dly.
Hence the line is read in faster time than the average rate. Reading
may, accordingly, be fast from one or both of two causes. First, when
there is no background of thought for the mind to dwell upon, and
second when the nature of the thoughts themselves, such as the
narration of the rapid succession of events, impels to quick mental
action. The following lines from _Pibroch of Donuil Dhu_ (p. 61) will
serve as an illustration:

Faster come, faster come,
Faster and faster,
Chief, vassal, page and groom,
Tenant and master.
Fast they come, fast they come;
See how they gather! etc.

So, too, reading may be slow from the exact opposite of these two
reasons. First, when there is a great back-ground of thought suggested
by the words, and second, when the reflective and meditative nature of
the thought leads to slow action on the part of the mind. In some
selections both of these conditions are present; in others only one of
them. In _The Day is Done_ (p. 63) there is little thought below the
surface; but the reading is slow because the quiet, meditative nature
of the thought tends to slow mental action:

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.

Both conditions, however, exist in the lines from _Barbara Frietchie_
which describe the effect produced on Stonewall Jackson by Barbara
Frietchie's heroic action and daring speech:

A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came.

A great many thoughts are suggested by these two lines. The heart of
the gallant Southerner is touched at the sight of this weak, decrepit
old woman with the courage and boldness of youth, ready to die for her
principles. His stern features relax and a look of sadness passes over
his face. The taunting words "spare your country's flag" have struck
home. The tragic side of civil war is forced upon him--father fighting
against son, and brother against brother, the sons of freedom firing
at their own star-spangled banner. The sorrow and the shame of it all
rise before him, and the crimson flush mounts to his brow. With this
undercurrent of thought in the mind, it is impossible to read rapidly.
Besides, the reflective nature of the thoughts themselves tends to
make one repeat the words slowly.

Sometimes, again, reading is faster than the moderate rate because of
the unimportance of