a philosopher as they have already seen in his noble pattern! And we passed on, buried in meditation.

4. The motto of our infantile philosopher contains much,— too much to be forgotten, and should be engraven on the minds of all. What can better cheer man in a humble calling, than the reflection that the greatest and the best of earth the greatest statesmen, the brightest philosophers, and the proudest warriors-have once graced the same pro、 fession?

5. Look at Franklin! He who

With the thunder talked, as friend to friend,

And wove his garland of the lightning's wing,
In sportive twist."

What was he? A printer! once a subordinate in a printing office! Poverty stared him in the face; but her blank, hollow look, could nothing daunt him. He struggled against a harder current than most are called to encounter; but he did not yield. He pressed manfully onward; bravely buffeted misfortune's billows, and gained the desired haven !

6. Look at Cincinnatus! At the call of his country he laid aside the plow and seized the sword. But having wielded it with success, when his country was no longer endan gered, and public affairs needed not his longer stay, "he beat his sword into a plowshare," and returned with honest delight to his little farm.

7. Look at Washington! What was his course of life? He was first a farmer; next a Commander in chief of the hosts of freedom, fighting for the liberation of his country from the thralls of despotic oppression; next, called to the highest seat of government by his ransomed brethren, a President of the largest Republic on earth, and lastly, a farmer again.

8. What was the famous Ben Jonson?

He was first a

brick-layer, or mason! What was he in after years? "Tis

needless to answer.

What was Burns? An Ayrshire plowman! What was he in after life, in the estimation of his countrymen, and the world? Your library gives the answer!

9. But shall we go on, and call up, in proud array, all the mighty host of worthies that have lived and died, who were cradled in the lap of penury, and received their first lessons in the school of affliction'? Nay'; we have cited instances enough already,-yea, more than enough to prove the point in question—namely, that there is no profession, however low in the opinion of the world, but has been honored with earth's greatest and worthiest.

10. Young man ! Does the iron hand of misfortune press hard upon you, and disappointments well-nigh sink your despairing soul'? Have courage! Mighty ones have been your predecessors, and have withstood the current of opposition that threatened to overwhelm their fragile bark.

11. Do you despise your humble station, and repine that Providence has not placed you in some nobler sphere'? Murmur not against the dispensations of an All-wise Creator! Remember that wealth is no criterion of moral rectitude or intellectual worth,—that riches dishonestly gained, are a lasting curse,—that virtue and uprightness work out a rich reward, and that

"An honest man's the noblest work of God."

12. And when dark Disappointment comes, do not wither at her stare; but press forward, and the prize is yours! It was thus with Franklin,-it can be thus with you. He strove for the prize, and he won it! So may you!

'Tis

well worth contending for; and may success attend you, and the "stars" grow brighter, as the "stripes" wear deeper!

QUESTIONS-1. What did the rich boy say of the poor boy? 2. What reply did the poor boy make? 3. What other examples are cited of eminent men who were once poor? 4. What is said of Cincinnatus? 5. Of Washington? 6. Of Ben Jonson? 7. Of Burns? 8. What do all these examples prove? 9. What encouragement is given to young men? 10. What are the full forms of the words you're, 'prentice?

ན

LESSON XLVII.

MA& IC, power of enchantment.
CON TEN TION, strife; controversy.
TRA DI" TION, facts or events handed
down from age to age.
SUB' TILE, thin; slight; slender.
IN VEST ED, clothed.
[crest.

CREST' ED, adorned with a plume or
Az' URE, light-blue; sky-colored.

VEST URE, garment.
SE DATE', calm; quiet.
FAN TAS' TIC, fanciful; visionary.
RA' DI ANCE, brightness; luster.
IN VECTIVE, railing speech.
I DE AL, imaginary.

FA TIGU ING, wearisome; toilsome.
AS PIR' ING, aiming; seeking to rise.

PER SPECTIVE, (PER, through; SPECT, to see; IVE, having the power,) having the power to see through; a view through.

UN DI VERT ED, (UN, not; DI, aside; VERTED, turned,) not turned aside; anheeded.

NOW AND THEN.

1. In distant days,-of wild romance,

Of magic, mist, and fable,—

JANE TAYLOR.

When stones could argue, trees advance,*

And brutes to talk were able,—

When shrubs and flowers were said to preach,
And manage all the parts of speech,-

* The reference is to Orpheus, (or' fūse,) an ancient poet and musician of Greece. The skill of Orpheus on the lyre, was fabled to have been such as to move the very trees and rocks, and to assemble the beasts around him as he touched its chords.

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!"