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bushes, the disguise could not be detected at a distance, and scarcely discovered upon the nearest inspection. He was armed with a dagger and tomahawk 12"

16. The cause of the disappearance of the other sentinels was now apparent. The Indians, sheltered in this disguise, secreted themselves in the coppice, watched for the moment to throw off the skin, burst upon the sentinels without previous alarm, and, too quick to give them an opportunity to discharge their pieces, either stabbed or scalped them. They then bore their bodies away, and concealed them at some distance in the leaves.

1 REG'I-MENT. A body of troops com

manded by a colonel, and consist-
ing, when full, of from eight hun-
dred to twenty-four hundred men.

2 CŎN'FINES. Borders, edges.
8 SA-VĂN NA. A low, open plain.
4 SEN'TI-NĚL. A soldier set to watch
the approach of the enemy, to pre-
vent surprises, &c.

5 Pōsт. A place where a soldier or a

power in producing results the causes of which are unknown.

7 COLONEL (kür'nel). The chief commander of a regiment.

8 COM'PA-NY. A subdivision of a regi-
ment commanded by a captain, aud
consisting, when full, of near one
hundred men.

9 IN-COM'PA-RA-BLE.
matchless.

number of troops are stationed; a 10 CIR-CŪ'I-TOŬS.
station.

direct.

Unequalled;

Roundabout; not

6 SU-PER-STI"'TION. Excess of scruple 11 CŎP'PICE. A wood of small trees; in matters of religion; a belief in

a copse.

the direct agency of supernatural | 12 TŎM'A-HÂWк. An Indian hatchet.

VII. -THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE.

COWPER.

[William Cowper, an English poet, was born in 1731, and died in 1800. His poetry is written in a vigorous and manly style, and has an energetic moral tone. It abounds in charming pictures of natural scenery and domestic life. His smaller pieces enjoy great and deserved popularity.

Few events have ever fallen with more startling sorrow upon the public mind of Great Britain than the loss of the Royal George, in the month of August, 1782, while lying at anchor off Spithead, near Portsmouth. She carried one hundred and eight guns, was commanded by Admiral Kempenfelt, and was deemed the finest ship in the British navy. Being just ready to go to sea, she was inclined a little on one side, either to stop a leak or for some similar object. But so little risk was anticipated from the operation, that the admiral,

with his officers and men, nearly a thousand souls in all, remained on board. Besides these, the ship was crowded with persons from the shore; among whom were some three hundred women and children. In this state of things, the vessel was struck by a sudden flaw of wind, and being probably too much inclined, she was thrown farther over: the water rushed into her portholes ; she filled instantly, and sunk. About three hundred persons were saved, but not less than a thousand perished. The effect of so fearful a tragedy may be more fully apprehended when we bear in mind that the whole British loss in the great naval battle of Trafalgar, fought a few years after, in its consequences the most important naval battle of modern times, - -was less than seventeen hundred.]

1. TOLL for the brave,

The brave that are no more;
All sunk beneath the wave,
Fast by their native shore.

2. Eight hundred of the brave,
Whose courage well was tried,
Had made the vessel heel,

And laid her on her side.

3. A land breeze shook the shrouds3,
And she was overset:

Down went the Royal George,
With all her crew complete.

4. Toll for the brave;

Brave Kempenfelt is gone;
His last sea fight is fought;
His work of glory done.

5. It was not in the battle;
No tempest gave the shock;
She sprang no fatal leak;
She ran upon no rock.

6. His sword was in its sheath,
His fingers held the pen,

When Kempenfelt went down,
With twice four hundred men.

7. Weigh' the vessel up,
Once dreaded by our foes;
And mingle with our cup

The tear that England owes.

8. Her timbers yet are sound,
And she may float again,

Full charged with England's thunder,
And plough the distant main".

9. But Kempenfelt is gone;

His victories are o'er;

And he and his eight hundred
Shall plough the waves no more.

