About the Author.-John Oxenham is a modern English poet who wrote many verses at the time of the Great War. He wrote novels also. This poem is from Princess Mary"s Gift Book, which was published forpurposes of war relief.
About the Poem.-Who is "you" in the second line? How can one fight for the truth and the right? What things are mean and base? What is meant by "keep his thought white"? Mention some of "the good and the great who battled with fate."Suggestions for Verse-speaking.-Let six pupils (or divisions of the class) speak one verse; then all join in the last verse, which should be spoken quietly.
Lesson 45
THE STORy OF GENERAL GORDON
In the war with the Russians, fought for the most part in the Crimean Peninsula in 1854, there was a young officer who won great praise because of his bravery; he seemed to have no fear of losing his life. His name was Charles George Gordon, and he was good as well as brave.
One day he was sitting on a stone in a trench, and the bullets were whistling around him. "Are you hurt?" asked his brother, who at some distance from him had noticed his cap move. Charles took off his cap. There was a bullet hole in it. "Those Russians are good shots," he said; "they are better than the French." He then put on his cap again.
A few years later some rebels rose up against the Emperor of China. The Chinese soldiers could not beat them, so the Emperor asked the British to lend him an officer. Charles Gordon was the one chosen.
As he was a strong, just man, who tried to do what was right, his troops soon learned to love him andto have faith in him. They were ready to follow him anywhere without fear. Many fierce fights took place, but he always won. He carried only a small cane, which his soldiers looked on as a wand of victory. With such a gallant leader they felt that they could never be beaten.
At last the rebels could fight no more; and then Gordon set out for England. When he was leaving, the Emperor wished him to accept some rich presents, but he would not take them. On his arrival in England, people wanted to make much of him; but he quietly said, "No, thanks," and set to work to learn more about a soldier"s duties.
Gordon spent a great deal of time and money in helping homeless boys. He took many of them into his own house, where he taught them to read and write. He also gave them food and clothes, though he was not a rich man. When they were old enough, he found work for them. Many became sailors, but he did not lose sight of them. He used to mark the course of their vessels with pins, or little flags, on his map.
"Are those your victories marked with pins?" asked a visitor, pointing to a map of the world which hung on the wall in Gordon"s study. Gordon turned to him with a beautiful smile, and answered, "Those pins are mykings, my boys whom I found in the gutter, my boys who are out in the world. Each pin has a name, and moves as its namesake moves. That"s the way I keep in touch with my kings."His next work was full of danger. He was sent to govern a country to the south of Egypt, where the people were always fighting. Gordon ruled well and wisely, and stayed there till all was quiet. Some years later, however, there was fresh trouble. A fierce chief rose up, and tried to make himself king.
The ruler of Egypt thought it best for his soldiers to leave the country. Gordon was sent out to help them, and he reached Khartoum, the chief town, safely; but the rebels would not let him take the troops away.
Months passed, and soldiers were sent from England to aid him. They fought several battles on the way; but, when they reached the town, they were too late. The rebels had broken in, and Gordon had been slain. He might have saved his life by leaving his soldiers, but he would not do that.
The people throughout the whole British Empire were very sorry when they heard of his death. In honour of the "Hero of Khartoum," they gave large sums of money to build homes for friendless boys. These homes(of which there is one in Melbourne) bear his name, and the boys in them are called Gordon Boys.
About the Author.-The name of the author is not known.
About the Story.-In what places did Gordon serve? Find them on a map of the world. What was greater in him than bravery in battle? There is a statue of General Gordon in Spring-street, Melbourne.
Lesson 46
COLumBuS AND HIS GREAT DISCOVERy
"Brave Admiral, say but one good word; What shall we do when hope is gone? " The words leaped as a leaping sword : "Sail on ! sail on ! and on !"Joaquin Miller.
Far, far away across the sea lies the sunny land of Italy, with its grey olive-trees, its fruitful vineyards, and, more precious than all, its darkeyed boys and girls. And in that fair country, nearly five hundred years ago, a hero was born.
Now, when a king"s son is born, bells are rung, thanksgiving hymns are sung, flags float proudly over the city, and the roaring of cannon proclaims the good tidings. But when Christopher Columbus was born there was no such rejoicing. The tiny baby boy came to the simple cottage of a working man of Genoa (j?n"- o-ah), and nobody knew that a hero"s life had just begun.
You must know, of course, that one does not become a hero all at once. This boy had much to learn. He had need of a strong body; so he had much playing to do, like other boys, in the open air, and much work as well, which made his muscles strong. He learned, as you do, to read and write; but he read and wrote the language of Italy.
And then he had to learn about ships, for the time was to come when he would command ships. He needed to know about the sea, for his great work would lead him across the wide ocean. He should know about men, for the time would come when he must direct men and they must obey. And, most of all, he had to learn to be very brave and patient if he would do a hero"s work for the world. How do you think he learned this lesson?