10 15 20 THE SHEPHERD OF KING ADMETUS JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL LOWELL, Longfellow, Bryant, Whittier, and Holmes belong to the group known as the New England poets. Lowell stands high among them. He was a great critic as well as a great poet, and he was deeply interested in American politics. During the Mexican War, and again dur5 ing the Civil War, he wrote a series of poems called "The Biglow Papers," which had undoubted influence in political questions. Lowell was at one time United States minister to Spain, and later to England. As American representative abroad he was popular for his tact and courtesy and ready address. He died in 1891. James Russell Lowell's name is one long to be remembered in American literature. One of his best known poems is "The Vision of Sir Launfal.” NOTE. According to the Greek myth, Apollo, the god of music, was condemned by Jove, whom he had offended, to serve a mortal for a year. Apollo entered the service of King Admetus and took care of his flocks. There came a youth upon the earth, Some thousand years ago, Whose slender hands were nothing worth, Upon an empty tortoise-shell He stretched some chords, and drew Fearless, or brimmed their eyes with dew. Then King Admetus, one who had To hear between the cups of wine! His words were simple words enough, Men called him but a shiftless youth, 5 10 It seemed the loveliness of things Did teach him all their use, For, in mere weeds, and stones, and springs, Men granted that his speech was wise, They laughed, and called him good-for-naught. Yet after he was dead and gone, And e'en his memory dim, Earth seemed more sweet to live upon, More full of love, because of him. THE GOLDEN TOUCH NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE (1804-1864) was one of the greatest literary artists America has produced. For an account of his life see Book IV, page 21. Among his best-known books are "The Marble Faun," "Twice Told Tales," "The House of Seven Gables," and "The Scarlet Letter." NOTE. This lesson is taken from a longer story in "The Wonder 5 Book." It is founded on a famous Greek myth. Once upon a time there lived a very rich man, and a king besides, whose name was Midas; and he had a little daughter, whom nobody but myself ever heard of. I choose to call her Marygold. 10 This King Midas was fonder of gold than of anything else in the world. If he loved anything better, or half so well, it was the one little maiden who played so merrily around her father's footstool. But the more Midas loved his daughter, the more did he desire and 15 seek for wealth. Midas was enjoying himself in his treasure room one day, as usual, when he perceived a shadow fall over the heaps of gold; and, looking suddenly up, what should he behold but the figure of a stranger, standing in the bright 20 and narrow sunbeam! It was a young man with a cheerful and ruddy face. The stranger gazed about the room; and when his lustrous smile had glistened upon all the golden objects that were there, he turned again to Midas. "You are a wealthy man, friend Midas!" he observed. 5 "I doubt whether any other four walls on earth contain so much gold as you have contrived to pile up in this room." "I have done pretty well, — pretty well," answered Midas, in a discontented tone. "What!" exclaimed the stranger. 10 not satisfied?" Midas shook his head. "Then you are "And pray what would satisfy you?" asked the stranger. "Tell me your wish." "It is only this," replied Midas. "I wish everything 15 that I touch to be changed to gold!" The stranger's smile grew so very broad that it seemed to fill the room like an outburst of the sun. "Be it as you wish," he replied, waving his hand in token of farewell. “To-morrow, at sunrise, you will find 20 yourself gifted with the Golden Touch." Whether Midas slept as usual that night, the story does not say. He started up with the first sunbeam in a kind. of joyful frenzy, and ran about the room grasping at everything that happened to be in his way. He seized 25 one of the bedposts, and it became immediately a fluted |