SCRAP-BOOK

RECITATION SERIES

No. 2.

A Miscellaneous Collection of Prose and Poetry for Recitation and
Reading, designed for

SCHOOLS, HOME AND LITERARY CIRCLES.

EDITED BY

H. M. SOPER

For several years past Professor of Elocution in prominent schools
of Chicago and now located at the Chicago Athenæum.

CHICAGO.

T. S. DENISON.

PREFACE.

The preparation of SCRAP-BOOK RECITATIONS, No. ONE, was
an experiment only, but has met with such unexpected apprecia
tion by the public generally, its sale has so far exceeded our an-
ticipations, and the calls for No. Two have been so frequent, that
we have prepared the second number with the feeling that the
success of this series is fully established.

For the purpose of elocutionary drill, we have inserted a few
familiar standard pieces with reference to voice transition and
modulation. There will be found some original orations and
descriptive pieces, arranged especially for this work. In each
succeeding number we shall make originality in selections a more
prominent feature than heretofore, giving only a very little mat-
ter that has ever appeared in books of this kind. Aside from the
original articles, it will be our aim to gather mostly from private
collections containing meritorious pieces which have not happened
to find their way into the general print of the day.

In this number, as in No. ONE, we desire to return thanks to
several friends who have kindly contributed toward this collec-
tion, and to say similar favors will be gratefully received in future.

Copyright, 1880, by T. 8. Denison.

The Volunteer Soldiers of the Union...... .Robert G. Ingersoll 44

Life....

The Old-Fashioned Mother..

De 'Sperience ob de Reb'rend Quacko Strong.

A Heart to Let.......

Jimmy Butler and the Owl..

46

47

48

50

.Anonymous 51

(RECAP)

4021

865

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SCRAP-BOOK RECITATIONS

ALBERT DRECKER.

BY THOMAS J. HYATT.

Calm at his station the bridge-tender stood;
The bridge was open over the flood.
Off in the distance rumbled the train;
The open draw must be closed again.
Slowly he turns it-steady and slow
Over in safety the train will go.

A cry of terror! Into the stream
He gazes, as in a horrid dream!
His boy, a moment since by his side,
Is struggling now in the moving tide.
A single minute-a hasty spring-
The sturdy tender the child could bring
Safely up from the waters below.
Why does he linger? Will he not go?
Nearer and nearer rumbles the train-
The open draw must be closed again.

A sweat, as of death, is upon his brow;
Were the world his own, he'd give it now
To save his son that is drowning there:
But the train a hundred lives may bear,-
A hundred lives that are in his care,—
And though his face is white with despair,
And his brain the fires of torment burn,
Steadily still he must turn and turn,
For nearer and nearer speeds the train-
The open draw must be closed again.