either
by a despotic prince, a rich abbot, or a mighty lord.

Religion demands but little of the American: a small 15
voluntary salary to the minister, and gratitude to God.
Can he refuse these?

The American is a new man, who acts upon new
principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas and form
new opinions. From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, 20
penury, and useless labor, he has passed to toils of
a very different nature, rewarded by ample subsistence.--This
is an American.

--_Letters of an American Farmer._

1. What is Crevec[oe]ur's definition of an
American? How would you define an American to-day?

2. Explain lines 15-18, on page 336. What does the
last clause of the sentence mean?

3. What reasons does the author give for a great
love of country on the part of Americans? Do these
reasons still hold good?

4. Explain: Alma Mater, posterity, allurement,
voluntary, servile, penury, subsistence.

THE RISING OF '76

BY THOMAS BUCHANAN READ

Read this selection entirely through before
stopping to inquire the meaning of puzzling
passages. Then re-read it for the references not
previously clear to you. A final reading should
enable you to get the fullness of the author's
meaning. On your first reading you should be able
to determine generally when the events took place,
where, and what happened.

Out of the North the wild news came,
Far flashing on its wings of flame,
Swift as the boreal light that flies
At midnight through the startled skies.
And there was tumult in the air, 5
The fife's shrill note, the drum's loud beat
And through the wide land everywhere
The answering tread of hurrying feet;
While the first oath of Freedom's gun
Came on the blast of Lexington; 10
And Concord, roused, no longer tame,
Forgot her old baptismal name,
Made bare her patriot arm of power,
And swelled the discord of the hour.

Within its shade of elm and oak 15
The church of Berkeley Manor stood;
There Sunday found the rural folk,
And some esteemed of gentle