The woodland rings with laugh and shout, And woodland flowers are gathered To crown the soldier's cup. 5 With merry songs we mock the wind NOTES AND QUESTIONS For Biography see page 55. Historical Note. Francis Marion (1732-1795), a general of the Revolutionary period, was the leader of a band of men who carried on guerrilla warfare. Their force was too small to meet the British army in open battle, so they sallied out of woods and swamps and made unexpected attacks, fighting from behind trees and shrubbery. When the British tried to attack them, Marion's men retreated to their hiding-places in the deep thickets and morasses. Though clad in rags and almost starving, they kept up this sort of fighting with the zeal and courage of true patriots. By thus harassing the victorious troops in the Carolinas in 1780 and 1781, they helped to drive Cornwallis north into Virginia, where he surrendered at Yorktown. By their woodland sports in the greenwood they remind us of Robin Hood and his merry men. Discussion. 1. Who is speaking in this poem? 2. What does the word "band" tell you about these men? 3. How do seamen know their way when on the ocean? 4. How do woodsmen know their way in the forest? 5. Find the lines that picture a southern forest. 6. What does the second stanza tell you of Marion's method of attack? 7. Notice in the third stanza how the men spent their leisure time. 8. When did these hours of release occur? 9. Why is the moon called friendly? 10. Which lines show you that this band of men was swift in action? 11. For whom were these men fighting? 12. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: glade; deem; spoil; barb; hoary. Phrases for Study true and tried, 285, 1 hour that brings release, 285, 25 as if a hunt were up, 286, 2 Class Reading. Bring to class and read, “Another of Marion's Men," Dickson (in Pioneers and Patriots in American History); "The Swamp Fox," Simms. Suggestions for Theme Topics. 1. What I can do as a young American citizen to show that I am worthy of the sacrifices made by the patriots in the American Revolution. 2. What I can do to make our free government more and more a model for other nations to follow. 3. How my school is a part of the American government. TIMES THAT TRY MEN'S SOULS THOMAS PAINE These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too ✰ cheap, we esteem too lightly; 'tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; it would be strange, indeed, if so celestial an article as 10 freedom should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right, not only to tax, but to "bind us in all cases whatsoever," and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious, for 15 so unlimited a power can belong only to God. I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly 20 sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent. I once felt all that kind of anger which a man ought to feel, against the mean principles that are held by the Tories; a noted one, who kept a tavern at Amboy, was standing at his door, with 25 as pretty a child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as I ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, finished with this unfatherly expression, "Well! give me peace in my day." Not a man lives on the continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally 80 take place, and a generous parent should have said, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace"; and his single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty. Not a place upon earth might be so happy as America. Her situation is remote from all the 5 wrangling world, and she has nothing to do but to trade with them. A man can distinguish in himself between temper and principle, and I am as confident as I am that God governs the world, that America will never be happy till she gets clear of foreign dominion. Wars without ceasing will break out till that 10 period arrives, and the continent must in the end be conqueror; for though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice who shrinks back at a time when a little 15 might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. My 20 own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are 25 in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find 30 no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other. NOTES AND QUESTIONS Biographical and Historical Note. Thomas Paine (1737-1809), an interesting figure of the Revolutionary period, did much by his writings to help win the war. Franklin on one occasion said, "Where liberty is, there is my home"; whereupon Paine answered, "Where liberty is not, there is my home." He came to America from England in 1774 and fought for America's freedom as a volunteer under Washington. After the Revolution he went to France, where again he fought for liberty in the French Revolution. This selection is from a pamphlet called "The Crisis," published in 1776 by Paine. Washington had lost the battle of Long Island and had been compelled to retreat from New York toward Philadelphia. In Philadelphia there were many royalists who hoped that England would win the war. Many of Washington's soldiers who had enlisted for short terms, were on the point of deserting or resigning at the end of their terms. In this serious situation Washington ordered "The Crisis" to be read before every company of soldiers in his army. Discussion. 1. Select from these paragraphs sentences that would make good mottoes. 2. What political and military situation did Paine have in mind in the opening sentences? 3. What do you think of the argument of the tavern-keeper at Amboy as compared with Paine's? 4. If all Americans had been like this Tory at Amboy, would America today enjoy its “inheritance of freedom"? 5. What do we think today of our "remoteness from the wrangling world"? 6. What things, in the last one hundred years, have brought Europe and America closer together than they were in Paine's day? 7. Under what conditions did Paine think war justifiable? 8. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: crisis; celestial; Tory; dominion; induced; assigned. 9. Pronounce: impious; villain. summer soldier, 288, 1 sunshine patriot, 288, 2 Phrases for Study single reflection, well applied, 289, 2 grow brave by reflection, 289, 17 pursue his principles, 289, 19 what signifies it, 289, 26 reason to the root of things, 289, 29 |