Gunpowder, who had now got over his fright and waywardness. Ichabod, who had no relish for this strange midnight companion, and bethought himself of the adventure of Brom Bones with the Galloping Hessian, now quickened 115 his steed in hopes of leaving him behind. The stranger, however, quickened his horse to an equal pace. Ichabod pulled up and fell into a walk, thinking to lag behind. The other did the same. His heart began to sink within him. He endeavored to resume his psalm- 120 tune, but his parched tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, and he could not utter a stave. There was something in the moody and dogged silence of this pertinacious companion that was mysterious and appalling. It was soon fearfully accounted for. On mounting a 125 rising ground, which brought the figure of his fellowtraveler in relief against the sky, gigantic in height and muffled in a cloak, Ichabod was horror-struck on perceiving that he was headless! But his horror was still more increased on observing that the head, which should 130 have rested on his shoulders, was carried before him on the pommel of his saddle! His terror rose to desperation. He rained a shower of kicks and blows upon Gunpowder, hoping by a sudden movement to give his com ANALYSIS. 111. Parse got over. 114. What is the subject of bethought? 118. Dispose of the expression pulled up. 121. Give the principal parts of clove. 122. What is the meaning of stave? 122, 123. What are the modifiers of something? 127. What is the meaning of relief as used here? panion the slip. But the spectre started full jump with 135 him. Away they dashed through thick and thin, stones flying and sparks flashing at every bound. Ichabod's flimsy garments fluttered in the air as he stretched his long, lank body away over his horse's head in the eagerness of his flight. . . . . 140 An opening in the trees now cheered him with the hopes that the church-bridge was at hand. The wavering reflection of a silver star in the bosom of the brook told him that he was not mistaken. He saw the walls of the church dimly glaring under the trees beyond. He 145 recollected the place where Brom Bones's ghostly competitor had disappeared. "If I can but reach that bridge," thought Ichabod, "I am safe." Just then he heard the black steed panting and blowing close behind him; he even fancied that he felt his hot breath. An- 150 other convulsive kick in the ribs, and old Gunpowder sprang upon the bridge; he thundered over the resounding planks; he gained the opposite side; and now Ichabod cast a look behind to see if his pursuer should vanish, according to rule, in a flash of fire and brim- 155 stone. Just then he saw the goblin rising in his stirrups, and in the very act of hurling his head at him. Ichabod endeavored to dodge the horrible missile, but ANALYSIS.--135. Dispose of the words fall jump. 136. thick and thin. Parse. In what case is stones? 143 a silver star. What figure? 145 What is the object of thought? 149. panting and blowing. What parts of speech? close What does this word modify? 150. Dispose of even. 152. What figure in the line? 154, 155. should vanish. Is the expression as here used correct? 155. according to. Parse. 157. What is the antecedent of his? Of him! 396 crash. He was tumbled headlong into the dust, and 160 too late. It encountered his cranium with a tremendous Gunpowder, the black steed, and the goblin rider passed by like a whirlwind. Dinner-hour The next morning the old horse was found without his saddle, and with the bridle under his feet, soberly cropping the grass at his master's gate. Ichabod did 155 came, but no Ichabod! The boys assembled at the not make his appearance at breakfast. school-house and strolled idly about the banks of the Hans Van Ripper now brook; but no schoolmaster. began to feel some uneasiness about the fate of poor 170 Ichabod and his saddle. An inquiry was set on foot, and after diligent investigation they came upon his traces. In one part of the road leading to the church was found the saddle trampled in the dirt; the tracks of horses' hoofs, deeply dented in the road, and evi- 175 dently at furious speed, were traced to the bridge, beyond which, on the bank of a broad part of the brook, where the water ran deep and black, was found the hat of the unfortunate Ichabod, and close beside it a shattered pumpkin. ANALYSIS.-162. Dispose of like and whirlwind. 163. In what case is morning? 167. Parse Ichabod. 169. Dispose of the word schoolmaster. 171. Dispose of set on foot. 173. where the water ran, etc. What does the clause modify? Dispose of deep and black. 180. In what case is the word numnkin? 180 15. JAMES FENIMORE COOPER, 1789-1851. JAMES FENIMORE COOPER, the celebrated American novelist, was born at Burlington, N. J., September 15, 1789. His father, Judge William Cooper, removed to the wild frontier-region of New York State, however, in the year 1790, where the novelist spent his boyhood years up to the age of thirteen, when he entered Yale College. After three years of college-life he withdrew to become a midshipman in the United States navy, where he followed the life of a sailor for six years, and acquired much of the knowledge and experience which in after-life made his sea-novels so popular and successful. In 1811 he married the sister of Bishop De Lancey, and soon after resigned his commission as lieutenant in the navy, and located at Mamaroneck, near the city of New York. Cooper's literary life is said to have had this curious beginning: While sitting one evening engaged in reading a novel to his wife, he suddenly declared his belief that he could write a better novel himself; to prove it, he made the experiment, and produced Precaution, which was published anonymously in 1819. But his book attracted very little attention, and it is said he never after claimed it among his writings. In 1821 he published The Spy, a novel founded on the incidents of the Revolution. This possessed so much power and interest as a romance that it became popular at once, not only in America, but also in Europe, where it was translated into nearly all the continental languages, as well as into Persian and Arabic. It bore such a favorable comparison to the Waverley Novels that Cooper acquired the name of "the American Walter Scott." In 1823 the author's fame was still more increased by The Pilot, the first of his sea-tales. This was followed by a long list of novels: Lionel Lincoln, The Last of the Mohicans, The Red Rover, The Prairie, Wept of Wish-tonWish, The Pathfinder, and many others, the number of novels being thirty-three. Nine of these are sea-tales, and five form "The Leatherstocking Series." Cooper's best novels are conceded to be The Spy, The Pilot, The Last of the Mohicans, The Red Rover, and The Prairie. In addition to his novels he also published a Naval History of the United States, Lives of American Naval Officers, and a number of sketches of European travel. Cooper, at the time of his death, had in press an historical work, The Towns of Manhattan, and he contemplated writing a sixth Leatherstocking tale. He died suddenly at Cooperstown, N. Y., on the 14th of September, 1851. CRITICISM BY RUFUS W. GRISWOLD. COOPER has the faculty of giving to his pictures an astonishing reality. They are not mere transcripts of Nature, though as such they would possess extraordinary merit, but actual creations, embodying the very spirit of intelligent and genial experience and observation. His Indians, notwithstanding all that has been written to the contrary, are no more inferior in fidelity than they are in poetical interest to those of his most successful imitators or rivals. Ilis hunters and trappers have the same vividness |