The Ontario Readers: Fourth Book

CAL IN

doing, the g

e reeds by

uin and sca

paddling with

the golden

agon-fly on

a reed, the

p, cool bed

water tur

ken lilies

gon-fly had

ght it out

hore sat the

idly flow'

d hew'd as a

bleak steel at

not a sign of

fresh from

rt, did the g

t stood in

pith, like the

rom the ou

the poor, dr

s he sat by

y," laugh'd the

ile he sat

way, since

music, they

his mouth to a

power by

eet, swee

sweet by

weet, O gr

the hill fo

reviv'd, and

to dream o

east is the g

he sits by

poet out

sigh for the c

which grows n

th the reeds

h Barret

our, little a

are according

rr

AND MO

and floated downward in perfect order with the current of the ebb-tide. To the boundless joy of the army, Wolfe's malady had abated, and he was able to command in person. His ruined health, the gloomy pr

e. The ebbing tide sufficed to bear the boats along, and nothing broke the silence of the night but the gurgling of the river, and the low voice of Wolfe, as he repeated to the officers abou

e stole with mournful prophecy across his mind. "Gentlemen," he said, as he closed

in towards the northern shore, and the woody precipices ros

French sentinel from o

ptain of Fraser's Highland

el was deceived and allowed the English to proceed. A few moments later, they were challenged again, and this time they could discern the soldier running

French guard was posted at the top to defend the pass. By the force of the current the foremost boats, including that which carried Wolfe himself, were borne a little below the spot. The general was

ordering the soldier to withdraw. Before the latter was undeceived, a crowd of Highlanders were close at hand, while the steeps below were thronged with eager climbers, dragging themselves up by trees, roots, and bushes. The guard turned out and made a brief though brave resistance. In a moment they were cut to pieces, di

ion of the Canadian militia had dispersed from sheer starvation. In spite of all, he had trusted to hold out till the winter frosts should drive the invaders from before the town, when on that disastrous morning the news of their successful temerity fell like a cannon-shot upon his ear. Still he assumed a tone of confidence. "They have got to the weak side of us at last," he is reported to have said, "and we must crush them with our numbers." With headlong haste his troops were pouring over the bridge of St. Charles, and ga

ight showers descended besprinkling both alike. The coppice and corn-fields in front of the British troops were filled with French s

arrested with sudden ruin on a sunken rock, the ranks of Montcalm staggered, shivered, and broke before that wasting storm of lead. The smoke rolling along the field for a moment shut out the view, but, when the white wreaths were scattered on the wind, a wretched spectacle was disclosed: men and officers tumbled in heaps, battalions resolved into a mob, order and obedience gone; and, when the British muskets were levelled for a second volley, the masses of the militia were seen to cower and shrink with uncontrollable panic. For a few minutes the French regulars stood their ground, returning a s

guard the camp. The pursuers were recalled by sound of trumpet, the broken ranks were formed afresh, and the English troops withdrawn beyond reach of the cannon of Quebec. Townshend and Murray, the only general officers who rem

officer of artillery, and a private soldier, raised him together in their arms, and bearing him to the rear laid him softly on the grass. They asked if he would have a surgeon, but he shook his head and answered that all was over with him. His eyes closed with the torpor of approaching death, and those around sustained his fainting form. Yet they could not withhold their gaze from the wild turmoil before them, and the charging ranks of their companions rushing through fire and smoke. "See

could not recover. "I am glad of it," was his calm reply. He then asked how long he might survive, and was told that he had not many hours remaining. "So much the better," he said; "I am happy that I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec." Officers from the garrison came

before a single gun was brought to bear, the white flag was hung out, and the garrison surrendered. On the eigh

e Conspiracy

NA

Wolfe! Wolfe

hy storie

burning son

thy her

bor'st the b

n and at Lu

nt ranks, bu

le broke

e danger, wh

iumphant thro

's Farm, at

e clarion-bu

cific slop

that northward

Acadia's ch

await t

but some in

housed, in st

anadian li

Egypti

ile! Thy s

thy most an

ith far Can

of Canadi

country, dr

hold how nig

reast, and o

he upris

G. D.

e for her, die for her. Never has any people been endowed with a

Duf

E'S CH

ces of Scrooge's youth, the second showed him Christmas as it might be spent and incidentally, too, what some people thought of him. The third showed him the "shadows of the things that have not happened, but will happen in the time before us." He saw himself dead, uncared for,

wn, the room was his own. Best and happiest of all,

d out of bed. "The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. O Jacob Marley! Heaven a

roken voice could scarcely answer to his call. He had been sobbing viol

s,-"they are not torn down, rings and all. They are here,-I am here,-the shadows of

hem inside out, putting them on upside down, tearing them, mis

elf with his stockings. "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as

ting-room, and was now stan

ere's the door by which the Ghost of Jacob Marley entered! There's the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Present s

ny years, it was a splendid laugh, a most illustrious la

long I have been amongst the Spirits. I don't know anything. I'm quite a bab

stiest peals he had ever heard. Clang, clash, hammer; ding, dong, b

ar, bright, jovial, stirring cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; gold

ownward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who p

e boy, with all h

my fine fellow

d the boy. "Why,

The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they

returne

in the next street but one, at

e I did," rep

you know whether they've sold the prize turkey that was ha

as big as me?

