Page images
PDF
EPUB

gratification. The very things that Horace looked upon as hateful, were, in fact, the sources of his friend's most permanent enjoyment.

12. In the third place, Herman had come back laden with rich stores of knowledge, observation, and experience. Not only was his journal rich in tales, legends, scenes, incidents, and historical records, but in putting these things down on paper, his memory had been improved, and he had acquired the habit of observing and remembering. His mind was full of pleasant things, and nothing could be more interesting than to hear him tell of his travels, and of what he had seen.

13. While Horace was dull, silent, and sour, Herman was full of conversation, life, and interest. The one was happy', the other unhappy'; one was agreeable', the other disagreeable'; one had exhausted the cup of pleasure', the other seemed always to have the cup full and sparkling before him. It was agreed on all hands that Horace was a disagreeable person, and everybody shunned him; while Herman was considered by all a most agreeable companion, and everybody sought his society.

14. So much for the two travelers; one, a luxurious lover of pleasure, who thought only of the passing moment, and, in his folly, abused and threw away his powers of enjoyment; the other, a lover of pleasure also; but who pursued it moderately, with a wise regard to the future, and careful attention, every day, to the rules of duty; and who thus secured his true happiness.

QUESTIONS.-1. What plan had Horace determined to pursue while travel ing? 2. What was Herman's plan? 3. What is said of Horace, after his return? 4. How was it with Herman? 5. What is said of the two in contrast? 6. What effect has the emphasis on the place of the accent in the words unhappy, and disagreeable, 13th paragraph? See page 22, note V .

IM' PORT, meaning.

LESSON XLIII.

GROV' EL ING, mean; creeping.
A CHIEVEMENT, performance.

AS PI RA'TION, wish; ardent desire.
SAN' GUINE, ardent; hopeful.
RE AL IZ ED, attained.

IN SPI RA'TION, natural impulse.
STATE LI NESS, dignity; majesty.
AD VENT'UR OUS, daring; enterprising.

EX UL TA' TION, (x like gz,) triumph
RI VALS, competitors.

DIG' NI TY, elevation; majesty.
OR'A CLES, wise words or sentences.
A PEX, hight; summit.

TEN' E MENT, dwelling; here means,
AD MON' ISH, warn. [the body.
RAPT' UR OUS, joyous; ecstatic.
AN TIC I PA' TION, foretaste.

PHI LOS' O PHY, (PHILO, love; SOPHY, wisdom,) love of wisdom; reason of things. See SANDERS & MCELLIGOTT'S ANALYSIS, page 236, Ex. 334.

HIGHER!

1. HIGHER ! It is a word of noble import. It lifts the soul of man from low and groveling pursuits, to the achievement of great and noble deeds, and ever keeps the object of his aspiration in view, till his most sanguine expectations are fully realized.

2. HIGHER! lisps the infant that clasps its parent's knee, and makes its feeble effort to rise from the floor. It is the first inspiration of childhood to burst the narrow confines of the cradle, and to exercise those feeble, tottering limbs, which are to walk forth in the stateliness of manhood.

3. HIGHER! echoes the proud school-boy in his swing; or, as he climbs the tallest tree of the forest, that he may look down upon his less adventurous comrades with a flush of exultation,--and abroad over the fields, the meadows, and his native village.

4. HIGHER! earnestly breathes the student of philosophy and nature. He has a host of rivals; but he must excel them all. The midnight oil burns dim; but he finds light and knowledge in the lamps of heaven, and his soul is never

weary, when the last of them is hid by the splendors of the morning.

5. And HIGHER! his voice thunders forth, when the dignity of manhood has mantled his form, and the multitude is listening with delight to his oracles, burning with eloquence, and ringing like true steel in the cause of Freedom and Right. And when time has changed his locks to silver, -when the young and the old unite to do him honor, he still breathes forth from his generous heart fond wishes for their welfare.

6. HIGHER YET! He has reached the apex of earthly honor; yet his spirit burns as warm as in youth, though with a steadier and purer light. And even now, while his frail tenement begins to admonish him, that "the time of his departure is at hand," he looks forward, with rapturous anticipation, to the never-fading glory, attainable only in the presence of the Most High.

2.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is said of the word Higher, first paragraph? When does the school-boy say Higher? 3. What is said of the student? 4. What, when he arrives at manhood? 5. What, when he becomes old? 6. Where is the passage within the quotation to be found? Ans. 2 Timothy, 4th chapter, 6th verse.

LESSON XLIV.

IN TENS ER, more fervent.
STUBBORN, unyielding; rugged.
DEEM, think; imagine.
OLD' EN, old; ancient.
CLING$, sticks; adheres closely.
GAL' LANT, fine; noble.
YAWN' ING, wide-opening.

Fu' RY, rage; madness.
RAVE, rage; become furious.
HEC TIC, habitual; continuous.
MEN' TAL, intellectual.
WIELD, Sway; exert.

PRIV' I LEGE, right; opportunity.
Dow' ER, gift; portion.

LABOR.*

1. Ho, ye who at the anvil toil,

And strike the sounding blow,

CAROLINE. F. ORNE

Where, from the burning iron's breast,
The sparks fly to and fro,

While answering to the hammer's ring,
And fire's intenser glow!—

Oh, while ye feel 'tis hard to toil

And sweat the long day through,

Remember, it is harder still

To have no work to do!

2. Ho, ye who till the stubborn soil,
Whose hard hands guide the plow,
Who bend beneath the summer sun,
With burning cheek and brow!-
Ye deem the curse still clings to earth
From olden time till now;
but, while ye feel 'tis hard to toil
And labor all day through,
Remember, it is harder still

To have no work to do!

3. Ho, ye who plow the sea's blue field,
Who ride the restless wave,

Beneath whose gallant vessel's keel
There lies a yawning grave,

Around whose bark the wint'ry winds

Like fiends of fury rave !—

* These lines were suggested by the simple incident of an industrious wood-sawyer's reply to a man who told im that his was a hard work. "Yes, it is hard, to be sure; but it is harder to do nothing," was his

answer.

Oh, while ye feel 'tis hard to toil
And labor long hours through,
Remember, it is harder still

To have no work to do!

4. Ho, ye upon whose fevered cheeks
The hectic glow is bright,
Whose mental toil wears out the day,
And half the weary night,
Who labor for the souls of men,

Champions of truth and right!-
Although ye feel your toil is hard,
Even with this glorious view,

Remember, it is harder still

To have no work to do!

5. Ho, all who labor,-all who strive!
Ye wield a lofty power;

Do with your might, do with your strength,
Fill every golden hour!

The glorious privilege to do

Is man's most noble dower.

Oh, to your birthright and yourselves

[blocks in formation]

QUESTIONS.-1. What incident suggested these thoughts to the writer? 2. Who toil at the anvil? 3. Who till the stubborn soil? 4. Who plow the sea's blue wave? 5. Who toil mentally? 6. Who labor for the souls of men? 7. What is man's most noble dower? 8. What is said to all these different laborers? 9. What is the meaning of the suffix less in the word restless? See SANDERS & MCELLIGOTT'S ANALYSIS, page 140, Ex. 187.

« PreviousContinue »