accession to the great inheritance which we have enjoyed. We welcome you to the blessings of good government, and religious liberty. We welcome you to the treasures of science and the delights of learning. We welcome you to the transcendant sweets of domestic life, to the happiness of kindred, and parents, and children. We welcome you to the immeasurable blessings of rational existence, the immortal hope of Christianity, and the light of everlasting Truth! LESSON CL. Effects of Education upon individuals.—Its importance to the public.-WORDSWORTH. ALAS! what differs more than man from man! And whence this difference ?-whence but from himself? For, see the universal race, endowed With the same upright form! The sun is fixed, And the infinite magnificence of heaven, Into all hearts. Throughout the world of sense, Without reserve or veil; and as a power Is salutary, or its influence sweet, Are each and all enabled to perceive That power, that influence, by impartial law. Gifts nobler are vouchsafed alike to all ; Reason,—and, with that reason, smiles and tears; Imagination, freedom of the will, Conscience to guide and check; and death To be foretasted,-immortality presumed. Strange then, nor less than monstrous might be deemed The failure, if the Almighty, to this point Liberal and undistinguishing, should hide The excellence of moral qualities From common understanding; leaving truth : Hard to be won, and only by a few: Strange, should he deal herein with nice respects, And frustrate all the rest! Believe it not: Kind wishes, and good actions, and pure thoughts - For high and not for low,-for proudly graced The smoke ascends To heaven as lightly from the cottage hearth, The fields of earth with gratitude and hope; Motive to sadder grief, when his thoughts turn For all the children whom her soil maintains, To drudge through weary life without the aid This right-as sacred, almost, as the right *The British empire. To impious use-by process indirect, 1 Declares his due, while he makes known his need. Urge it in vain; and, therefore, ike a prayer The discipline of slavery is unknown That permanent provision should be made Be rooted out, and virtuous habits take LESSON CLI. An Evening in the Grave-yard.-AMERICAN WATCHMAN THE moon is up, the evening star Shines lovely from its home of blue The fox-howl's heard on the fell afar, And the earth is robed in a sombre hue; From the shores of light the beams come down, On the river's breast, and cold grave stone. The kindling fires o'er heaven so bright, To numbers wild, yet sweet withal, Should the harp be struck o'er the sleepy pillow; Soft as the murmuring, breezy fall, Of sighing winds on the foamy billow; Oh! is there one in this world can say, The night's soft voice, in breathings low, Imparts a calm to the breast of the weeper. No more will sooth the ear of the sleeper, I've seen the moon gild the mountain's brow; So deep, so calm, and so holy a feeling: "Tis soft as the thrill which memory throws Athwart the soul in the hour of repose. Thou Father of all! in the worlds of light, For this is the path, which thou hast given, LESSON CLII. A natural mirror.-WORDSWORTH. BEHOLD, the shades of afternoon have fallen Upon this flowery slope; and see-beyondThe lake, though bright, is of a placid blue; As if preparing for the peace of evening. How temptingly the landscape shines!—The air Breathes invitation; easy is the walk To the lake's margin, where a boat lies moored * Forth we went, And down the valley, on the streamlet's bank, And yet a breath can do it. LESSON CLIII. Burial places near Constantinople.-ANASTASIUS. A DENSE and motionless cloud of stagnant vapors ever shrouds these dreary realms. From afar a chilling sensation informs the traveller that he approaches their dark and dismal precincts'; and as he enters them, an icy blast, rising from their inmost bosom, rushes forth to meet his breath, suddenly strikes his chest, and seems to oppose his progress. His very horse snuffs up the deadly effluvia with signs of manifest terror, and, exhaling a cold and clammy sweat, advances reluctantly over a hollow ground, which shakes as he treads it, and loudly re-echoes his slow and fearful step. |