d Scrooge. "It's a pleasure

there now," re

Scrooge. "Go

" exclaim

t I may give them the direction where to take it. Come back with the man, and I'll give yo

ve had a steady hand at the trigger who

splitting with a laugh. "He shan't know who sends it. It's twice the size of

ehow, and went down-stairs to open the street door, ready for the coming of the Po

arcely ever looked at it before. What an honest expression it has in its face! It's

his legs, that bird. He would have snapped 'em o

y that to Camden Town," said

le with which he paid for the cab, and the chuckle with which he recompensed the boy, were only excee

s attention, even when you don't dance while you are at it. But, if he had cut the end of hi

and, walking with his hands behind him, Scrooge regarded everyone with a delighted smile. He looked so irresistibly pleasant, in a word, that three or four good-humoured fellows

oned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses and up to the windows, and found that every thing could yield him pleasure. He had

ore he had the courage to go up and

y dear?" said Scrooge to t

s,

, my love?"

along with mistress. I'll sho

, with his hand already on the dining

at the table (which was spread out in great array); for these young housekeep

r heart alive, how his ni

soul!" cried Fr

e. I have come to dinner.

rtier. His niece looked just the same. So did Topper when he came. So did the plump sister when she came. S

here. If he could only be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit c

t. No Bob. He was full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time. Scro

r, too. He was on his stool in a jiffy, driving away wit

oice, as near as he could feign it. "What do

sir," said Bob. "I

"Yes, I think you are. Step t

pearing from the Tank. "It shall not be repea

longer. And therefore," he continued, leaping from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in his wai

entary idea of knocking Scrooge down with it, holding him, and c

fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we'll discuss your affairs this

orough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of l

and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the kn

"A Christ

ALL

our Queen thi

to England,

the best

is native c

m's oak fo

er life fro

the true

e moulder'd

all

aitor's ho

use of Freedom d

ame of England,

loyal hea

English Em

noble sons,

of the Sou

under Ind

k millions o

hom we love

atesman hol

all

aitor's ho

me of England dr

rious empire, r

statesmen

s of the la

r Houses,

borough and

herever shi

many a mi

r greatness

en fears of

all

aitor's ho

use of Freedom d

ame of England,

nn

PPLICATION

can indeed divine? And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's bondmen, both

your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, Go again, buy us a little food. And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: and the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I have not seen him since: and if ye take this one also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now, ther

e before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land; and there are yet five years in the which there shall be neither ploughing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and

is, X

AM'S

Exodus

timbrel o'er Eg

riumphed-His p

ride of the ty

horsemen all sp

boasting! the Lor

d horsemen are

timbrel o'er Eg

riumphed-His p

Conqueror, pra

arrow, His brea

urn to tell E

t forth in the p

looked out from Hi

thousands are da

timbrel o'er Eg

riumphed-His p

as M

CTION OF S

. Kings,

e down like the

were gleaming in

heir spears was li

ve rolls nightly

f the forest when

heir banners at

f the forest when

morrow lay with

Death spread his

the face of the

he sleepers waxed

t once heaved, and

e steed with his

re rolled not the

his gasping lay

spray of the r

the rider, dis

is brow, and the

re all silent, t

lifted, the t

of Ashur are lo

re broke in the

the Gentile, unsm

snow in the gla

y

he wicked shal

f the upright

the Lord is str

n shall have a

ov

AT THE

they came upon a small squatter's house and premises. "Here we

gate in the middle of them. From the little plantation, all the magnificent trees and shrubs of Australia had been excluded with amazing resolution and consistency, and oak and ash reigned safe from overto

and indeed it would be a sin to wish it, you know. Now, Tom, come this way; here it

d. "What, is it this we

elve wouldn't hav

t is the lark

s is

This is

isn't a l

see! ha! h

rsh remonstrance from several of the diggers

to sing;" and the whole party had their ey

d exile began, as it were, to tune his pipes. The savage men gathered round the cage that moment, and amidst a dead stillness the bird uttered some ver

d he gave music back for it more and more, till at last-amidst breathless silence and glistening

ring he sang so well, a loud sigh from many a rough bosom, many a wild and wicked heart, told how tight the listeners had held their breath to hear him; and when he swelled with song again, and poured with all his soul the green m

e do

nk and lusts and remorses,-but no note was changed in this immortal song. And so for a moment or two, years of vice rolled away like a dark cloud from the memory, and the past shone out in the song-shine: they came back, bright as the immortal notes that lighted them, those faded pictures and those fleeted days; t

