Reed

“ If any light gale of prosperity blow upon us, we beat our neighbours with idle motion: we are useless to help, facile to injure. Reeds love rivers, as the fading and transitory things of the world delight us. If, however, anyone shall pluck up this reed from the earth, and strip off its useless parts—spoiling the old man with his deeds—and guide it by the hand of a scribe writing quickly, it begins to be no more a reed, but a pen, which impresses the precepts of the heavenly Scriptures on the hidden places of the mind, and writes them on the tables of the heart. ”

“ In the Bible it is perhaps possible to identify some of the Reeds mentioned, with the Sugar Cane in some places, with the Papyrus in others, and in others with the Arundo donax. As a Biblical plant it has a special interest, not only as giving the emblem of the tenderest mercy that will be careful even of "the bruised Reed," but also as entering largely into the mockery of the Crucifixion: "They put a Reed in His right hand," and "they filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it upon a Reed and gave Him to drink." ”

“ I answered frankly. “It's just—you know—love. And, oh, Reed, it's getting worse every minute!”
After a while I remembered the morning, and I had to cry about that a little. But he promised me over and over that he wouldn't die, and so I stopped. ”

“ What he before testified of Me, when he was at liberty, he testifies with equal fortitude now that he has been shut up by Herod in prison: and he has sent his disciples to Me that they themselves may see by My miracles that his testimony concerning Me was true.”
Tropologically, a reed, is a light man, inconstant, tossed to and fro: at one time impelled by the words of flatterers, he asserts something: again being driven by detractors, he denies it, as a reed is blown in different directions by different winds. ”

“ Bene. Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife; there is no staff more reverend than one tipp'd with horn.
In this comparison the prince is the staff, and the question is what sort of a one is here alluded to. Messrs. Steevens, Reed, and Malone, conceive it to be the staff used in the ancient trial by wager of battle ”

“ The Tree and the Reed
“Well, little one,” said a Tree to a Reed that was growing at its foot, “why do you not plant your feet deeply in the ground, and raise your head boldly in the air as I do?”
“I am contented with my lot,” said the Reed. “I may not be so grand, but I think I am safer.”
“Safe!” sneered the Tree. “Who shall pluck me up by the roots or bow my head to the ground?” ”

“ O some they stole his powder-horn,
And some put water in his lang gun:
'O waken, waken, Parcy Reed!
For we do doubt thou sleeps too sound.
'O waken, O waken, Parcy Reed!
For we do doubt thou sleeps too long ”

“ “My Uncle Reed is in heaven, and can see all you do and think; and so can papa and mama: they know how you shut me up all day long, and how you wish me dead.”
Mrs. Reed soon rallied her spirits: she shook me most soundly, she boxed both my ears, and then left me without a word. Bessie supplied the hiatus by a homily of an hour’s length, in which she proved beyond a doubt that I was the most wicked and abandoned child ever reared under a roof. I half believed her; for I felt indeed only bad feelings surging in my breast. ”

“ My object in giving this introductory letter is to show Mr. William B. Reed that the treachery of his grandfather was understood by the army at large, and that the knowledge of it was not confined to a few leading officers. Documents of a more precise, specific, and important character, are in my possession, or within my means of access; and shall seasonably appear; but, unlike "McDonough," I do not choose to put my best foot foremost, and limp ever aftewards [TN] . I subjoin another letter from Sergeant Kemp, for the edification of Mr. Reed.
"Monmouth Court House, N. J., July 2d, 1778." ”

“ But one—he who had voted to hang me—came up in a friendly way.
“Come, lad,” said he, “look not glum; our gallants will have their jest.”
“’Tis no jest to call a loyal subject of the Queen a Jesuit, still less to hang him,” said I.
“Well, well,” said he, “next time we’ll call thee Puritan and burn thee—that will make the balance straight. Meanwhile join us, and scour that frown off thy visage,” and he clapped me on the back with a whack which made my nag prick up her ears and jump a foot off the ground. ”

“ And, most pitiful of all, when blinded by her own senses, she will surrender the last citadel of her womanhood to him who comes a-wooing, undismayed by the weeping women around her whose sacred altars have been profaned and left bare. ”

