22. Poor bird! he had been content to fold his pinion, because his associates did not fly, and now it was too weak to bear him up; and though his eagle nature was so awakened that he loathed the earth, and longed to track out his way among the clouds, he knew that he was doomed to crawl about like a creeping reptile. 23. "I should think that he might learn to fly yet," interrupted one of the listeners. "Perhaps he might," said Mr. Dawson; "being a young bird; very likely he might." "But an eagle could n't be so kept down," said another; "you could n't tame an eagle and make such a goose of him." 24. "Is man, then, inferior to a bírd?" said Mr. Dawson, with one of his peculiar smiles, "that his high spirits can be kept down, his aspirations tamed, his whole nature degraded, and he made the slave of círcumstances?" QUESTIONS.-1. What application can you make of this fable! 2 Who may be compared to this young eagle LESSON XII. SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. GOAL, literally the point set to bound a race. 2. RE MORSE', anguish excited by a sense of guilt. 3. VACANT, empty; not filled. 4. DE VOID' destitute; not possessing, 5. VIS' ION, Something imagined to be seen, though not real. 6. RESOUND' ING, echoing; returning, as sound. 7. Is' SUE, passage out; outlet. 8. EM BLEM, symbol; sign. 9. FER VENT LY, earnest ly, eagerly. 10. THRESH' OLD, the door-sill; here the entrance to life. Avoid saying winder for window, narrer for narrow, false for faults, this swas zan nemblem for this was an emblem, &c. See Direction VL page 16. THE TWO ROADS. JEAN PAUL RICHTER. 1. It was New Year's night. An aged man was standing at a window. He raised his mournful eyes toward the deep blue sky, where the stars were floating, like white lilies, on the surface of a clear calm lake. Then he cast them on the earth, where few more hopeless beings than himself now moved toward their certain goal—the tomb. 2. Already he had passed sixty of the stages which lead to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and remorse. His health was destroyed, his mind vacant, his heart sorrowful, and his old age devoid of comfort. 3. The days of his youth rose up in a vision before him, and he recalled the solemn moment when his father had placed him at the entrance of two roads,—one leading into a peaceful, sunny land, covered with a fertile harvest, and resounding with soft sweet songs; while the other conducted the wanderer into a deep, dark cave, whence there was no issue, where poison flowed instead of water, and where serpents hissed and crawled. 4. He looked toward the sky, and cried out in his agony: "O youth, return! O my father, place me once more at the entrance to life, that I may choose the better way!" But the days of his youth and his father had both passed away. 5. He saw wandering lights floating away over dark marshes, and then disappear. These were the days of his wasted life. He saw a star fall from heaven, and vanish in darkness. This was an emblem of himself; and the sharp arrows of unavailing remorse struck home to his heart. Then he remembered his early companions, who entered on life with him, but who, having trod the paths of virtue and of labor, were now honored and happy on this New Year's night. 6. The clock, in the high church tower, struck, and the sound, falling on his ear, recalled his parents early love for him, their erring son; the lessons they had taught him; the prayers they had offered up on his behalf. Overwhelmed with shame and grief, he dared no longer look toward that heaven where his father dwelt; his darkened eyes dropped tears, and with one despairing effort, he cried aloud: "COME BACK, my early days! COME BACK!" 7. And his youth did return; for all this was but a dream which visited his slumbers on New-Year's night. He was still young; his faults alone were real. He thanked God fervently, that time was still his own; that he had not yet entered the deep, dark cavern, but that he was free to tread the road leading to the peaceful land, where sunny harvests wave. 8. Ye who still linger on the threshold of life, doubting which path to choose, remember that, when years are passed, and your feet stumble on the dark mountain, you will cry bitterly, but cry in vain. "O YOUTH, RETURN! O GIVE ME BACK MY EARLY DAYS!" QUESTIONS.-1. What is meant by the phrase, "he had passed sixty of the stages," &c., 2d paragraph? 2. Describe these two roads. 3. Where did he desire to be again placed? 4. What reminded him of "the days of his wasted life!" 5. What was an emblem of himself? 6. Who were honored and happy? 7. Which of these two roads have you chosen? What pause after goal, 1st paragraph? See p. 43. What kind of emphasis on one and other, 3d par. See note VII. p. 22. What kind of emphasis on "Come back," 6th par. Note VI. p. 21. LESSON XIII. 2. SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. VOY A GER, one who sails by water. DIM PLING, forming dimples. 3. ZEPH' YR, any soft gentle wind. 4. RIP PLES, little curling waves. 5. SPELL, a charm. 6. Low' ER, appear dark and gloomy. 7. UN CON' Scious, not conscious; not knowing. 8. BE GUIL' ING, eluding by artifice; amusing. 9. BE DIM' MED, made dim; obscured. to Articulate distinctly ng as in leaping, sleeping, st as in brightest, tempest, ow as in billow, pillow, ts as in bolts, &c. THE YOUTHFUL VOYAGER. 1. A boat lay on the summer sea, J. T. HEADLEY. While laughing sunbeams, bright and free, Was o'er the bright deep straying; While all around the dimpling sea 2. Oh! it was sweet around that child And o'er its brow, so soft and mild And then I prayed that naught might break Or from its dreams the spirit wake That played so oft around it. 3. But when far-off upon the sky (pl.) I saw the tempest lower, A mournful tear bedimmed mine eye For still that bark rocked gay and light And still within, as fair and bright, 4. I turned away, for who could see 5. Ah! thus methought, on life's bright tide (pl.) But oh! too soon the angry storm And oft, alas! it wraps the form In which the heart beats lightest. QUESTIONS.-1. Where is the scene laid in this piece? 2. Can you describe the condition of the boat and the child? 3. What is meant by calling the infant an "unconscious flower"? 4. What prayer did the observer of the scene offer for the safety of the child? 5. Why did he turn away from the sight? 6. What reflections follow on the events described in this piece? With what modulation of voice should the three last verses be read? See Notation marks. LESSON XIV. SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. MIS' SION, errand; office; duty. 2. WREATHE, to twist; entwine. 3. LAUREL, a species of plant used in making garlands or wreaths for victors. 4. CHER' ISH ED, treated with tenderness and affection. 5. TRAI TOR, one who betrays his trust. SCORN ED, despised; disdained. 7. STATE' LY, magnificent; grand 8. SCAN, to examine with critical care. 6. Avoid saying deathluss for deathless, kindnuss for kindness, youthfle for youthful, mournfle for mournful, &c. LET VIRTUE BE YOUR AIM. 1. Whatever be thy lot on earth,— C. JIILSON Though Fame may wreathe her laurels fair, If you would rise from earthly things, Let all your ways be just and right— Let virtue be your aim. 2. Though cherished friends may traitors prove, And leave a mournful spell around Thy sad and bleeding heart; Though you may oft be scorned by men, Let all your ways be just and right- 3. Oh! ye who dwell in stately halls, Neglected and alone! (6) But oh! remember this broad truth, Your wealth may make a thousand fools; QUESTIONS.-1. What principles are inculcated in this piece of poetry? 2. Why does the word Fame begin with a capital? Ans Because it is personified. Why the rising inflection at the end of the 4th and 6th lines of the 1st and 2d verses? See Rule V., p. 29. |