6.  The quotation is from Shakespeare’s “King Henry IV,” Part I, Act II Scene 3.

LXXII.  THE OLD HOUSE CLOCK.

1.  Oh! the old, old clock of the household stock,
     Was the brightest thing, and neatest;
   Its hands, though old, had a touch of gold,
     And its chimes rang still the sweetest;
   ’T was a monitor, too, though its words were few,
     Yet they lived, though nations altered;
   And its voice, still strong, warned old and young,
     When the voice of friendship faltered: 
   “Tick! tick!” it said, “quick, quick, to bed: 
     For ten I’ve given warning;
   Up! up! and go, or else you know,
     You’ll never rise soon in the morning!”

2.  A friendly voice was that old, old clock,
     As it stood in the corner smiling,
   And blessed the time with merry chime,
     The wintry hours beguiling;
   But a cross old voice was that tiresome clock,
     As it called at daybreak boldly;
   When the dawn looked gray o’er the misty way,
     And the early air looked coldly: 
   “Tick! tick!” it said, “quick out of bed: 
     For five I’ve given warning;
   You’ll never have health, you’ll never have wealth,
     Unless you’re up soon in the morning!”

3.  Still hourly the sound goes round and round,
     With a tone that ceases never: 
   While tears are shed for bright days fled,
     And the old friends lost forever! 
   Its heart beats on, though hearts are gone
     That beat like ours, though stronger;
   Its hands still move, though hands we love
     Are clasped on earth no longer! 
   “Tick! tick!” it said, “to the churchyard bed,
     The grave hath given warning;
   Up! up! and rise, and look at the skies,
     And prepare for a heavenly morning!”

LXXIII.  THE EXAMINATION

Daniel Pierce Thompson (b. 1193, d. 1868) was born at Charlestown, Mass., but soon removed with his father to Vermont, where he lived until twenty years of age, on a farm.  His means of schooling were most limited, but he was very ambitious and seized every opportunity.  By his own efforts he earned enough money to carry him through Middlebury College, where he graduated in 1820.  He then went to Virginia as private tutor, and while there was entered at the bar.  He shortly returned to Vermont, and opened a law office in Montpelier.  In time he was elected a judge, and later secretary of state.  From his college days Mr. Thompson was a writer for the various magazines.  Among his novels may be mentioned “Locke Amsden, the Schoolmaster,” “May Martin, or the Money Diggers,” “The Green Mountain Boys,” and “The Rangers, or the Tory’s Daughter.”

1.  “Have you any questions to ask me in the other branches, sir?” asked Locke.

“Not many,” replied Bunker.  “There is reading, writing, grammar, etc., which I know nothing about; and as to them, I must, of course, take you by guess, which will not be much of a guess, after all, if I find you have thought well on all other matters.  Do you understand philosophy?”