Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial402dodg).pdf/235

1913.]

Now that we are so far into England's story, you will see that some really modern ideas have begun to arise. Under Edward I, the Parliament becomes the same in form that it is to-day, and grows more powerful and more representative year by year, The poor man is beginning to think that he, too, deserves a voice in the laws of his land, and the English language as we know it has evolved from the mixture of Norman French and old Saxon. We can read Chaucer, the first true English poet, with a little difficulty, to be sure, but with complete understanding. The same ideas of honor and justice that rule us are beginning to grow strong and show themselves, and in the people whom we meet in the stories of this century there are several with whom we should feel quite at home to-day.

I hope if any of you know of good books about the times still ahead of us, you will write to me about them, I found Edith Stickney’s letter a great help, and want to thank her for the trouble she took. She mentioned several books we shall come to later, and the interest she takes in this series of articles is a real joy to me.