it as you have learned it, Ben-the first stanza only." And Ben recited the first stanza of OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM: THE STAR SPANGLED O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the clouds of the fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming! And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave? When Ben had finished, his mother said: "Francis Scott Key, when he first wrote our National Anthem, made the third line end with perilous fight. This he afterward changed to clouds of the fight. I am glad to know that you have learned the Anthem cor rectly. That answers your question, does it not?" "Yes, Mother, and I am glad to know that I am right." His mother continued: "Have you learned that stirring song by Henry Holcomb Bennett, 'The Flag Goes By'?" 66 No, Mother; but I should like to." "Well, I will read it for you, and then you take the book and learn it by heart. When Grandma comes home with the girls, you may recite it for them. They will be pleased, I know." Ben's mother then read: THE FLAG GOES BY.* Hats off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums, The flag is passing by! Blue and crimson and white it shines, * Reprinted by permission of Youth's Companion. Hats off! The colors before us fly; But more than the flag is passing by. Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great, Fought to make and save the state; Weary marches and sinking ships; Cheers of victory on dying lips; Days of plenty and days of peace; March of a strong land's swift increase; Equal justice, right, and law, Stately honor and reverend awe; Sign of a nation, great and strong, Hats off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums: The flag is passing by! TO THE PUPILS: 1. Express in your own words how we should honor "The Star Spangled Banner." 2. Tell also how we should honor the Flag. 3. Write the first stanza of our National Anthem. 4. The dots in the seventh line of the first paragraph on p. 12 mean that something has been left out. 5. Moved, on p. 9, means stirred; chorus, a number of singers; reverence, means adoration, honor, or worship. 6. Fill each blank with the proper word: (a) The hearts of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower were shores of America. (b) We are a sembly. with joy when they saw the when we sing in As (c) We should always treat our flag with TO THE TEACHER: The teacher should impersonate the mother, beginning with the paragraph "Let me read," etc., p. 11, and read the extract to the class. CHAPTER III After his mother had finished, Ben took the book and began to learn the poem. To learn it quickly was an easy matter. It was very quiet in the room. Nothing was heard but the drip, drip, drip of the rain and the purring of the cat by the fireside. Suddenly the quiet was broken by a rat-tat-tat at the front door. "The postman, the postman!" cried Ben, as he ran to open the door, carrying his book with him. ters. Back he came in a minute with three let"From Grandma, Belle, and May, I hope, Mother," said he excitedly, putting his book down. "I am so glad." The letters were opened, and, sure enough, they were from the three visitors to New York, |