echoes, or influences, are dealt with in stanza 3? How do they differ from the bugle echoes? What word in line 16 gives you the key? If the influences of spiritual natures over each other are so far-reaching, what effect should it have on our sense of responsibility? Explain line 3. Explain: (1) "old in story," (2) "purple glens," (3) "yon rich sky." THE RED MAN ELOQUENT [This remarkable speech is said to have been delivered in 1842 by Colonel Cobb, the Head Mingo, or chief, of the Choctaws, to the members of the commission sent to superintend the transfer of the tribe to their new home in the Indian Territory.] Brother-We have heard you talk as from the lips of our father, the great white chief at Washington, and my people have called upon me to speak to you. The red man has no books, and when he wishes to make known his views, like his fathers before him, he speaks from his mouth. He is afraid of writing. When he speaks he knows what he says; the Great Spirit hears him. Writing is the invention of the pale faces; it gives birth to error and to feuds. The Great Spirit talks we hear him in the thunder-in the rushing winds and the mighty waters—but he never writes. Brother-When you were young we were strong; we fought by your side; but our arms are now broken. You have grown large. My people have become small. Brother-My voice is weak, you can scarcely hear me; it is not the shout of a warrior, but the wail of an infant. I have lost it in mourning over the misfortunes of my people. These are their graves, and in 10 15 20 those aged pines you hear the ghosts of the departed. Their ashes are here, and we have been left to protect them. Our warriors are nearly all gone to the far country west; but here are our dead. Shall we go too, and give their bones to the wolves? 25 30 Brother Two sleeps have passed since we heard you talk. We have thought upon it. You ask us to leave our country, and tell us it is our father's wish. We would not desire to displease our father. We respect him, and you his child. But the Choctaw always thinks. We want time to answer. Brother-Our hearts are full. Twelve winters ago our chiefs sold our country. Every warrior that you see here was opposed to the treaty. If the dead could have been counted, it could never have been 35 made; but alas! though they stood around, they could not be seen or heard. Their tears came in the raindrops and their voices in the wailing wind, but the pale faces knew it not, and knew it not, and our land was taken away. 40 45 Brother-We do not now complain. The Choctaw suffers, but he never weeps. You have the strong arm and we cannot resist. But the pale face worships the Great Spirit. So does the red man. The Great Spirit loves truth. When you took our country, you promised us land. There is your promise in the book. Twelve times have the trees dropped their leaves, and yet we have received no land. Our houses have been taken from us. The white man's plow turns up the bones of our fathers. We dare not kindle our fires; and yet you said we might remain, and you 50 would give us land. When he fulfills 55 He means well. Brother Is this truth? But we believe now our great father knows our condition; he will listen to us. We are as mourning orphans in our country; but our father will take us by the hand. his promise, we will answer his talk. We know it. But we cannot think now. Grief has made children of us. When our business is settled we shall be men again, and talk to our great father about what he has proposed. 60 Brother-You stand in the moccasins of the great chief, you speak the words of a mighty nation, and your talk is long. My people are small; their shadow scarcely reaches to your knee; they are scattered and gone; when I shout I hear my voice in the depths of 65 the woods, but no answering shout comes back. My words, therefore, are few. I have nothing more to say, but to tell what I have said to the tall chief of the pale faces, whose brother stands by your side. GLOSSARY. White Chief; feuds; Choctaw; Great Spirit. STUDY. How does each paragraph begin? Study until you can state the main point in each paragraph. What do you observe about the kind of words used? The kind of sentences? Is the speaker defiant, or broken in spirit? Does he seem to feel that there is no use in protesting against the stronger race? Do you feel sorry for him? Select some of the most pathetic passages. Would you call this an eloquent speech? What is the test? Dignified? Does it suggest any reason why we should be ashamed of the way the Indian has sometimes been treated? Explain "two sleeps," "twelve winters." WHEN THE COWS COME HOME AGNES E. MITCHELL With klingle, klangle, klingle, The cows are coming home. Now sweet and clear, and faint and low, Like chimings from some far-off tower, That makes the daisies grow. And old-time friends and twilight plays, With jingle, jangle, jingle, Malvine, and Pearl, and Florimel, De Kamp, Redrose, and Gretchen Schell, And clang her silver bell. Go-ling, go-lang, golinglelingle, And mother songs of long-gone years, With ringle, rangle, ringle, By twos and threes and single, The same sweet sound of wordless psalm, When the cows come home. With a tinkle, tankle, tinkle, Stand knee-deep in the creamy lilies, To-link, to-lank, tolinklelinkle, 30 85 40 45 50 |