du'-ty-that which a person is bound to do; that which he should do. grieve to sorrow or mourn. stär'-tle to move suddenly or to be excited when alarmed. WORDS AND PHRASES: “sluices”—gates for regulating the supply of water. Felicia Hemans (1793-1835), an English poet, was born in Liverpool. She lived much of the time in North Wales. "Casabianca" and “The Landing of the Pilgrims' are her best known poems. 1 THE boy stood on the burning deck The flame that lit the battle's wreck 2 Yet beautiful and bright he stood, As born to rule the storm A creature of heroic blood, A proud, though child-like form. And shouted but once more aloud, "My father! must I stay?" While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud, The wreathing fires made way. 8 They wrapt the ship in splendor wild, And streamed above the gallant child 9 There came a burst of thunder sound- Ask of the winds that far around With fragments strewed the sea! 10 With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, That well had borne their part; But the noblest thing which perished there HELPS TO STUDY Historical: The hero of this poem was the son of Louis Casabianca, the captain of L'Orient, the flag-ship of the fleet which carried Bonaparte and his army to Egypt. In the Battle of the Nile the powder magazine exploded, the ship was burned, and the captain and his son perished. THE woman was old, and ragged, and gray, 2 She stood at the crossing and waited long 3 Down the street with laughter and shout, 4 Past the woman so old and gray, Hastened the children on their way, *From Harper's Weekly. Copyright, 1878, by Harper & Brothers. Nor offered a helping hand to her, Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet 5 At last came one of the merry troop, 6 Her aged hand on his strong young arm 7 Then back again to his friends he went, 8 "And I hope some fellow will lend a hand 9 And "somebody's mother" bowed low her head, In her home that night, and the prayer she said, Was, "God be kind to the noble boy, Who is somebody's son and pride and joy." |