“ Deep in her heart she still loved Alden, but unselfishly. This new Rosemary asked nothing for herself, she only longed to give, though freedom might be her best gift to him. Harm could come to her only through herself; the burning heart and the racked soul had been under the dominion of Fear.
She took the path up along the river, that lay half asleep and crooning drowsily to the little clouds that were mirrored upon its tranquil breast. Tiny blue pools among the rushes at the bend in the stream gave back glints of sapphire and turquoise, with now and then a glimmer of gold. ”

“ Talbot Baines Reed "Sir Ludar"
A Story of the Days of the Great Queen Bess. Chapter One. How I saw my Queen.
Every story, whether wise or foolish, grave or gay, must needs have a beginning. How it comes to pass that my story begins on a certain day in May, in the year of our Lord 1585, I can never, although I am far on in life now, properly explain. ”

“ Next day, at daybreak, the maiden, white as a sheet, and with lips close-pressed to hinder their trembling, walked slowly across the bridge to the castle gate. I had got her two horses, one for her and one for the old nurse; and a trusty escort of six McDonnells and the English soldier to conduct her to Toome.
At parting she held out her hand.
“Humphrey,” said she, “tell him of this; and may she who loves you never lose you as I have lost him.”
“All is not lost,” said I, “we shall meet again, and all will be happy yet.” And I lifted her to her horse. ”

“ He spoke little enough about the maiden, though I longed to hear of her. Once, when I asked him, his face grew overcast.
“That maiden,” said he, “is never so merry as when the waves are breaking over the deck. Yet I see her little, for, in sooth, the old nurse has been nearer death than you, and will allow no one to go near her but her young mistress. Nor dare I offer myself where I am not bidden. Humphrey,” added he, “I prefer to talk of something else.” ”

“ I swear to you, that next to my Queen, my father, and the memory of her who once loved me, you have the chiefest right to say, ‘Ludar, help me,’ and if I forget you, ’twill be that I have forgotten I am a man. ”

“ The Sceptre of the King
"To Love and Understand!" He who holds the sceptre of the king may rule right royally. There is solace for the tired traveller within the cloister of that other heart, and the pitiful chains which some call marriage would rust and decay at the entrance to that holy place.
The spotless peace within the inner chamber is his alone. There his motives are never questioned, nor his words distorted beyond their meaning, and his daily purposes are ever read aright. ”

“ I would sooner he had cut at me with his dirk. But further parley was ended by a sudden noise of horns and a tramp of horses close by.
I sprang to the alert in an instant.
“The bishop’s men!” cried I, “we are pursued. Fly!”
“Too late for that,” said my comrade, as a party of huntsmen, some mounted, some on foot, broke through the glade at the very spot where we stood.
It was not the bishop’s men; but to my horror I recognised in the leading horseman, his worship the Mayor. ”

“ Each Ruler realizing that he himself couldn’t fight for fried fish, began to shake his little mad-made god before the eyes of the Deluded, and through poetry, prose and prayer got them to believe that it was deity’s own special wish that he should slaughter his neighbor. ”

“ A great many years ago I fell heir to a large fortune, on the death of my uncle, and expected to devote my time entirely to society, and the pleasures of a gentleman of leisure. A lot of contesting relatives came on the scene, and for over twenty years the case has been in the courts. ”

“ THE HEFT-KHĀN, OR SEVEN LABORS OF RUSTEM. A LION SLAIN BY RAKUSH—ESCAPE FROM THE DESERT—THE DRAGON SLAIN—THE ENCHANTRESS—CAPTURE OF AULĀD—VICTORY OVER DEMONS—SEVENTH LABOR, THE WHITE DEMON SLAIN—THE MARRIAGE OF RUSTEM—SOHRĀB.
With only his faithful horse for company, the young chieftain set out upon his perilous attempt to rescue the infatuated monarch from the foe in whose hands he was so justly suffering. The generous steed pushed rapidly forward, making two days journey in one, and after a time they entered a gloomy forest, which was filled with herds of gor. ”

“ Never, I think, did monarch ride down a prouder road than that, walled four-deep for the length of two furlongs by youths who would fain have spilt their blood twice over to do her service, and who, since that was denied them, flung their shouts to heaven as she passed, and waved their caps club-high. ”

