NOTES.

THE RAPID STREAM.

(6) the earth is fair-fair means beautiful here.

THE BOYS AND THE FROGS,

Page 7.

Page 7.

(30) is us to death subjecting—is causing us to undergo death.

(2) the wild-waste minster means church. busied himself with it. playful, frolicsome.

LUCY GRAY.

Page 10. ground, moor. (19) minster clock(23) plied his work-bent to his work, (26) wanton stroke-wanton here means

THE CONCEITED FROG.

Page 12.

(2) parcel-every child knows what this word generally means; but here it means a lot. (26) sorely stung by his tone of contempt-made angry by the tone in which he had said that it was quite impossible that she could ever make herself as big as the ox.

(8) Flash the white caps of the sea-the white crests of the waves and the foam dashed from them appear like the wings of white gulls in the twilight.

(8)

(5) Spanish main-the north-east coast of South America, inhabited by descendants of the early Spanish conquerors. Mulla's shore--island of Mull. (11) smoke of turf-turf (dried) is used for fuel instead of coal in many parts of Scotland and Ireland. (9) spicy groves-groves of spice trees: where he had won his plumage of resplendent hue-this means, where he had been reared, fledged.

THE HOUSELESS.

Page 16.

(7) thus—in this manner, in the following words—willing ears— ears ready to listen to anyone in distress. (15) the rage of such a keen inclement sky-the driving sleet coming from the sky, and the cutting (keen) wind. (20) drifting snows my tomb prepare. -there are deep snow-drifts ready to bury me.

THE TURKEY AND THE ANT.

Page 17. (11) the busy negro race, this means the busy black ants. (24) nations kill-kill a number large enough for a nation.

ANECDOTE OF A DOG.

Page 19.

(5) for silence or for talk-to talk to if inclined to talk, and as companions he is not bound to talk to when not inclined. (26) cleaving to the sport-cleaving, properly, means holding fast to, here it means keeping closely in pursuit, as a boy would say, sticking to it. (30) hers is now another part-she has something else to do. (33) paws she stretches, very hands-stretches out her paws, using them as if they were hands.

THE BLIND MAN AND THE LAME ONE.

Page 20.

(3) fond delight-fond means foolish as it happened his delight was foolish, the lame man, as he would have known could he have seen, being unable to help him. (20) the good that social virtue brings-the good that comes from giving and taking help.

(5) to boast-to boast of (of omitted). (14) this will scent like the rose when I'm dead-at my death my good name will remain, just as the perfume of the rose remains after it is dead.

CASABIANCA.

Page 21. Casabianca was the son of a French captain commanding the flag-ship L'Orient at the Battle of the Nile, 1798, in which Nelson gained the victory.

(2) whence here, this means from which place. (3) flames that lit the battle's wreck-the flames from the burning ship showed the destruction caused in the battle. (6) as born to rule the storm-like one intended by nature to command his fellow creatures in the midst of danger. (7) heroic blood—of a noble, courageous nature; perhaps it means, come from a brave and illustrious race. (15) chieftain-properly the chief of a Scotch clan here it means the captain. ` (21) their breath-the hot air. (25) but here means only. (33) a burst of thunder-sound-the blowing up of the powder magazine. (37) pennon fair-here, fair means beautiful. (38) well had borne their part-served their purpose well.

THE INCHCAPE ROCK.

Page 23.

(27) mirthful to excess-full of mirth, overflowing with mirth. (28) the rover's mirth was wickedness-he showed his high spirits by doing wrong, his nature being bad. (42) scoured the seasroved about in search of vessels. (54) methinks-I think.

THE DOG AND THE WATER LILY.

Page 25.

(3) 'scaped from literary cares-escaped from books and studies. (11) intent surveyed-looked upon intently, or fixedly.

FIDELITY.

Page 26. (6) brake of fern—a place overgrown with fern. (8) glancingmoving rapidly. (25) boding put for foreboding, which means a feeling of some evil or misfortune being near at hand. (36) it breaks the remembrance of an occurrence, which would explain the finding of a skeleton there, came into his mind. (41) whose sake-for the sake of which, on account of which. (48) savage -here this means wild. (53) how nourished-how the dog obtained food. (55)-strength of feeling-great love and faith

fulness.

THE WOMAN AND THE BIRD.

Page 28.

(62) innocent grace-the beauty of innocence. (63) the hand that was always ready-ready to help, or comfort another. (71) the quick perceptive spirit-the spirit that is quick to perceive what is wanted. (72) still-here this means always.

ADDRESS TO A CHILD DURING A BOISTEROUS WINTER
Page 31.

EVENING.

(4) sounding flight-rushes past, making a (10) 'larum-put for alarum, a warning noise. kind of hawk.

THE MARINER'S SONG.

noise as it goes. (15) buzzard-a

Page 32.

(1) sheet-sail-ropes. (4) gallant-stout, strong. (8) on the lee-an expression used by sailors, meaning the side opposite to that from which the wind blows: here it probably means behind. (17) yon-over there, horned moon-this refer to the crescent shape of a new moon. (23) hollow oak-ship. (24) heritageproper home, that which comes to us from our fathers, as their heirs.

