Or patterings of an April shower 5. CHARCOAL. And thus from morn to eve he cried, While echo faint and far replied, And in a coaxing tone he cries, And baby with a laugh replies, TROWBRIDGE. And like a silver clarion rung—“Excelsior!” 8. THE BELLS. Hear the sledges with the bèlls—sîlver bells! What a world of mèrriment their melody foretells! Hear the mellow wedding bells—gôlden bells! What a world of happiness their harmony foretells! Hear the loud alarum bells-brâzen bells! What a tale of terror now their turbulency tells! Hear the tolling of the bells-iron bells! What a world of solemn thought their monody compels! POE. SECTION IV. EXERCISES IN MODULATION. Modulation is the variation of voice according to the sentiment, thought, or emotion to be expressed. In impassioned reading, tones are the most prominent qualities of voice. Thorough drill on the following examples will break up the tendency of pupils to read all kinds of selections in one formal "school-tone." It is left for teachers and pupils to exercise their own judgment and taste in the rendering of these extracts, which embrace a wide range of expression. EXAMPLES. 1. Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, Blow, bugle, answer echoes, dying, dying, dying. 2. The loud wind dwindled to a whisper low. 3. There is a silence where no sound may be. 4. I hear them marching o'er the hill, I hear them fainter, fainter still. 5. "Cusha, cusha, cusha," calling. 6. To arms! to arms! to arms! they cry. 7. Arm! arm!-it is-it is the cannon's opening roar. 8. Advance your standards, draw your willing swords! 9. Pity the sorrows of a poor old man. 10. Ring, joyous chords!—ring out again! 11. Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll. 12. Come and trip it, as ye go, On the light fantastic toe. 13. But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell. 14. Away! away! and on we dash. 15. Forward the light brigade! 16. All's hushed as midnight yet. 17. Hail! holy light, offspring of Heaven, first born. 18. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! 19. Silence how dead! and darkness how profound! 20. Or whispering with white lips, "The foe! they come, they come!" 21. Joy! joy! Shout, shout aloud for joy! 22. Strike! till the last armed foe expires! 23. How like a fawning publican he looks! 24. Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death! 25. Ring the alarm-bell! Murder! and treason! 26. Ride softly! ride slowly! the onset is near! Move slowly! move softly! the sentry may hear. 27. No! by St. Bride of Bothwell, no! 28. 29. On a sudden open fly The infernal gates, and on their hinges grate Heaven opened wide Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound, 30. But gentler now the small waves glide, Like playful lambs on a mountain side. 31. With many a weary step, and many a groan, Up the high hill he heaves a huge round stone. 32. When Ajax strives some rock's vast weight to throw, The line, too, labors, and the words move slow. 33. Soft is the strain when zephyr gently blows, And the smooth stream in smoother numbers flows. 34. Clang! clang! the massive anvils ring, Clang! clang! a hundred hammers swing; 35. SONG OF THE SHIRT. Work! work! work! Till the brain begins to swim; Till the eyes are heavy and dim! Till over the buttons I fall asleep, 36. THE TWO VOICES FROM THE GRAVE. First Voice. HOOD. How frightful the grave! how deserted and drear! With the howls of the storm-wind, the creaks of the bier, And the white bones all clattering together! Second Voice. How peaceful the grave! its quiet how deep! 37. MILITARY COMMAND. Charge for the guns!" he said. Halt! Charge! Chester, charge! On! Stanley, on! 38. THE HERALD'S CALL. Rejoice, ye men of Angiers, ring your bells, King John, your king and England's, doth approach. Open your gates and give the victor way. SECTION V. DIALECT READING AND PERSONATION. In dialect reading, the peculiarities of speech should be reproduced with fidelity, but should not be exaggerated. In the reading of dialogues there is, of necessity, a marked change of tone and manner when the reader personates two or more characters. EXAMPLES OF DIALECT READING. 1. SKIPPER IRESON'S RIDE. Scores of women, old and young, 2. THE DEACON'S MASTERPIECE. WHITTIER. But the Deacon swore, as deacons do, It should be so built that it couldn' break daown. |