2. 'Twas then, no doubt, if 'twas at all,
(But doubts we need not mention,)

That Then and Now, two adverbs small,
Engaged in sharp contention;

But how they made each other hear,
Tradition doth not make appear.

3. Then was a sprite of subtile frame,
With rainbow tints invested,-
On clouds of dazzling light she came,
And stars her forehead crested;

Her sparkling eyes of azure hue,

Seemed borrowed from the distant blue.

4. Now rested on the solid earth,
And sober was her vesture;
She seldom either grief or mirth
Expressed, by word or gesture;
Composed, sedate, and firm she stood,
And looked industrious, calm, and good.

5. Then sang a wild, fantastic song,
Light as the gale she flies on,

Still stretching, as she sailed along,
Toward the far horizon,

Where clouds of radiance, fringed with gold,
O'er hills of emerald beauty rolled.

6. Now rarely raised her sober eye
To view that golden distance;
Nor let one idle minute fly

In hope of Then's assistance;
But still with busy hands she stood,
Intent on doing present good.

7. She ate the sweet, but homely fare,

That passing moments brought her;
While Then, expecting dainties rare,
Despised such bread and water;

And waited for the fruits and flowers
Of future, still receding hours.

8. Now, venturing once to ask her why,
She answered with invective;
And pointed, as she made reply,
Toward that long perspective
Of years to come,—in distant blue,
Wherein she meant to live and do.

9. "Alas!" says she, "how hard you toil!
With undiverted sadness;
Behold yon land of wine and oil!
Those sunny hills of gladness!
Those joys I wait, with eager brow,”—
"And so you always will!" said Now.

10. "That fairy land that looks so real,
Recedes as you pursue it;

Thus, while you wait for times ideal,
I take my work and do it;
Intent to form, when time is gone,
A pleasant past to look upon."

11. "Ah, well," said Then, "I envy not
Your dull, fatiguing labors,—
Aspiring to a brighter lot,

With thousands of my neighbors;
Soon as I reach that golden hill,”—

"But that," says Now, "you never will!'

12. "And e'en suppose you should," said she,
"(Though mortal ne'er attained it,)
Your nature you must change with me,
The moment you have gained it;
Since hope fulfilled, (you must allow,)

Turns Now to Then, and THEN to Now."

QUESTIONS.—1. What two words are represented as holding a contro

ersy?

2. Describe the appearance of each. 3 When did Then propose to do something? 4. How did Now act? 5. What answer did Then make, when Now asked her why she waited? 6. What was Now's reply? 7. What did Now finally say to Then? 8. How should passages, within & parenthesis, be read? See SANDERS' UNION READER, NUMBER THREE, page 20.

1. IN the early part of the war, a sergeant and twelve armed men undertook a journey through the wilderness, in the State of New Hampshire. Their route was remote from any settlement, and they were under the necessity of encamping over night in the woods. Nothing material happened

the first day of their excursion; but, early in the afternoon of the second, they, from an eminence, discovered a body of armed Indians advancing toward them, whose number rather exceeded their own.

2. As soon as the whites were perceived by their red brethren, the latter made signals, and the two parties approached each other in an amicable manner. The Indians appeared to be much gratified with meeting the sergeant and his men, whom, they observed, they considered as their protectors. They said they belonged to a tribe which had raised the hatchet with zeal in the cause of liberty, and were determined to do all in their power to repel the common

enemy.

3. They shook hands in friendship. When they had conversed with each other for some time, and exchanged mutual good wishes, they, at length, separated, and each party traveled in a different direction. After proceeding to the distance of a mile or more, the sergeant, who was acquainted with all the different tribes, and knew on which side of the contest they were respectively ranked, halted his men, and addressed them in the following words:

4. "My brave companions, we must use the utmost caution, or this night may be our last. Should we not make some extraordinary exertions to defend ourselves, to-morrow's sun may find us sleeping, never to wake. You are surprised, comrades, at my words, and your anxiety will not be lessened, when I inform you that we have just passed our most inveterate foe, who, under the mask of pretended friendship, which you have witnessed, would lull us to security, and, by such means, in the unguarded moments of our midnight slumber, without resistance, seal our fate."

5. The men with astonishment listened to this short harangue; and their surprise was greater, as not one of

them had entertained the suspicion but that they had just encountered friends. They all immediately resolved to enter into some scheme for their mutual preservation, and the destruction of their enemies. By the proposal of their leader, the following plan was adopted and executed.

6. The spot selected for their night's encampment, was near a stream of water, which served to cover their rear They felled a large tree, before which, on the approach of night, a brilliant fire was lighted. Each individual cut a log of wood, about the size of his body, rolled it nicely in his blanket, placed his hat upon one end, and laid it before the fire, that the enemy might be deceived, and mistake it for a man.

7. After they had thus fitted out logs, equal in number to the sergeant's party, and had so artfully arranged them, that they might be easily mistaken for so many soldiers, the men with loaded muskets placed themseives behind the fallen tree, by which time the shades of evening began to close around. The fire was kept burning brilliantly until late in the evening, when it was suffered to decline.

8. The critical time was now approaching, when an attack might be expected from the Indians; but the sergeant's men rested in their place of concealment with great anxiety, till near midnight, without perceiving any movement of the enemy. At length, a tall Indian was discovered, through the glimmering of the fire, cautiously moving toward them, making no noise, and apparently using every means in his power to conceal himself from any one about the camp.

9. For a time, his actions showed him to be suspicious that a guard might be stationed to watch any unusual appearance, who would give the alarm in case of danger; but, all appearing quiet, he ventured forward more boldly, rested upon his toes, and was distinctly seen to move his finger as