2. But in adversity's dark hour When clouds above the vessel lower, When winds are loud, and waves are high, Appears the seaman's grave; 3. For Scotland and her freedom's right The Bruce his part had played; In five successive fields of fight A hut's lone shelter sought. 4. And cheerless was that resting-place His canopy, devoid of grace, The heather couch his only bed, Yet well I know had slumber fled From couch of eider-down; Through darksome night to dawn of day, Of Scotland and her crown. 1 5. The sun rose brightly, and its gleam And tinged with light each shapeless beam His filmy thread to fling From beam to beam of that rude cot; 6. Six times his gossamery thread In vain the filmy line was sped; Each aim appeared and back recoiled And soon the Bruce, with eager eye, 7. One effort more, the seventh and last,- And on the wished-for beam hung fast Slight as it was, his spirit caught The more than omen; for his thought The lesson well could trace, 8. Is it a tale of mere romance'? While aught remains untried; To hope, though every hope seems crossed, 9. Hast thou been long and often foiled With patience persevere; Knowing, when darkest seems the night, 10. Art thou a Christian? shall the frown The Bruce but won an earthly crown, Can join in Victory's psalm. QUESTIONS.-1. Will'smooth seas and favoring gales make a skillful mariner? 2. What will make skillful and brave men? 3. In what respect is adversity better than prosperity? 4. What story illustrates this fact? 5. How many times did the spider try, before it succeeded? 6. In how many battles had Bruce been defeated? 7. What important lesson is taught youth? 8. What encouragement is given to the Christian? LESSON XXXV. PATRI OT IC, having love of country. { O' DI OUS, hateful; offensive. BRA' VO, well done. BROILS, wrangles; quarrels. RE NOWN' ED, famed; celebrated. FAG-END', the meaner part. 1LA VÄ' TER, (John Gaspar,) a celebrated physiognomist, that is, one skilled in the art of determining character by the external features, born in Zurich, in 1741. That part of this dialogue uttered by Caroline, should be read in a very earnest and spirited style,-that uttered by Horace in a more grave, delib erate, and candid manner. WEALTH AND FASHION. Caroline. What a pity it is that we are born under a Republican government! Horace. Upon my word, Caroline, that is a patriotic observation for an American. Caroline. Oh, I know that it is not a popular one! We must all join in the cry of liberty and equality, and bless our stars that we have neither kings nor emperors to rule over us, and that our very first audible squeak was republicanism. If we don't join in the shout, and hang our caps on liberty-poles, we are considered monsters. For my part, I am tired of it, and am determined to say what I think. I hate republicanism; I hate liberty and equality; and I don't hesitate to declare that I am for monarchy. You may laugh, but I would say it at the stake. Horace. Bravo, Caroline! You have almost run yourself out of breath. You deserve to be prime minister to the king. Caroline. You mistake; I have no wish to mingle in political broils, not even if I could be as renowned as Pitt or Fox; but I must say, I think our equality is odious. What do you think! To-day, the new chamber-maid put her head into the door, and said, "Caroline, your marm wants you!" Horace. Excellent! I suppose if ours were a monarchical government, she would have bent to the ground, or saluted your little foot, before she spoke. Caroline. No, Horace; you know there are no such forms in this country. Horace. May I ask your highness what you would like to be? Caroline. I should like to be a countess. Horace. Oh, you are moderate in your ambition! A countess, now-a-days, is the fag-end of nobility. Caroline. Oh! but it sounds so delightfully,-"The young Countess Caroline!" Horace. If sound is all, you shall have that pleasure; we will call you the young countess. Caroline. That would be mere burlesque, Horace, and would make one ridiculous. Horace. Nothing can be more inconsistent in us, than aiming at titles. |