Definitions.—­1.  A-vert’, to turn aside.  En-gi-neer’, an officer in the army, who designs and constructs defensive and offensive works. 2.  Siege, the setting of an army around a fortified place to compel its surrender. 3.  Pro-found’, deep. 4.  Slo’gan, the war cry or gather-ing word of a Highland clan in Scotland.  Fer’vor, intensity of feel-ing. 6.  Pi’broch, a wild, irregular species of music belonging to the Highlands of Scotland; it is performed on a bagpipe.  Sap’pers, men employed in making an approach to a fortified place by digging. 7.  Res’i-den-cy, the official dwelling of a government officer in India.  Si-mul-ta’ne-ous, happening at the same time.

Notes.—­Lucknow, a city in the British possession of India.  In 1857 there was a mutiny of the native troops, and the British garrison of 1700 men was besieged by 10,000 mutineers.  After twelve weeks’ siege, fresh British troops forced an entrance, and the town was held until relieved three weeks later by the arrival of Sir Colin Campbell, as above described.

1.  Cawnpore, also a city of India, near Lucknow, which was besieged during the mutiny.  After surrendering, the English, two thirds of whom were women and children, were treacherously massacred.

4.  The inhabitants of the northern part of Scotland are called Highlanders; those of the southern part, Lowlanders.  The dialect of the former is very peculiar, as shown in the language of Jessie Brown; as, dinna for did not, a’ for all, no for not, noo for now, auld for old.  Macgregor and Campbell are names of Highland clans or families.

Whittier’s poem, “The Pipes at Lucknow,” and Robert T. S. Lowell’s “The Relief of Lucknow,” are descriptive of this same incident.

XLVIII.  THE SNOWSTORM.

James Thomson (b. 1700, d.1748) was born at Ednam, in the shire of Roxburgh, Scotland.  He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, and afterwards studied for the ministry, but in a short time changed his plans and devoted himself to literature.  His early poems are quite insignificant, but “The Seasons,” from which the following selection is taken; and the “Castle of Indolence,” are masterpieces of English poetry.

1.  Through the hushed air the whitening shower descends,
   At first thin wavering; till at last the flakes
   Fall broad and wide and fast, dimming the day,
   With a continual flow.  The cherished fields
   Put on their winter robe of purest white. 
   ’T is brightness all:  save where the new snow melts
   Along the mazy current.

2.  Low the woods
   Bow their hoar head; and ere the languid sun
   Faint from the west emits its evening ray,
   Earth’s universal face, deep-hid and chill,
   Is one wild dazzling waste, that buries wide
   The works of man.