“ Of what use is a blind eye except to give pain? Of a child unborn, dead or ignorant, the two first are preferable, since they make us unhappy but once, and the last by continual degrees. A numerous family under such circumstances is poison, as is a young wife to an old man.”
Considering these things, the king gave orders for a council of learned men to be called, in order that they might study the solution of his problem, and devise, if possible, some method by which his sons might be taught the lessons of morality and wisdom. ”

“ What is your quarrel? and have you no work for your captain, that you thus bring civil war into his castle?”
“By your leave, fair maiden,” said the Englishman, “no man here is my captain. This brave lad is an enemy to my Queen; therefore it is my duty to slay him.”
“If so,” said the maiden, “I too must be slain, for I love not your Queen.”
“But you be no traitor like this—”
Here I whipped out my sword, and we were at it again, ere the maiden, with flashing eyes, could step once more between us.
“Humphrey Dexter!” ”

“ Range.—From Alaska, in the Rocky Mountains, to southern California and Mexico, breeding throughout its range. A quiet, small, brown colored bird of the deep woods, where its lisping note may be heard, if the air is very quiet, and one is looking for bird life. When found, it will generally be climbing up the trunk of some tall tree, searching the crevices of the bark for the small insect life on which it feeds; when near the top, a downward flight to the base of another tree. Always flying down, and climbing up. Their nest is placed in the loose bark, and is made of fiber, moss and grass. ”

“ Here the judge again interposed.
“The learned junior must confine himself to the case before us, or I shall have to ask Mr Felgate to conduct the cross-examination.”
“All serene, my lord,” rejoined the learned junior, who was thoroughly enjoying himself. “Of course, if your lordship think the question’s not important I won’t press it against your lordship’s desire. I’m obliged to your lordship for your lordship’s advice, and I’ll pull your nose, Dimsdale”—this was in a parenthesis—“if you don’t shut up. Now, Sir William Tomkins, Baronet, you say you saw the prisoner pulled out of the sack?” ”

“ The plumage of this species is entirely black above, and whitish below, with the flanks barred with blackish. The male has a yellow patch on the crown. They breed abundantly in coniferous forests in mountain regions throughout their range, laying their four or five pure white eggs in decayed tree stumps (.95 × .70) . They do more boring for their insect food, and, during mating season, are very persistent in their roll call on dead limbs of trees. ”

“ He never doubted that he in the Sixth could easily beat the two boys in the Fifth; and though, as we have seen, he now and then felt a sneaking misgiving on the subject, it never seriously disturbed his confidence. ”

“ The nesting habits of all the varieties are the same and the eggs differ only in the shade of the ground color, this variation among the eggs of the same variety being so great that an egg cannot be identified without knowing the locality in which it was taken. The present variety build their nests on the ground generally under tufts of grass or in hollows in the moss which is found in their breeding range, making them of dried grasses and generally lining them with feathers. ”

“ They are very active and besides feeding upon all manner of marine Crustacea, they capture many insects in the air. They nest in large colonies in marshes, both along the coast and in the interior, making a nest of decayed reeds and grasses, or often laying their eggs upon rafts of decayed vegetation which are floating on he water. The nesting season commences in May, they laying three eggs of a brownish or greenish color, very heavily blotched with blackish brown. ”

“ Range.—Western United States, breeding from British Columbia to Mexico. They are an attractive bird both in looks and habits. They are great singers, but nature seemed to give them no special song of their own, and they make good attempts to mimic the song of any bird in their locality, and keep continually at it. They like the bramble and vine-covered hillsides, where it is hard to obtain a sight of the bird. They build their nests in the thickest of such places a few feet from the ground, made up of shreds of vines, leaves and twigs, lined with grass. ”

“ He took in the whole peril in a moment; and if once I had been fool enough to imagine I should direct the enterprise which was to thwart the villainy, I was soon undeceived. “Humphrey,” aid he, “are you free to stand by me in this?”
I told him that now I owned no master but him. His face cleared up joyously for a moment at that. “Good; I claim you, then, not as a master, but as a comrade. Be here to-night as the sun sets. Take this bow and dirk; and farewell, my friend, till we meet again.” And he left me.
Chapter Nine. How I caught the Miséricorde. ”