66 “A AMERICA SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH MERICA" always sends a patriotic thrill through every heart. The song stands for love of country, for the country, and for submission to the Great God, our King, "whose care and guidance has enabled us as Americans to claim a land where every echo is of freedom, and where rocks, valleys, hills, and breezes bid humanity shout praises for the joy of freedom and bow in humble prayer of thanksgiving to the great King of Kings who sheds upon his children freedom's holy light." The origin of this poem is of keen interest to all. Dr. Smith relates how Mr. Lowell Mason, the pioneer public school music publisher in America, had received some German school singing books. These he turned over for examination to Dr. Smith, whose ability as poet, German student, and translator was already much appreciated. Dr. Smith entered upon the work of selecting and compiling from these books songs adapted to the public schools of America. The rest of the story he tells as follows: "In looking through the books I came to the tune to which America is written. I spelled out the notes and found the tune bright and stirring. I looked down at the words at the bottom of the page and found them to be a patriotic hymn. 'Ah,' I thought, 'patriotic, that is just the tune for a patriotic hymn. America shall have one of her own.' I reached for a scrap of waste paper, and in less than an hour 'America' was written, very nearly as you see it to-day." The hymn was first sung by the Sunday School children in Park Street Church, Boston, July 4, 1832. AMERICA My country, 'tis of thee, Land where my fathers died, My native country, thee, I love thy rocks and rills, Let music swell the breeze, Our fathers' God, to Thee, To Thee I sing; Long may our land be bright Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King. Henry Van Dyke suggested that the following two stanzas be added to this song: I love thine inland seas, Thy river's mighty sweep, Thy silver eastern strands, Thy flowery southland fair, Whether we agree with Mr. Van Dyke or not about adding these two stanzas to "America," we can feel their beauty and the patriotism that inspired them. SUGGESTIVE EXERCISES 1. Tell the story of the origin of this song. 2. How is every one made to feel that the song is his own? 3. How many things mentioned endear our country to us? 4. In what spirit should the first three stanzas be sung? 5. What spirit seems to enrapture all hearts and awaken in them love of country? 6. What prayer in the closing stanza? 7. What does this hymn now call to mind and consecrate in our country's history? 8. Have the whole school sing the hymn with the thought of all it stands for. AMERICA 7 REFERENCES BROOKS: Our Native Land. LANIER: America. THOMPSON: Rule, Britannia! ROUGET DE LISLE: The Marseillaise. MAX SCHNECKENBURGER: Die Wacht am Rhein. God Save the King. Russian National Hymn. Austrian National Hymn. Swedish National Hymn. BATES: America. TAYLOR: America. DICKINSON: Hail, Columbia! HOVEY: Unmanifest Destiny. BRYANT: America. JOSEPH HOPKINSON: Hail, Columbia! MONTGOMERY: My Country. MORRIS: I'm With You Once Again. ANNABEL LEE EDGAR ALLAN POE OTHING in the life of Edgar Allan Poe so en NOT deared him to the public as his loving devotion to his wife, the beautiful Virginia. Though oppressed by a biting poverty that would have embittered many toward everything in life, he was her constant attendant as she sank, a victim to the ravages of consumption. His fidelity to this fadeless love called forth the following beautiful lyric in memory of their "more than love.” The sublimest melodies of all literature seem to have been poured from breaking hearts. If the highly sensitive poet is capable of expressing most beautifully the sorrows of life, he is also capable of feeling them most keenly. ANNABEL LEE It was many and many a year ago, That a maiden there lived whom you may know And this maiden she lived with no other thought I was a child and she was a child, In this kingdom by the sea, But we loved with a love that was more than love- With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven |