nothing remained. He feared when there was no danger, and when there was no sorrow he wept. His memory was decayed and treacherous, and showed him only broken images of the glory that was departed. of 4. His house was to him like a strange land, and his friends were counted as his enemies; and he thought himself strong and healthful while his foot tottered on the verge of the grave. He said of his son-"He is my brother;" his daughter-"I know her not ;" and he inquired what was his own name. And one who supported his last steps, and ministered to his many wants, said to me as I looked on the melancholy scene, "Let thine heart receive instruction, for thou hast seen an end of all earthly perfection." 5. I have seen a beautiful female treading the first stages of youth, and entering joyfully into the pleasures of life. The glance of her eye was variable and sweet, and on her cheek trembled something like the first blush of the morning; her lips moved, and there was harmony; and when she floated in the dance, her light form, like the aspen, seemed -to move with every breeze. I returned, but she was not in the dance; I sought her in the gay circle of her companions, but I found her not. Her eyes sparkled not there--the music of her voice was silent-she rejoiced on earth no more. 6. I saw a train, sable and slow-paced, who bore sadly to an opened grave what once was animated and beautiful. They paused as they approached, and a voice broke the awful silence: "Mingle ashes with ashes, and dust with its original dust. To the earth, whence it was taken, consign we the body of our sister." They covered her with the damp soil, and the cold clods of the valley; and the worms crowded into her silent abode. Yet one sad mourner lingered to cast himself upon her grave; anl as he wept he said, "There is no beauty, nor grace, nor loveliness, that continueth in man; for this is the end of all his glory and perfection." 7. I have seen an infant with a fair brow, and a frame like polished ivory. Its limbs were pliant in its sports, it rejoiced, and again it wept; but whether its glowing cheek dimpled with smiles, or its blue eye was brilliant with tears, still I said to my heart, "It is beautiful." It was like the first pure blossom, which some cherished plant has shot forth, whose cup is filled with a dew-drop, and whose head reclines upon its parent stem. 8. I again saw this child when the lamp of reason first dawned in its mind. Its soul was gentle and peaceful; its eye sparkled with joy, as it looked round on this good and. pleasant world. It ran swiftly in the ways of knowledge; it bowed its ear to instruction; it stood like a lamb before ita teacher. It was not proud, nor envious, nor stubborn; and it had never heard of the vices and vanities of the world. And when I looked upon it, I remembered that our Savior had said, "Except ye become as little children, ye can not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 9. But the scene was changed.-and I saw a man whom the world called honorable, and many waited for his smile. They pointed out the fields that were his, and talked of the silver and gold that he had gathered; they admired the stateliness of his domes, and extolled the honor of his family. And his heart answered secretly, "By my wisdom have I gotten ail this;" so he returned no thanks to God, neither did he fear or serve Him. 10. And as I passed along, I heard the complaints of the laborers who had reaped down his fields, and the cries of the poor, whose covering he had taken away; but the sound of feasting and revelry was in his apartments, and the unfed beggar came tottering from his door. But he considered not that the cries of the oppressed were continually entering into the ears of the Most High. And when I knew that this man was once the teachable child that I had loved, the beautiful infant that I had gazed upon with delight, I said in my bitterness, "I have seen an end of all perfection;" and I laid my mouth in the dust." QUESTIONS.-1. How is the man represented in the first two verses? 2. What is said of him in the third and fourth verses? 3. How is the female described? 4. What circumstance is spoken of in the sixth verse? 5. What is said of the infant? 6. How did it appear when it came to be a little older? 7. Who was the man mentioned in the last two verses? 8. What were then his circumstances? 9. What was his character? 10. Where in the Bible is the last quotation found? Ans. 119th. Ps. 96th verse. Wherein consists the difficulty of rightly articulating the fore part of the first verse? What words in the first line, fifth verse, contain similar sounds in immediate succession? What Rules for the inflections as marked in the first verse? Which are the emphatic words in the quotation, ninth verse? Which are the most emphatic words in the quotation, end of the sixth verse? Which in the quotation, ninth verse? Why are they emphatic? (Les. VIII. Note VII.) LESSON LIII. SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. Optics, the science of sight. 2. Jubilee, a season of joy. 3. Primeval, of the first age. 4. Incense, odors offered in religious devotion. 5. Mirrored, pictured as in a mirror. 6. Ho ri'zon, the line at which the sky and earth appear to meet. 7. Type, a figure conveying some promise. To the Rainbow.-CAMPBELL. 1 TRIUMPHAL arch, that fill'st the sky I ask not proud philosophy To teach me what thou art. 2. Still seem, as to my childhood's sight, A midway station given, For happy spirits to alight Betwixt the earth and heaven. 3. Can all that optics teach, unfold Thy form to please me so, and gold, 4. When Science from Creation's face What lovely visions yield their place 5. And yet, fair bow, no fabling dreams, Have told why first thy robe of beams 6. When, o'er the green, undeluged earth, 7. And when its yellow luster smiled 8. Methinks, thy jubilee to keep, 9. Nor ever shall the Muse's eye 10 The earth to thee her incense yields, 11. How glorious is thy girdle, cast 12. As fresh in yon horizon dark, 13. For, faithful to its sacred page, Nor lets the type grow pale with age, QUESTIONS.-1. What does the rainbow seem to be in childhood's sight? 2. Does science explain its laws? 3. For what purpose was the bow first placed in the heavens? 4. How did mankind regard it? 5. Of what did the first poet sing? 6. To what does earth yield her incense? 7. Does the rainbow ever appear down in the ocean? 8. Of what is it a type? How is seem parsed, second verse? Is there any cesural pause in this poetry? What pause is found? Which are the accented syllables, first verse? Do they occur regularly? What causes the exception? LESSON LIV. SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. Impenetrable, not to be entered by sight; that can not be pierced. 2. Profound, the deep. 3. Base, the bottom. 4. Dire, dreadful. 5. Frenzy, madness, or any violent agitation of the mind. 6. Mien, look; manner. Christ Stilling the Tempest.-ANON. 1. LONE NIGHT, descending with her sable shroud, Had darkly canopied the troubled deep! All, all in gloom was mantled; and the bark, That bore the Savior with his timid band, To aid its guidance--not one glimmering star- Still to its doubtful course, that gallant ship 2. Hark to the warning! Mark the quivering gleam! 3. But ah! by the red lightning's fitful glare, "Tis His-the SAVIOR'S! Now it mounts the wave 4. But now a wave, high rising o'er the deep, 5. He rose, and with a calm benignant mien, 6. The thunders hushed- "There was a calm!" ? |