Here are a couple of samples of the lovely illustrations in this edition of the D'Aulaires' classic book.
Excerpted from Abraham Lincoln. Please see our review page for full copyright information.
St. Martin of Tours by Sister Mary Margaret, S.N.D.
(from the American Cardinal Readers, Book Five, pgs. 247-249)
"God of the Christians." Our Lord rewarded him by letting him find Christian teachers who taught him the Catholic faith. He became the bihsop of Tours and as a saint is honored as one of the apostles of France.
When Martin was a young man, he was sent to France with his regiment, for his pagan father had forced him to become a soldier in the Roman army. He believed in Christ,a nd tried to live a good life for His sake, so that even his pagan fellow-soldiers noticed how different he was from themselves; but he had not yet received Baptism, and was still but a catechumen. One cold winter's day, as his troop of cavalry came rattling down one of the old streets of Amiens, a poor old beggar, crouching by the roadside, the icy wind fluttering his rags about, held out his hands and cried for alms. Martin's heart was touched as usual, but having no money left to give, he took off his military cloak, cut it in half with his sword, and wrapped the warm folds about the shivering old man. The other soldiers laughed, but Martin rode on, happy to have been able to serve Christ's poor.
That night he received a wonderful grace in a dream. He saw Our Lord in heaven, surrounded with the angels. Upon Our Lord's shoulders was Martin's half cloak! "Martin," He said, "dost thou know this mantle?" Then turning to the angels, He added, "Martin, still only a catechumen, hath clothed me with this garment."
When St. Martin awoke he was very happy to think Our Lord had taken the kindness as done to Himself; but he also felt there was a gentle reproof in His words, for not yet having received Baptism. It was very difficult during his time of military service, but nevertheless he went to the priests and asked to be baptized.
Shortly after the left the army. He was so happy in his faith that he even succeeded in converting his mother.
Study Suggestions:
Questions on the Text. In this short story is told an incident in the life of St. Martin of Tours. Read it silently.
1. How did Martin happen to be a soldier in the Roman army? 2. In a brief paragraph relate the incident of Martin's meeting with the poor old beggar. 3. How did God reward Martin for his charity? 4. Whom did he succeed in converting later in his life? 5. Locate Tours on a map of France.
Words to Study. Catechumen; reproof.
The Blessed Virgin by William Wordsworth
(from the American Cardinal Readers, Book Eight, pg. 114)
Mother! whose virgin bosom was uncrost
With the least shade of thought to sin allied;
Woman! above all women glorified,
Our tainted nature's solitary boast;
Purer than foam on central ocean tost;
Brighter than eastern skies at daybreak strewn
With fancied roses, than the unblemished moon
Before her wane begins on heaven's blue coast;
Thy Image falls to earth. Yet some, I ween,
Not unforgiven the suppliant knee might bend,
As to a visible Power, in which did blend
All that was mixed and reconciled in Thee
Of mother's love with maiden purity,
Of high with low, celestial with terrene!
Definition of a Gentleman by John Henry Cardinal Newman
(from the American Cardinal Readers, Book Seven, pgs. 204-205)
It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain. This description is both refined and as far as it goes accurate. He is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him. His benefits may be considered as parallel to what are called comforts or conveniences in arrangements of a personal nature: like an easy-chair or a good fire, which do their part in dispelling cold and fatigue, though nature provides both means of rest and animal heat without them.
The true gentleman in like manner carefully avoids whatever may cause a jar or a jolt in the minds of those with whom he is cast--all clashing of opinion or collision of feeling, all restraint, or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; his great concern being to make everyone at their ease and at home. He has his eyes on all his company; he is tender toward the bashful, gentle toward the distant, and merciful toward the absurd; he can recollect to whom he is speaking; he guards against unseasonable allusions, or topics which may irritate; he is seldom prominent in conversation and never wearisome. He makes light of favors while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is conferring. He never speaks of himself except when compelled, never defends himself by a mere retort; he has no ears for slander or gossip, is scrupulous in imputing motives to those who interfere with him, and interprets everything for the best.
He is never mean or little in his disputes, never takes unfair advantage, never mistakes personalities or sharp sayings for arguments, or insinuates evil which he dare not say out. From a long-sighted prudence he observes the maxim of the ancient sage, that we should ever conduct ourselves toward our enemy as if he were one day to be our friend. He has too much good sense to be affronted at insults; he is too well employed to remember injuries. He is patient, forbearing, and resigned, on philosophical principles; he submits to pain because it is inevitable, to bereavement because it is irreparable, and to death because it is his destiny.
He may be right or wrong in his opinion, but he is too clear-headed to be unjust; he is as simple as he is forcible, and as brief as he is decisive. Nowhere shall we find greater candor, consideration, indulgence; he throws himself into the minds of his opponents, he accounts for their mistakes. He knows the weakness of human reason as well as its strength, its province and its limits.
I See His Blood Upon the Rose by Joseph Plunkett
(from the American Cardinal Readers, Book Six, pgs. 156-157)
I see His blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of His eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.
I see His face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but His voice--and carven by His power
Rocks are His written words.
All pathways by His feet are worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His cross is every tree.
Study Suggestions
About the Author. Joseph Plunkett, one of the leading Irish poets, was born in 1888. He was for a time the editor of the "Irish Review," a monthly publication which had ceased before his death. He wrote matter of a high quality, both in prose and in verse. Having taken part in the Rising for Irish freedom in 1916, he was captured, tried by court martial and sentenced to death. He was executed on the morning of May 4, 1916.
Notes on the Text. Read this poem aloud. As you read, try to picture, as the poet does, the presence of God in everything in nature about you.
Questions on the Text.
1. Why does the poet say that he sees God's blood upon the rose?
2. In each line of the first stanza, the poet combines a thought of God with something beautiful in nature. See if you can name these combinations.
3. Think about stanzas 2 and 3 in the same way.
4. Will a poem of this kind make you feel more deeply the things that are beautiful and awe-inspiring in the world about you? Why?