6. What is the "Northern home" of the Knight of the Red Cross? What is meant by the Red Cross? 7. Describe the country through which he is traveling. 8. Tell all you can about the knight's dress, weapons, and coat-of-arms. 9. Describe the trappings of his horse. 10. How do the dress, arms, and horse of the Saracen differ from those of the knight? 11. Which horse would you prefer to have? 12. Tell the story of the combat. 13. Why does the Saracen desire a truce? 14. Which shows greater trust in the other? Why? 15. In accordance with what ideals of chivalry do both Saracen and Christian act?

For Study with the Glossary: Saracen (sâr' a sen), Saladin (sǎl'a din), Red Cross, pilgrim, catastrophe, converted, mail, sheathed, flexible, broadsword, frayed, coat-of-arms, couchant, mold, unerring, missile, truce.

Phrases: the accursed cities, fabulous unicorn, living water.

THE KNIGHT'S TOMB

The Knight's bones are dust,
And his good sword rust;

His soul is with the saints, I trust.

Samuel TayLOR COLERIDGE.

OUR COUNTRY

From the heroes of past times and distant lands we turn now to our own country. All that you have read about in the earlier pages of this book happened long before the discovery of America. All these heroes, from Hercules and Achilles to Richard and Saladin 5 were renowned in story and song centuries before Columbus sailed or the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. Our young nation has been the heir of the ages. It ought to profit from all that history and literature can tell us of the past, and it has the future before it. 10 What have we to be proud of in the few generations of our national life? What purpose and ideal are to guide our future? These are questions that every young American should consider, and he may find the answers written in the deeds and words of our nation's heroes. 15

In the selections that follow you will hear the voices of some great Americans; of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Webster, Emerson, and Lincoln. You may learn of their lives and of the stirring events which called forth the words you read. You will accom- 20 pany Washington in the adventures of his youth, and you will hear of his noble character as judged by another great American, Jefferson. You will be

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present at the very birth of the nation when John Adams pledged his heart and his hand to the Declaration of Independence, or when the embattled farmers stood

And fired the shot heard round the world.

You will take part too in that great debate in which Webster pleaded for a united country, and you will learn the majestic sentences in which Lincoln dedicated the war-stricken nation to a new birth of freedom.

These are great men and lofty messages. They tell us what the United States has been and what it ought to be. They thrill us with a pride in our past and a resolution for the future. For, to us as to these great men, patriotism means a resolution to make this coun15 try the home of liberty and justice, and the mother of worthy sons and daughters. If each generation renews this purpose, our nation will give the world something better even than

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The glory that was Greece

And the grandeur that was Rome.

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THE SHIP OF STATE

Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, O UNION, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!
We know what master laid thy keel,
What Workmen wrought thy ribs of steel,
Who made each mast, and sail, and rope,
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what a forge and what a heat
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope!
Fear not each sudden sound and shock,
'Tis of the wave and not the rock;
'Tis but the flapping of the sail,
And not a rent made by the gale!

In spite of rock and tempest's roar

In spite of false lights on the shore
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,

Our heart, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,

Are all with thee, - are all with thee!

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW.

HELPS TO STUDY

This selection is the closing passage from Longfellow's poem, the "Building of the Ship." He has been describing the way in which a ship was planned, and built, and launched; but he has had in mind the likeness between the ship and the state. So at the close of the poem it is the Nation that he addresses as she starts on her long voyage.

1. To what does Longfellow compare the Union? 2. Why is Humanity deeply concerned in the fate of our nation? 3. Who was the master who laid the keel for the ship of state? 4. Who were some of the workers who helped to build it? 5. What service are anchors to a ship? 6. What danger is there to a ship in "false lights on the shore"? 7. What are some of the dangers that our ship of state has met? 8. Why have we still faith in the nation? 9. What other poems of Longfellow have you read? 10. What do you remember about his life? 11. What other great writers lived near Longfellow? 12. Why should he be called a great American?

Review Questions. 1. Of what great nations have you read in this book? 2. What happened to the kingdom of the Pharoahs? to the Roman Empire? 3. How long has our nation been in existence? 4. What makes a nation great? 5. What do you understand by patriotism? 6. Name some of our national heroes.