the way ; Already glorying in the prize, Measured his antlers with his eyes; For the death-wound and death-halloo Mustered his breath, his whinyard drew : But thundering as he came prepared.

With ready arm and weapon bared.

The wily quarry shunned the shock.

And turned him from the opposing rock ; Then, dashing down a darksome glen.

Soon lost to hound and Hunter's ken,

In the deep Trosachs' wildest nook

His solitary refuge took.

There, while close couched the thicket shed

Cold dews and wild flowers on his head,

He heard the baffled dogs in vain

Rave through the hollow pass amain,

Chiding the rocks that yelled again.

IX

Close on the hounds the Hunter came, To cheer them on the vanished game; But, stumbling in the rugged dell.

The gallant horse exhausted fell.

The impatient rider strove in vain To rouse him with the spur and rein.

For the good steed, his labors o'er.

Stretched his stiff limbs, to rise no more ; Then, touched with pity and remorse.

He sorrowed o'er the expiring horse. ' I little thought, when first thy rein I slacked upon the banks of Seine, That Highland eagle e'er should feed On thy fleet limbs, my matchless steed ! Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day, That costs thy life, my gallant gray 1 '

X

Then through the dell his horn resounds. From vain pursuit to call the hounds. Back limped, with slow and crippled pace, The sulky leaders of the chase ; Close to their master's side they pressed, With drooping tail and humbled crest ; But still the dingle's hollow throat

Prolonged the swelling bugle-note.

The owlets started from their dream, The eagles answered with their scream, Round and around the sounds were cast, Till echo seemed an answering blast; And on the Hunter hied his way, To join some comrades of the day. . . .