4 Have you seen a merry bridal in the spring? In an English apple country in the spring? Apple blossoms in their hair; Apple blossoms everywhere, 5 If you have not, then you know not, in the spring, Half the color, beauty, wonder of the spring. Half so precious, half so tender, As the apple blossoms render HELPS TO STUDY Notes and Questions What is the glory of the apple tree? What is the wealth of the apple tree in spring? What is the meaning of "hoary'' as used in the first stanza? How is this word generally used? How are cascades formed? a tree make the poet think of a What is a brooklet? What made it look like silver? What is meant by the "brawling' of the brooklet? How often are the words "In In what lines are they used? Find three lines in each stanza What makes this poem so pleasant to read aloud? George Lansing Taylor (1835 York. He graduated from Columbia University. He became a Metho ) was born at Skaneateles, New dist Episcopal minister and was a well-known lecturer and author. 1 Dare to do right! Dare to be true! You have a work that no other can do; Angels will hasten the story to tell. 2 Dare to do right! Dare to be true! Other men's failures can never save you; HELPS TO STUDY Notes and Questions addressed? To whom is this poem do what we know is right? What would you say of a soldier who was afraid and yet obeyed orders and stood at his post? Why can no one else do your work? How can you "stand by your Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. For Biography, see p. 280. To what is life compared when we speak of its goal? Read the words in the second stanza which Longfellow says were not spoken of the soul. Read the words which Longfellow had in mind when he wrote the second stanza. "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."'-Ecclesiastes, XII, 7. What was "spoken of the soul''? What must we constantly do if we want each tomorrow to "find us farther than today' In what do you want to be "farther' tomorrow than you are today? To what is life compared in the fifth stanza? What does the poet say that the lives of great men teach us? What has the life of Washington taught the whole world! Can you find selections in your reader which show this? To what is life compared in the eighth stanza? Read a line which makes you feel brave. Read a line which makes you want to work. John G. Saxe (1816-1887) was an American poet. He was born in Vermont and graduated from Middlebury College. He became editor of the "Burlington Sentinel.'' His poems are very popular. 1 It was a noble Roman, In Rome's imperial day, Before the castle, say, |