"It is Never To

CIENT

ancient

oppeth on

ray beard and

ore stopp'

m's doors are

m next

re met, the

ar the me

m with his

s a ship,

hand me, grey

his hand

with his gl

g-Guest st

like a three

ner hath

-Guest sat

t choose

ake on that

ht-eyed

cheered, the h

y did

kirk, belo

e lighth

me up upon

the sea

bright, and

wn into

d higher

the mast

uest here bea

rd the lou

ath paced i

a rose

ir heads be

ry mins

Guest he bea

not choose

ake on that

ht-eyed

storm-blast

nnous an

th his o'ert

ed us so

masts and d

ued with ye

s the shado

rd bends

fast, loud ro

hward ay

e came both

rew wond

t-high, came

en as

he drifts the

a disma

f men nor be

was all

here, the ic

was al

growled, and ro

ses in a

id cross an

the fog

d been a Ch

it in Go

food it ne'

and roun

split with a

an steered

uth wind spru

tross di

day, for f

he marine

loud, on mas

d for ves

night, through

the white

thee, anci

ds, that plag

hou so?"-"Wit

the Alb

eri

F THE FRENCH P

le a fuller freedom, an ampler political development, a far more abundant prosperity. It left a

elihood, be no Canada. By their rejection of the proposals of the revolted colonies, the northern half of this continent was preserved to Great Britain. The debt which the empire owes to the French Cana

y, were held only by a few scattered forts, buried here and there in the green wilderness. At Detroit had sprung up a scanty settlement of perhaps one thousand souls. In these remote posts the all-important question was still that of the fur-trade with the Indians. The traders and the soldiers, cut off from

recipitous had a way, then as now, of changing suddenly into flights of stairs. The city walls, grimly bastioned, ran in bold zigzags across the face of the steep in a way to daunt assailants. Down the hillside, past the cathedral and the college, through the heart of the city, clattered a noisy brook, which in time of freshet flooded the neighbouring streets. Part o

re built of the light gray stone which now gives dignity to the city, were usually of but one story. They were arranged in three or four long lines parallel to the river. The towers of the Seminary of St. Sulpicius and the spires of three churches, standing out against the green of the stately mountain, were consp

ce of chairs. A clumsy loom, on which the women wove their coarse homespuns of wool or flax, occupied one corner of the main room; and a deep, box-like cradle, always rocking, stood beside the ample fireplace. Over the fire stood the long, black arms of a crane, on which was done most of the cooking; though the "bake-kettle" sometimes relieved its labours, and the brick oven was a standby in

of. This main building was flanked by one or more wings. Around it clustered the wash-house (adjoining the kitchen), coach house, barns, stable, and woodsheds. This homelike cluster of walls and roofs was sheltered from the winter storm by groves of evergreen, and girdled cheerily by orchard and kitchen-garden. On one side, and not far off, was usually a village with a church-spire gleaming over it;

s and grand receptions. Out-of-doors, and in the winter especially, the costumes of the nobility were more distinctly Canadian. Overcoats of native cloth were worn, with large, pointed hoods. Their pattern is preserved to the present day in the blanket coats of our snow-shoers. Young men might be seen going about in colours that brightened the desolate winter landscape. Gay belts of green, blue, red, or yellow enriched the waists of their thick overcoats. Their scarlet leggings were laced up with green ribbons. Their moccasins were gorgeously embroidered wit

aste their precious bullets and powder in this way. They had learned from the Indians, whom they could beat at their own game, to fight from behind trees, rocks, or hillocks, to load and fire lying down, and to surprise their enemies by stealing noiselessly through the underbrush. At close quarters they fought, like the Indians, with knife and hatchet, both of which were carried in their belts. From the ranger's belt, too, when on the march, hung the leathern bag of bullets, and the inevitable tobacco-pouch; while from his neck swung a powder-horn, often richly carved, together with his cherished pipe inclosed in its case of skin. Very often, however, the ranger spared himself the trouble of a pipe by scooping a bowl in the back of his tomahawk and fitting it with a hollow handle. Thus the same implement became both the comfort of his leisure and the torment of his enemies. In winter, when the Canadians, expert in the use of the snow-shoe and f

Roberts: "Hist

N OF

e might the H

from Whom

t nations

t the star

ss forces d

d us as

ng of the ar

l-strike

ur realm in

and equa

hold the Em

dom tha

speech whose

broad str

ger from p

and peac

hearts of cow

o dare o

ne of a na

asy to

watchword o

d with ocea

spirit's an

could quenc

e? Make us s

ke us gre

ntarctic o

n the po

ild coasts our

way is t

guardian o

he oppress

uphold us i

and clea

honeyed word

dom of

of the wor

Thy bounte

llustrious

tre of o

G.

OF A

were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. For the batt

under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he wa

told Joab, and said, Behold, I

est him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground?

ing's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. Otherwise I sho

thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood,

nd lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the

ng alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost

earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, whi

king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. And

all them that rose up against thee. And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answ

and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my

eard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. And the people gat them by stea

e king cried with a loud voice, O my