She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
The milky baldric of the skies,
And striped its pure celestial white
With streakings of the morning light;
Then from his mansion in the sun
She called her eagle bearer down,
And gave into his mighty hand
The symbol of her chosen land.

2

Majestic monarch of the cloud,

Who rear'st aloft thy regal form, To hear the tempest trumpings loud And see the lightning lances driven,

When strive the warriors of the storm,
And rolls the thunder-drum of heaven,
Child of the sun! to thee 'tis given

To guard the banner of the free,
To hover in the sulphur smoke,
To ward away the battle strokè,
And bid its blending shine afar,
Like rainbows on the cloud of war,
The harbingers of victory!

3

Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly,
The sign of hope and triumph high,
When speaks the signal trumpet tone,
And the long line comes gleaming on.

Ere yet the lifeblood, warm and wet,
Has dimmed the glistening bayonet,
Each soldier eye shall brightly turn
To where thy sky-born glories burn,
And, as his springing steps advance,
Catch war and vengeance from the glance.
And when thy cannon-mouthings loud
Heave in wild wreaths the battle shroud,
And gory sabres rise and fall

Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall,
Then shall thy meteor glances glow,
And cowering foes shall shrink beneath
Each gallant arm that strikes below
That lovely messenger of death.

4

Flag of the seas! on ocean wave
Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave;
When death, careering on the gale,
Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail,
And frighted waves rush wildly back
Before the broadside's reeling rack,
Each dying wanderer of the sea

Shall look at once to heaven and thee,
And smile to see thy splendors fly
In triumph o'er his closing eye.

5

Flag of the free heart's hope and home!
By angel hands to valor given;

Thy stars have lit the welkin dome,
And all thy hues were born in heaven.
Forever float that standard sheet!

Where breathes the foe but falls before us,
With Freedom's soil beneath our feet,

And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us?

QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. In this poem, who made the|5. Explain the meaning of American flag? What

does this mean?

stanza 3 in your own

words.

2. How did she make it? Do 6. Explain the meaning

you like this description?

3. Who is the "eagle bearer "? 7.
Why?

4. Tell where the eagle lives. 8.
(Stanza 2, first 6 lines.)
What is his task? (Stanza
2, last seven lines.)

of

stanza 4 in your own words.
Where is "the free heart's

hope and home"?
What answer do you think
the poet expects us to give
to the last three lines of the
poem?

5

THE FLAG

I have seen the glories of art and architecture and of river and mountain. I have seen the sun set on the Jungfrau and the moon rise over Mont Blanc. But the fairest vision on which these eyes ever rested was the flag of my country in a foreign port. Beautiful as a flower to those who love it, terrible as a meteor to those who hate, it is the symbol of the power and the glory and the honor of fifty millions of Americans.

ROBERT E. LEE TO HIS SON

This selection is from a letter written by General Robert E. Lee to his son, George Washington Custis Lee, while the boy was away at school.

Read it carefully and thoughtfully, being sure that you understand each piece of advice that General Lee gives to his son. Then compare it with the advice of Polonius to his son Laertes on p. 258 of this book.

The "Dark Day" referred to in the letter, with the story of Abraham Davenport, is beautifully described in Whittier's poem, "Abraham Davenport."

Before you read the letter, read over carefully the meanings of the following words:

frankness: speech and behavior so simple and honest that no one can mistake their meaning.

sacrifice (săk'ri-fis): the giving up of something of great value. equivocation: something said

which may have two meanings, and which is used with intent to deceive. consternation:

terror. sublimest word:

great fear;

a word of

noblest meaning.

ROBERT E. LEE TO HIS SON

You must study to be frank with the world. Frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it

for granted you mean to do right. If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot: you will wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.

Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep 5 one: the man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at a sacrifice. Deal kindly, but firmly, with all your classmates: you will find it the policy which wears best. Above all, do not appear to others what you are not.

10

If you have any fault to find with any one, tell him, not others, of what you complain: there is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man's face and another behind his back. We should live, act, and say nothing to the injury of 15 any one. It is not only better as a matter of principle, but it is the path of peace and honor.

In regard to duty, let me, in conclusion of this hasty letter, inform you that nearly a hundred years ago there was a day of remarkable gloom and darkness, — 20 still known as "The Dark Day," a day when the light of the sun was slowly extinguished as if by an eclipse. The Legislature of Connecticut was in session, and as its members saw the unexpected and unaccountable darkness coming on, they shared in the 25 general awe and terror. It was supposed by many that the Last Day

the day of judgment - had Some one, in the consternation of the hour, moved an adjournment.

come.