were to the astronomers of old times. After penetrating, by means of the telescope, to depths exceeding millions of times the distance of the sun, inconceivable though that distance is, we find ourselves still surrounded by the same mysteries as when we first started. Around us and before 5 depths, and the only us there are still the infinite star certain lesson we can be said to have learned is, that those depths are and must ever remain unfathomable. astronomer. Gä li (le)le'ō, Gäli (le)le' (1564-1642): a famous Italian Găl'ǎx y: the groups of stars forming the Milky Way. A thwart': across. Găl ǎc'tic depths: the depths of the Galaxy or Milky Way. Her'schels: Sir William (1738-1822) and Sir John F. W. (1792-1871) his son. Two famous astronomers in England. Lord Rosse (1800-1867): an English astronomer who possessed a reflecting telescope with a six-foot mirror. The Courtship of Miles Standish By H. W. LONGFELLOW I MILES STANDISH In the Old Colony days, in Plymouth the land of the Pilgrims, To and fro in a room of his simple and primitive dwelling, Clad in doublet and hose, and boots of Cordovan leather, Strode, with a martial air, Miles Standish the Puritan Captain. 10 Buried in thought he seemed, with his hands behind him, 15 and pausing Ever and anon to behold his glittering weapons of warfare, Hanging in shining array along the walls of the chamber,Cutlass and corselet of steel, and his trusty sword of Damascus, 5 Curved at the point and inscribed with its mystical Arabic sentence, While underneath, in a corner, were fowling piece, musket, and matchlock. Short of stature he was, but strongly built and athletic, 10 Broad in the shoulders, deep-chested, with muscles and sinews of iron; Brown as a nut was his face, but his russet beard was already Flaked with patches of snow, as hedges sometimes in 15 November. Near him was seated John Alden, his friend, and household companion, Writing with diligent speed at a table of pine by the window; 20 Fair-haired, azure-eyed, with delicate Saxon complexion, Having the dew of his youth, and the beauty thereof, as the captives Whom Saint Gregory saw, and exclaimed, "Not Angles, but Angels." 25 Youngest of all was he of the men who came in the May Flower. 30 Suddenly breaking the silence, the diligent scribe interrupting, Spake, in the pride of his heart, Miles Standish the Captain of Plymouth. "Look at these arms," he said, "the warlike weapons that hang here Burnished and bright and clean, as if for parade or inspec tion! This is the sword of Damascus I fought with in Flanders; 5 this breastplate, Well I remember the day! once saved my life in a skirmish ; Fired point-blank at my heart by a Spanish arcabucero. Would at this moment be mold, in their grave in the Thereupon answered John Alden, but looked not up from 66 his writing: Truly the breath of the Lord hath slackened the speed of the bullet; He in his mercy preserved you, to be our shield and our weapon!" 15 Still the Captain continued, unheeding the words of the 20 stripling : "See, how bright they are burnished, as if in an arsenal hanging; That is because I have done it myself, and not left it to others. Serve yourself, would you be well served, is an excellent adage; So I take care of my arms, as you of your pens and your inkhorn. 25 Then, too, there are my soldiers, my great, invincible 30 army, Twelve men, all equipped, having each his rest and his matchlock, Eighteen shillings a month, together with diet and pillage, And, like Cæsar, I know the name of each of my soldiers!" 5 This he said with a smile, that danced in his eyes, as the sunbeams Dance on the waves of the sea, and vanish again in a moment. Alden laughed as he wrote, and still the Captain continued: 10" Look! you can see from this window my brazen howitzer planted High on the roof of the church, a preacher who speaks to the purpose, Steady, straightforward, and strong, with irresistible logic, 15 Orthodox, flashing conviction right into the hearts of the heathen. Now we are ready, I think, for any assault of the Indians; Let them come, if they like, and the sooner they try it the better, 20 Let them come if they like, be it sagamore, sachem, or pow-wow, Aspinet, Samoset, Corbitant, Squanto, or Tokamahamon! " Long at the window he stood, and wistfully gazed on the landscape, 25 Washed with a cold gray mist, the vapory breath of the east wind, 30 Forest and meadow and hill, and the steel-blue rim of the ocean, Lying silent and sad, in the afternoon shadows and sunshine. Over his countenance flitted a shadow like those on the landscape, Gloom intermingled with light; and his voice was subdued with emotion, Tenderness, pity, regret, as after a pause he proceeded : "Yonder there, on the hill by the sea, lies buried Rose Standish ; 5 Beautiful rose of love, that bloomed for me by the wayside! She was the first to die of all who came in the May Flower! Green above her is growing the field of wheat we have 10 sown there, Better to hide from the Indian scouts the graves of our people, Lest they should count them and see how many already have perished!" Sadly his face he averted, and strode up and down, and was thoughtful. Fixed to the opposite wall was a shelf of books, and among them 15 Prominent three, distinguished alike for bulk and for bind- 20 ing; Bariffe's "Artillery Guide," and the "Commentaries" of Cæsar Out of the Latin translated by Arthur Goldinge of London, And, as if guarded by these, between them was standing 25 the Bible. Musing a moment before them, Miles Standish paused, as if doubtful Which of the three he should choose for his consolation and comfort, 30 |