"MEN WHO MARCH AWAY” (Song of the Soldiers) THOMAS HARDY What of the faith and fire within us Ere the barn-cocks say Night is growing gray, Leaving all that here could win us; Is it a purblind prank, O think you, With doubt and dolorous sigh? Can much pondering so hoodwink you! Nay. We well see what we are doing, England's need are we; Her distress would leave us rueing: In our heart of hearts believing Press we to the field ungrieving, Victory crowns the just. 5 Hence the faith and fire within us Men who march away Ere the barn-cocks say Night is growing gray, Leaving all that here could win us; NOTES AND QUESTIONS Biography. Thomas Hardy (1840- ) was born in Dorsetshire, England. He was educated at local schools and by private tutors. At the early age of sixteen he was apprenticed to an architect of Worcester, in which line of work he made sufficient success to win a prize for design from the Architectural Association. At the same time he was writing some verse and an occasional short story, and was at a loss to know which kind of work to follow for a profession. However, after 1870 he spent most of his time in writing. He excels as a short story writer, his "The Three Strangers" appearing in a number of lists of the one hundred best short stories. Among his other works, Laughing Stock and Other Verses, Under the Greenwood Tree, and A Pair of Blue Eyes are widely known. Mr. Hardy was given the Order of Merit in 1910. The Poem "Men Who March Away," from Selected Poems of Thomas Hardy, was written at the time the English soldiers were entering the World War. Discussion. 1. What "faith and fire" must the soldier have who freely enlists in the service of his country in war? 2. Whom does the poet address in the second stanza? 3. Use other words instead of "purblind prank." 4. Explain the meaning of the fourth and fifth lines of the third stanza. 5. Why does the poet say the soldiers march away to war ungrieving? 6. What reason is given for the "faith and fire" of the soldiers? 7. In the fourth stanza, with what belief does the author accredit us? 8. What effect does the poet create by repeating the first stanza in closing the poem? the faith and fire within us, 343, 1 purblind prank, 343, 8 friend with the musing eye, 343, 9 Phrases dalliers as they be, 343, 17 to the field ungrieving, 343, 26 5 GRANDFATHER'S CHAIR NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE How NEW ENGLAND WAS GOVERNED The children had now learned to look upon the chair with an interest which was almost the same as if it were a conscious being and could remember the many famous people whom it had held within its arms. Even Charley, lawless as he was, seemed to feel that this venerable chair must not be clambered upon or overturned, although he had no scruple in taking such liberties with every other chair in the house. Clara treated it with still greater reverence, often taking occasion to smooth its cushion and to brush 10 the dust from the carved flowers and grotesque figures of its oaken back and arms. Laurence would sometimes sit a whole hour, especially at twilight, gazing at the chair and by the spell of his imagination summoning up its ancient occupants to appear in it again. Little Alice evidently employed herself in a similar way, for 15 once, when Grandfather had gone abroad, the child was heard talking with the gentle Lady Arbella as if she were still sitting in the chair. So sweet a child as little Alice may fitly talk with angels such as Lady Arbella had long since become. Grandfather was soon importuned for more stories about the chair. He had no difficulty in relating them, for it really seemed as if every person noted in our early history had on some occasion or other found repose within its comfortable arms. If Grandfather took pride in anything, it was in being the possessor of such an honorable and historic elbow-chair. "I know not precisely who next got possession of the chair after Governor Vane went back to England," said Grandfather, "but there is reason to believe that President Dunster sat in it 10 when he held the first commencement at Harvard College. You have often heard, children, how careful our forefathers were to give their young people a good education. They had scarcely cut down trees enough to make room for their own dwellings before they began to think of establishing a college. Their principal 15 object was to rear up pious and learned ministers, and hence old writers call Harvard College a school of the prophets." "Is the college a school of the prophets now?" asked Charley. "It is a long while since I took my degree, Charley. You must ask some of the recent graduates," answered Grandfather. "As 20 I was telling you, President Dunster sat in Grandfather's chair in 1642 when he conferred the degree of bachelor of arts on nine young men. They were the first in America who had received that honor. And now, my dear auditors, I must confess that there are contradictory statements and some uncertainty about 25 the adventures of the chair for a period of almost ten years. Some say that it was occupied by your own ancestor, William Hawthorne, first Speaker of the House of Representatives. I have nearly satisfied myself, however, that during most of this questionable period it was literally the chair of state. It gives 30 me much pleasure to imagine that several successive governors of Massachusetts sat in it at the council board." 35 "But, Grandfather," interposed Charley, who was a matterof-fact little person, "what reason have you to imagine so?" "Pray do imagine it, Grandfather," said Laurence. "With Charley's permission I will," replied Grandfather, smiling. "Let us consider it settled, therefore, that Winthrop, Bellingham, Dudley, and Endicott, each of them, when chosen governor, took his seat in our great chair on Election day. In this chair, likewise, did those excellent governors preside while holding consultation with the chief councilors of the province, who were styled assistants. The governor sat in this chair, too, 5 whenever messages were brought to him from the chamber of Representatives." And here Grandfather took occasion to talk rather tediously about the nature and forms of government that established themselves almost spontaneously in Massachusetts and the other New 10 England colonies. Democracies were the natural growth of the new world. As to Massachusetts, it was at first intended that the colony should be governed by a council in London. But in a little while the people had the whole power in their own hands, and chose annually the governor, the councilors, and the repre15 sentatives. The people of Old England had never enjoyed anything like the liberties and privileges which the settlers of New England now possessed. And they did not adopt these modes of government after long study, but in simplicity, as if there were no other way for people to be ruled. 20 "But, Laurence," continued Grandfather, "when you want instruction on these points you must seek it in Mr. Bancroft's History. I am merely telling the history of a chair. To proceed. The period during which the governors sat in our chair was not very full of striking incidents. The province was now 25 established on a secure foundation, but it did not increase so rapidly as at first, because the Puritans were no longer driven from England by persecution. However, there was still a quiet and natural growth. The legislature incorporated towns and made new purchases of lands from the Indians. A very memso orable event took place in 1643. The colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven formed a union for the purpose of assisting each other in difficulties, for mutual defense against their enemies. They called themselves the United Colonies of New England." 35 "Were they under a government like that of the United States?" inquired Laurence. "No," replied Grandfather; "the different colonies did not |