2. The wind is blowing off the shore, Though all the charms of life may 4. Sweeter than spicy gales, that blow shine From orange-groves with wooing breath, 3 The lotus which transform'd the brave Hung round with glowing tapestry- *Căn’opy, a covering over a throne, or over a bed; a covering over the head. 2 Lower ing, dark; gloomy; frowning. 3 Lotus, an aquatic plant, something like the water-lily, found in Egypt and Nubia; a tree found in Northern Africa, probably the lotus of the lotus-eaters, the fruit of which is mildly sweet. It was fabled by the ancients to make strangers who ate of it forget their native country, or lose all desire to return to it. 'Pa' geant ry, pompous exhibition or show; something for vain outward display or appearance. 5 Tǎp' es try, a kind of woven hangings of wool and silk, often enriched with gold and silver, representing figures of men, animala, landscapes, etc. 7. The spring may here with autumn twine, Where hale and ruddy Freedom smiles. A welcomer and dearer shōre : There hands, and hearts, and souls are twined, JAMES GATES PERCIVAL. I SECTION XII. I. 50. OPPOSITE EXAMPLES. ASK the young man, who is just forming his habits of life, or just beginning to indulge those habitual trains of thought out of which habits grow, to look around him, and mark the examples whose fortune he would covet,' or whose fate he would abhor. Even as we walk the streets, we meet with exhibitions' of each extreme.* 6 2. Here, behold a patriarch," whose stock of vigor threescore years and ten seem hardly to have impaired.' His erect form, his firm step, his elastic limbs, and undimmed senses, are so many certificates of good conduct; or, rather, so many jewels 1 Covet, (kův et), to wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of. 2 Abhor, (åb hår'), to shrink with shuddering from; to hate extremely. 'Exhibition, (¿ks`hi bish'un), the act of displaying or holding forth to view; that which is presented or held forth to be seen; a show; an example. each extreme, the first and the last, or the worst and the best. 5 Patriarch, the father and ruler of a family; one who governs his family or descendants by paternal right. 6 • Vigor, active strength or force of body; strength of mind; energy. 'Impaired, (im pård'), injured; 'Extreme', the end; the last; lessened. and orders of nobility with which nature has honored him for his fídělity to her laws. 3. His fair complexion shows that his blood has never been corrupted; his pure breath, that he has never yielded his digestive' apparātus' to abuse; his exact language and keen apprehension, that his brain has never been drugged or stupefied by the poisons of distiller or tobacconist. 4. Enjoying his appetites to the highest, he has preserved the power of enjoying them. As he drains the cup of life, there are no lees' at the bottom. His organs will reach the goal of existence together. Painlessly as a candle burns down in its socket, so will he expire; and a little imagination would convert him into another Enoch, translated from earth to a better world without the sting of death. 5 5. But look at an opposite extreme, where an opposite history is recorded. What wreck so shocking to behold as the wreck of a dissolute man ;-the vigor of life exhausted, and yet the first steps in an honorable career not taken: in himself a lázar-house' of diseases; dead, but, by a heathenish custom of society, not buried. 6. Rogues have had the initial' letter of their title burnt into the palms of their hands: even for murder, Cain was only branded on the forehead; but over the whole person of the debauchee' or the inebriate, the signatures of infamy" are written. 7. How nature brands him with stigma" and opprobrium!" How she hangs labels all over him, to testify her disgust at his existence, and to admonish others to beware of his example! How she loosens all his joints, sends tremors along his muscles, and 5 7 La' zar-house, a hospital; a house for persons affected with unpleasant and dangerous diseases. * Initial, (in ish'al), the beginning or first. 'Debauchee, (deb`o shè ́), a rake; a dissipated person; a drunkard. 10 In' fa my, the complete loss of character; public disgrace. "1 Stigma, a mark made with a Enoch, (ènok), see Bible, Gen. burning iron; any mark of infamy. chap. 5, v. 24. • Dis'so lute, wicked; acting without principle; viciously dissipated. 12 Op prō' bri um, reproach mingled with contempt or mockery; shame. bends forward his frame, as if to bring him upon all-fours with kindred' brutes, or to degrade him to the reptile's' crawling! 8. How she disfigures his countenance, as if intent3 upon obliterating all traces of her own image, so that she may swear she never made him! How she pours rheum' over his eyes, sends foul spirits to inhabit his breath, and shrieks, as with a trumpet, from every pōre of his body, "Behold a Beast!" • 9. Such a man may be seen in the streets of our cities every day; if rich enough, he may be found in the saloons,' and at the tables of the "Upper Ten;" but surely, to every man of purity and honor, to every man whose wisdom, as well as whose heart, is unblemished, the wretch who comes cropped and bleeding from the pillory,' and redolent with its appropriate per'fumes, would be a guest or a companion far less offensive and disgusting. 10. Now let the young man, rejoicing in his manly propōrtions, and in his comeliness,' look on this picture, and on this, and then say, after the likeness of which modèl he intends his own erect stature and sublime countenance shall be configured." I II. 51. THE VOTARY OF PLEASURE. SAW ǎ gallant youth depart H. MANN. From his early home, o'er the world to roam : Did he speed along, through the mingled throng; 1 Kîn' dred, related; of the like nature or qualities. 2 'Rěp' tile, anything that creeps; as, a snake, a worm, etc. 3 In tent', having the mind strained or bent on an object; eager in pursuit of an object. 4 Rheum, (rom), a thin, white fluid, produced by the glands in disease. the most wealthy and fashionable persons in a city. 'Pil' lo ry, a frame to confine criminals by the neck and head for punishment. * Rěd' o lent, diffusing or spreading odor, fragrance, or sweet scent; smelling. • Upper Ten, a term applied to shape. 2 And he reck'd not of aught that lay in his course, That ne'er would rest till his goal was gain'd. With an earnest tone, and a stifled groan, In thy inmost mind with an impulse blind?" 3 I saw that youthful form once more, When the goal was gain'd, and its end attain'd; From its alter'd mien, and its faded sheen. the bounding heart, and the joy-beaming eye, 4. "Oh, what," the voice inquired again, "Hath wrought this change, so sad and strange? Didst thou at length, O youth, obtain, In its full measure, thy heart's fond treasure? Didst thou reach the sphere where mirth and glee 5. "Too soon," exclaim'd the stricken form, With downcast eye, and a bitter sigh, The curse of pleasure is on my brow." CHARLES H. LYON. 1 Im pětí ū oŭs, rushing with force and violence; hasty; fierce. abundance; great supply or plenty. In tense', extreme or very great 'Profusion, (pro fù' zun), rich in degree; carnest; violent. |