HOW COVENTRY WAS MADE FREE BY GODIVA, COUNTESS OF CHESTER.

Page 34.

(8) toll-free did sit-they had no tolls to pay (in those days a toll was a sum paid for liberty to buy or sell goods, or for the passage of goods). (11) charges—expense, cost. (15) thereof—of this toll. (20) in a pleasant vein-a saying, meaning in a good humour. (30) you will with reason crave-anything you ask within reason. (55) will-here this means desire, or wish. (56) was bent-was determined, or inclined. (64) throughout the city clean—here clean should be taken with throughout, clean throughout, which means right throughout.

N

TO FRIENDS GOING TO THE SEA-SIDE. Page 36.

(5) can picture the pleasures-can make a picture in my mind of the pleasures. (21) pen cannot paint that cannot be described with the pen. (22) all expression is faint-no words can describe thoroughly.

THE FOX AND THE GOAT.

Page 37.

(14) swill your fill-a vulgar saying, meaning drink as much as you want. (20) and strove thence to retreat-strove to retreat from thence. (22) on courtesy to stand-to think of politeness, to "stand on ceremony." (30) did some proportion bear the fox meant to say, if he had as much brain as he had beard.

(1) Hoarser gales-strong winds making a loud harsh noise as they blow, roaring. (7) whispering leaves-this refers to the rustling noise made by the dry dead leaves in touching each other when moved by the wind; this noise is spoken of here as like whispering. Of converse weary-tired of this whispering. (19) winter binds our hearts together-we are thrown more together, and thus get to think more of each other's joys and

sorrows.

JOHN GILPIN.

Page 43.

(3) train-band-militia. (23) calender-one whose trade it is to press cloth, linen, &c., so as to give it a gloss, cloth-presser. (26) for that-because. (39) all agog-eager. (54) sore-for sorely. (64) exercise go through exercises or drill, as captain of a train-band. (93) in that sort-in that manner, sort of way. (100) running such a rig—an expression, meaning play. ing such pranks. (115) he carries weight-in a horse-race, to make the race more even, some horses have to carry more weight than others, and if the rider is not up to the required weight he carries the additional weight needed. (122) reeking-steaming (with perspiration). (128) as they had basted been the appearance of the horse's flanks (the perspiration and wine dripping from his sides) is likened to that of a basted joint. (162) in such trim-presenting such an appearance. (172) merry guise -merry manner. (178) in merry pin-this is an expression, not used now, meaning in merry humour. (184) comely in its kind -good, or decent of its sort. (192) a hungry case-a hungry state, or condition. (214) posting-riding very fast, like a messenger carrying letters, (in those days called a post). (222) amain, hard, at a violent pace. (231) to miss the lumbering of the wheels-to miss the labour of dragging the heavy post-chaise. Page 51.

MORNING AFTER A STORM.

(5) broods-sits thinking. (13) raises a mist-the splashes of water she makes are drawn up by the sun in the shape of mist. (14) runs with her all the way-this means, rises from her footsteps as she runs.

THE FARMER AND HIS SONS.

Page 51.

(10) the spring-here this means the source, or the cause. (12) a broken reed-an expression meaning you have placed your trust or confidence in something not to be depended on. (23) death's eclipse-the extinguishing or putting out of life by death. (The word eclipse usually refers to the shutting out from our view of the moon, by the earth passing between it and the sun; or the sun being hidden from us by the moon passing between us and it.) (26) thirsting-here this means longing.

(7) the magic-the memories of youth being recalled with wonderful clearness by the note. (12) the bird-this refers to the dove sent out from the ark. (12) the waters cease-the waters of the deluge. (38) plumage mew'd (mewed)—feathers shed. (51) wring thy heart-make it feel exceedingly sad. (60) ill-omened-in bygone times people used to believe in all sorts of things as signs that something good or bad would happen to them, and these signs were called omens; the appearance of an owl was thought a bad omen. (66) nature's part-the doing or working of nature. (75) rain-here this means send down. (82) well-trained falcon-hawk trained to chase and kill birds. Braves me-challenges, or defies me.

THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD'S ENTERTAINMENT BY ROBIN Page 57.

HOOD.

(9) ven'son (put for venison)-deer, the word venison is now used only in speaking of the flesh of deer. (29) brave fellowsprobably this means daring fellows. (35) it becomes not from lordship's coat as a clergyman you ought not to do what you propose. (50) comely sight-pretty sight. (69) call in a reckoning -ask for an account of the cost of all this. (76) told-counted. (79) in charity with-feel kindly towards.

THE CHILD AND THE SNAKE.

(28) the envenomed wound—the poisonous bite.

EARLY LOVE FOR THE SEA.

Page 60.

Page 61.

(9) strive against-struggling or labouring against. (18) yesty -like yeast, frothy (yesty is put for yeasty). (21) clashing— striking one against another with a force which produces a noise, called clashing.

THE SUMMER SHOWER

Page 62. (6) like cavalry fleet-advancing rapidly, and dashing up the dust, like cavalry moving fleetly. (20) beautiful bow-rainbow.

A TALE FOR CHILDREN FOUNDED ON FACTS. Page 63. (5) a rosy cloud-a blush is here said to be like a cloud, be