In secular literature appealing to the imagination, the poetry that made them grow most was, first, that which reflected their own heart and taught them to look within ; and, secondly, that which drew the imagination out into a world of light of beauty by bringing nature home to them, and impressing its wonders and beauties on the mind. Wordsworth, especially his " Excursion," had a great progressive effect upon early thinking and feeling. For young people I do not like Milton because he is too deep and classical, and the military parade and speech-making of the Satanic conspirators have no attraction for them. But when they grow old enough to separate the kernel from the shell, they find a sense of sub- limity in Milton, which is to be found in but one or two other poets. In poetry we find the truest and most perfect pictures of humanity in action, yet my own mind never felt an enthusiasm such as many do for epic or narrative poems. The poetry I loved best as a child was that of the affections rather than that of the battle-field. I would rather read of the battle of Hastings in a good history of England. than in Tennyson's " Harold," and of the martyrs of Queen Mary's reign in Blunt's " Sketch of the Reformation in England," than in Tennyson's " Queen Mary." For the same indefinable reason I have 9 130 THE hearthstone; or, life at home. never been fond of dramatized history. I like best a play that relies upon imagination for its facts, these facts being true to human nature and experience, outgrowths of the imagination which is based on truth, rather than of the fancy which is not so derived. Of all the definitions of poetry which I have met with, that of Words- worth will best bear repetition and looking into earnestly. " Poetry is the breath and finer spirit of all knowledge, the impassioned expression which is in the countenance of all science." The body of knowledge and of science is not necessary to our appreciation of this spirit and admiration of this countenance. Hence, poetry is a great help and stimulus in the patient pursuit of knowledge. Next to romance and poetry come history and biography. History is not the learning by repetition of dates, places and names. We must look for laws and principles in it, and hence a complete view of it is called the philosophy of history, because in widely distant ages, peoples and lands we find that like causes produce like effects. To be a real' student of history is to view all things in the light of law, to have the mind well furnished with parallels and similitudes, with principles and cautions. There are two ways of reading history. One may begin with the general and work down to the particular, or one may begin with a centre and work to the outer circumference. The last mentioned is the best plan for general readers. Let us begin with our own race and country, and from them extend the circle of our reading to other countries, ancient and modern. Some teachers would tell us to read modern history before we read ancient, and perhaps that is the better method when our time is limited by active pursuits and bread-making. But, on the other hand, modern history, especially in its politics and institutions, is much easier to learn and understand, when we know the history of Greece and Rome in their main outlines and chief events and persons.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

In secular literature appealing to the imagination, the poetry that made them grow most was, first, that which reflected their own heart and taught them to look within ; and, secondly, that which drew the imagination out into a world of light of beauty by bringing nature home to them, and impressing its wonders and beauties on the mind. Wordsworth, especially his " Excursion," had a great progressive effect upon early thinking and feeling. For young people I do not like Milton because he is too deep and classical, and the military parade and speech-making of the Satanic conspirators have no attraction for them. But when they grow old enough to separate the kernel from the shell, they find a sense of sublimity in Milton, which is to be found in but one or two other poets. In poetry we find the truest and most perfect pictures of humanity in action, yet my own mind never felt an enthusiasm such as many do for epic or narrative poems. The poetry I loved best as a child was that of the affections rather than that of the battle-field. I would rather read of the battle of Hastings in a good history of England. than in Tennyson's " Harold," and of the martyrs of Queen Mary's reign in Blunt's " Sketch of the Reformation in England," than in Tennyson's " Queen Mary." For the same indefinable reason I have 130 THE hearthstone; or, life at home. never been fond of dramatized history. I like best a play that relies upon imagination for its facts, these facts being true to human nature and experience, outgrowths of the imagination which is based on truth, rather than of the fancy which is not so derived. Of all the definitions of poetry which I have met with, that of Wordsworth will best bear repetition and looking into earnestly. " Poetry is the breath and finer spirit of all knowledge, the impassioned expression which is in the countenance of all science." The body of knowledge and of science is not necessary to our appreciation of this spirit and admiration of this countenance. Hence, poetry is a great help and stimulus in the patient pursuit of knowledge. Next to romance and poetry come history and biography. History is not the learning by repetition of dates, places and names. We must look for laws and principles in it, and hence a complete view of it is called the philosophy of history, because in widely distant ages, peoples and lands we find that like causes produce like effects. To be a real student of history is to view all things in the light of law, to have the mind well furnished with parallels and similitudes, with principles and cautions. There are two ways of reading history. One may begin with the general and work down to the particular, or one may begin with a centre and work to the outer circumference. The last mentioned is the best plan for general readers. Let us begin with our own race and country, and from them extend the circle of our reading to other countries, ancient and modern. Some teachers would tell us to read modern history before we read ancient, and perhaps that is the better method when our time is limited by active pursuits and bread-making. But, on the other hand, modern history, especially in its politics and institutions, is much easier to learn and understand, when we know the history of Greece and Rome in their main outlines and chief events and persons.

The hearthstone; or, Life at home