1 FAST BY. Near to; close by.

2 HELL. Lean or incline to one side,

as a ship.

from the mast-head to the vessel's

sides, to support the mast, &c.

4 WEIGH (wa). Lift, raise.

8 SHRÖUDŞ. A set of ropes reaching 5 MAIN. The open sea; the ocean.

VIII. THE SUNBEAM.

MRS. HEMANS.

[Felicia Dorothea Hemans was born in Liverpool, England, September 25, 1794, and died May 12, 1835. Her poetry is remarkable for purity and delicacy of feeling, and a fine sense of the beauty of nature.]

1. THOU art no lingerer in monarch's' hall:

A joy thou art and a wealth to all;

A bearer of hope unto land and sea:

Sunbeam, what gift hath the world like thee?

2 Thou art walking the billows, and ocean smiles;
Thou hast touched with glory his thousand isles;
Thou hast lit up the ships, and the feathery foam,
And gladdened the sailor like words from home.

3. To the solemn depths of the forest shades

Thou art streaming on through their green arcades',
And the quivering leaves that have caught thy glow,
Like fireflies glance to the pools below.

4. I looked on the mountains: a vapor lay
Folding their heights in its dark array;
Thou brakest forth, and the mist became
A crown and a mantle of living flame.

3

5. I looked on the peasant's lowly cot:

Something of sadness had wrapped the spot;
But a gleam of thee on its casement* fell,
And it laughed into beauty at that bright spell.

6. Sunbeam of summer, O, what is like thee,
Hope of the wilderness, joy of the sea?
One thing is like thee, to mortals given —
The faith touching all things with hues of heaven.

1 MŎN'ẠRCH. A ruler of a nation, |
who has sole authority; a sover-
eign; a king.

2 AR-CADE'. A walk arched above; an arched aperture; a space covered by an arch.

4

6

PEAŞ'ANT. A laborer in Europe who lives in the country.

CASE'MENT. A part of a window-
sash, opening upon hinges.

5 MÖR TALS. Human beings.
6 HUES. Colors; tints.

IX.-MEMORIALS OF WASHINGTON AND
FRANKLIN.

[The following deeply interesting proceedings took place in the House of Representatives at Washington, on the 7th day of February, 1848. Mr. George W. Summers, of Virginia, rose and addressed the house as follows.]

1. MR. SPEAKER: I rise for the purpose of discharging an office not connected with the ordinary business of a legislative' assembly. Yet, in asking permission to inter

rupt, for a moment, the regular order of parliamentary2 proceedings, I cannot doubt that the proposition which I have to submit will prove as gratifying as it may be unusual.

2. Mr. Samuel T. Washington, a citizen of Kanawha * county, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and one of my constituents3, has honored me with the commission of presenting, in his name and on his behalf, to the Congress of the United States, and through that body to the people of the United States, two most interesting and valuable relics, connected with the past history of our country, and with men whose achievements, both in the field and in the cabinet, best illustrate and adorn our annals.

3. One is the sword worn by George Washington, first as a colonel in the colonial service of Virginia, in Forbes's campaign against the French and Indians, and afterwards, during the whole period of the war of independence, as commander-in-chief of the American army.

4. It is a plain couteau,† or hanger, with a green hilt and silver guard. On the upper ward of the scabbard is engraven "J. Bailey, Fish Kill." It is accompanied by a buckskin belt, which is secured by a silver buckle and clasp, whereon are engraven the letters "G. W." and the figures "1757." These are all of the plainest workmanship, but substantial, and in keeping with the man and with the times to which they belonged.

5. The history of this sword is perfectly authentic®, and leaves no shadow of doubt as to its identity. The last will and testament of General Washington, bearing date on the 9th day of February, 1799, contains, among a great variety of bequests, the following clause: "To each of my nephews, William Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington, and Samuel Washington, I give one of the swords, or cou1 Pronounced kô-tō'.

* Pronounced ką-naw'wą.

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