This guide gives a good colored picture of the flower as do Matthews' "Field Guide to American Wildflowers" and many other flower books. 8. ground-bird: the vesper sparrow, so called because of its habit of singing in the late evening. Its nest is made of grass and placed in a depression on the ground. 11. portend: indicate by a sign that some event, usually evil, is about to happen. 16. cerulean: deep, clear blue. SONG of MARION'S MEN 4. Marion, Francis (1732-1795), in 1750 took command of the militia of South Carolina and carried on a vigorous partisan warfare against the English. Colonel Tarleton failed o find "the old swamp fox," as he named him, because the swamp paths of South Carolina were well known to him. See McCrady, "South Carolina in the Revolution," for full particulars of his life. 21. deem: expect. 30. up: over, as in the current expression, "the time is up." 41. barb: a horse of the breed introduced by the Moors From Barbary into Spain and noted for speed and endurance. 49. Santee: a river in South Carolina. 32. throes: agony. 44. Compare this final thought with the solution in "To a "Waterfowl." THE CROWDED STREET 32. throes: agony 44. Compare this final thought with the solution in "To a Waterfowl." THE SNOW-SHOWER All the New England poets felt the charm of falling snow, and several have written on the theme. In connection with this poem read Emerson's "Snow-Storm" and Whittier's "The Frost Spirit." The best known of all is Whittier's "Snow-Bound "; the first hundred and fifty lines may well be read here. 9. living swarm: like a swarm of bees from the hidden chambers of the hive. 12. prone: straight down. 17. snow-stars: what are the shapes of snowflakes 20. Milky way: the white path which seems to lead acre. The sky at night and which is composed of millions of stars. 21. burlier: larger and stronger. 35. myriads: vast, indefinite number. 37. middle: as the cloud seems to be between us and the blue sky, so the snowflakes before they fell occupied a middle position. ROBERT of LINCOLN "Robert of Lincoln" is the happiest, merriest poem written by Bryant. It is characteristic of the man that it should deal with a nature topic. In what ways does he secure the merriment? Analyze each stanza as to structure. Does the punctuation help to indicate the speaker? Look up the Bobolink in the Bird Guide or some similar book. How much actual information did Bryant have about the bird? Compare the amount of bird-lore given here with that of Shelley's or Wordsworth's "To a Skylark." Which is more poetic? Which interests you more? THE POET 5. deem: consider. Compare with the use in the "Song of Marion's Men," 1.21. 8. wreak: carry them out in your verse. The word usually has an angry idea associated with it. The suggestion may be here of the frenzy of a poet. 26. unaptly: not suitable to the occasion.