owly rising; below, at the bottom of
the canyon, a river sang, as it threaded its way
among the boulders; and, far in the distance,
the mountains reared their snow-covered summits
to the evening sky. The flickering camp-fire
played strange tricks upon those gathered round
it, for it gave to the care-worn faces and bent
forms of the miners the appearance of freshness
and health.

One of the miners, a mere youth, opened his
pack, drew therefrom a copy of Dickens' _Old
Curiosity Shop_, and began to read aloud. At
once, all other occupations were suspended, and
everybody drew near to listen to the story. The
whole camp yielded itself to the fascination of
the tale, and in its absorbing interest they
forgot themselves and their surroundings, their
ills, their hardships, and their cares. One
might almost fancy that the very pines and
cedars became silent, and that the fir trees
drew closer to hear the story of "Little Nell".

Dickens, the "Master", has gone, but, among the
many tributes that are paid to his power as a
writer, let this little tale of the Western
camp be added, to illustrate the universal
nature of his influence.

DOST THOU LOOK BACK ON WHAT HATH BEEN

(Fourth Reader, page 289)

PREPARATION

This lesson should be preceded by a suitable preparatory lesson on the
life of some man, for example, Peel, Disraeli, or Lincoln, who, in spite
of all obstacles, rose to eminence in the nation and lived "To mould a
mighty state's decrees".

INTRODUCTION

Tennyson and Arthur Hallam, as young men at college, were great friends.
The bond of affection between them was probably as strong as it was
possible for friendship between two men to be. When Hallam died in 1833,
at twenty-two years of age, Tennyson said of him: "He was as near
perfection as a mortal man could be". From time to time during the next
seventeen years, Tennyson wrote short poems on themes which occurred to
him in connection with his thoughts of Hallam. These he finally
collected and published in one volume, called _In Memoriam_.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this lesson should be in harmony with the purpose of _In
Memoriam_. It should, therefore, be a study of life within the
comprehension of the pupils. The lesson should aid in securing the
de