Sons of Liberty acetylene light dewy freshness ampler hospitality curious coincidence automatic buoy Harvard University 2. Copy and memorize the first stanza of Emerson's poem. 3. Votive means given in fulfillment of a vow. Here, it means that the stone will perpetuate the memory of our forefathers' deeds long after the next generation has gone. TO THE TEACHER: Let the phonic work be the distinct enunciation and proper pronunciation of Exercise 1. Test the pupils' knowledge of "The Concord Hymn." In all religions, in all ages, votive offerings have been made. It might be well to tell the class about some of the votive offerings of pagan and Biblical times. EIGHTH DAY It is but twenty miles from Boston to Sudbury by rail, and a drive of two miles more from the station to the house made immortal by Longfellow in his "Tales of a Wayside Inn." The time passed so quickly that it seemed as if the party had but just started when they arrived, and were made welcome by the genial host, Mr. Lemon, who told them that they might go anywhere they pleased about the house; so they went "Round about, And in and out," looking at the quaint and curious relics of colonial days. While looking through the old kitchen, May came across something that puzzled her. She had never seen anything like it before. "What is it?" she asked Uncle Jack. "A bed-warmer," replied he. "In the old days the bedrooms were not heated. Just before going Courtesy of Mr. E. R. Lemon, Sudbury, Mass. THE WAYSIDE INN AT SUDBURY, MASS. to bed, one would put live coals into the receptacle at one end, close the cover, and then put the bedwarmer between the sheets. Now, by means of that long handle, whoever was making the bed ready to sleep in, would move the warmer to and fro, thus making the bed warm. One could then go to bed without danger of freezing almost to death, as would happen if one crept into an unwarmed bed." Later in the day, as they were looking through the parlor, Uncle Jack called their attention to an interesting letter, hanging on the wall. Here is a copy, made by Belle: Rome, [Italy], July 4, 1898.* Mr. Edward R. Lemon, Sudbury, Mass. DEAR SIR: In answer to your letter of June the 8th I am delighted to learn that you have purchased the dear old house and "carefully restored and put it back in its old time condition." I sincerely hope that it may remain thus for a long time as a memento of the days and customs gone by. It is very sad for me to think that I am the only living member of that happy company that used to spend their Summer vacation there in the fifties; yet, I still hope that I may visit the old Inn once more before I rejoin those choise [sic] spirits whom Mr. Longfellow has immortalized in his great Poem. I am glad that some of the old residents still remember me when I was a visitor there, with Dr. Parsons (the poet) and his sisters, one of whom, my wife, is also the only [other] living member of those that used to assemble there. Both my wife and I remember well Mr. Calvin Howe, Mr. Parmenter and the others you mention, for we spent many summers with Prof. Treadwell (the theologian) and his wife, Mr. Henry W. Wales (the student) and other visitors not mentioned in the Poem, till the death of Mr. Lyman Howe (the landlord) which broke up the party. * Used by permission of Mr. Edward R. Lemon. The "musician" and the "Spanish Jew," though not imaginary characters, were never guests at the "Wayside Inn." Sincerely yours, (signed) LUIGI MONTI (The young Sicilian). No sooner had Belle finished her copying, than it was time for dinner. After dinner Mr. Lemon invited the party into the office, where they seated themselves comfortably. Uncle Jack then suggested that Mr. Lemon read the Landlord's Tale, adding that he himself would read the Prelude. Mr. Lemon being willing, Uncle Jack began: TALES OF A WAYSIDE INN PRELUDE THE WAYSIDE INN One Autumn night, in Sudbury town, Across the meadows bare and brown, The windows of the wayside inn Gleamed red with fire-light through the leaves Of woodbine, hanging from the eaves, As ancient is this hostelry As any in the land may be, |