COLUMBUS[B]
Behind him lay the gray Azores,
Behind, the Gates of Hercules;
Before him not the ghost of shores,
Before him only shoreless seas.
The good mate said: “Now must we pray,
For lo! the very stars are gone;
Brave Admiral, speak; what shall I say?”
“Why, say, ‘Sail on! sail on! and on!’”
“My men grow mutinous day by day:
My men grow ghastly wan and weak.”
The stout mate thought of home; a spray
Of salt wave wash’d his swarthy cheek.
“What shall I say, brave Admiral, say,
If we sight naught but seas at dawn?”
“Why, you shall say, at break of day,
‘Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!’”
They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow,
Until at last the blanched mate said:
“Why, now not even God would know
Should I and all my men fall dead.
These very winds forget their way,
For God from these dread seas is gone.
Now speak, brave Admiral; speak, and say—”
He said: “Sail on! sail on! and on!”
“This mad sea shows his teeth to-night.
He curls his lip, he lies in wait,
With lifted teeth, as if to bite!
Brave Admiral, say but one good word:
What shall we do when hope is gone?”
The words leapt as a leaping sword:
“Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!”
Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck,
And peered through darkness. Ah, that night
Of all dark nights! And then a speck—
A light! A light! A light! A light!
It grew, a starlit flag unfurled!
It grew to be Time’s burst of dawn.
He gained a world! he gave that world
Its grandest lesson: “On! sail on!”
—Joaquin Miller.
QUESTIONS
1. Do you know what is meant by the Gates of Hercules?
2. Suppose that Columbus had become discouraged and had allowed the men to turn the ships toward home, what would have happened?
3. When we celebrate Columbus Day on October 12th, what are you going to think about?
4. In what way can you be like Columbus?
QUESTIONS
Why is America the greatest democracy in the world?
Why do the children of a democracy have a better chance than those of a country governed in any other way?
Why should American children be the best young citizens in the world?
How can they show that they are good citizens?
How will this help the children who will come after them?
The Future—What Will It Bring? Just What You and
and All of Us Make It Bring. Let Us Then do Our
Best to be Good Citizens, and so Help Our Country.
Ark of freedom! Glory’s dwelling!
Native land, God makes thee free!
When the storms are round thee swelling,
Let thy heart be strong in thee!