might go back from the storm which began to pelt us, where we might rest, and become encouraged and invigorated for a new conflict. So have I seen a bird, in its first efforts to fly, leave its nest, and stretch its wings, and go forth to the wide world. But the wind blew it back, and the rain began to fall, and the darkness of night began to draw on, and there was no shelter abroad, and it sought its way back to its nest, to take shelter beneath its mother's wings, and to be refreshed for the struggles of a new day; but then it flew away to think of its nest and its mother no more.

4. But not thus did we leave our home when we bade adieu to it to go forth alone to the manly duties of life. Even amidst the storms that then beat upon us, and the disappointments that we met with, and the coldness of the world, we felt still that there was one who sympathized in our troubles, as well as rejoiced in our success, and that, whatever might be abroad, when we entered the door of her dwelling, we should be met with a smile. We expected that a mother, like the mother of Sisera, as she "looked out at her window," waiting for the coming of her son laden with the spoils of victory, would look out for our coming, and that our return would renew her joy and ours in our earlier days.

5. It makes a sad desolation when, from such a place, a mother is taken away, and when, whatever may be the sorrows or the successes in life, she is to greet the returning son or daughter no more. The home of our childhood may be still lovely. The old family mansion-the green fields—the running stream the moss-covered well-the trees-the lawn-the rose-the sweet-brier-may be there. Perchance, too, there may be an aged father, with venerable locks, sitting in his loneliness, with every thing to command respect and love; but she is not there. Her familiar voice is not heard. The mother has been borne forth to sleep by the side

of her children who went before her, and the place is not what it was.

6. There may be those there whom we much love; but she is not there. We may have formed new relations in life, tender and strong as they can be; we may have another home, dear to us as was the home of our childhood, where there is all in affection, kindness, and religion, to make us happy; but that home is not what it was, and it will never be what it was again. It is a loosening of one of the cords which bound us to earth, designed to prepare us for our eternal flight from every thing dear here below, and to teach us that there is no place here, that is to be our permanent home.

QUESTIONS.-1. What renders home doubly endearing? 2. Where are we always welcome? 3. Who always rejoices in our successes, and is 4. Who was Sisera, and what account is given of

affected in our reverses?

him?

LESSON LXXXIII.

UN SPOT' TED, pure; unstained.
FAL' TER, fail.

TRA' CER Y, traces; impressions
IM' PRESS, mark; stamp.
DO MIN' ION, authority; predominance.
SHRINK, withdraw.

1.

PUR SU' ING, following.

STERN' ER, harsher; more rigid.
DE FY', dare; challenge.
WHO' So, any person whatever.
To' KEN, sign; indication.
BROTH' ER HOOD, fraternity.

THE LIFE-BOOK.

WRITE, mother, write!

A new, unspotted book of life before thee,
Thine is the hand to trace upon its

HOME JOURnal,

pages

2.

3.

The first few characters, to live in glory,

Or live in shame, through long, unending ages!
Write, mother, write!

Thy hand, though woman's, must not faint nor falter;
The lot is on thee,-nerve thee then with care,—
A mother's tracery time may never alter;

Be its first impress, then, the breath of prayer.
Write, mother, write!

Write, father, write!

Take thee a pen plucked from an eagle's pinion,
And write immortal actions for thy son;
Teach him that man forgets man's high dominion,
Creeping on earth, leaving great deeds undone!
Write, father, write!

Leave on his life-book a fond father's blessing,
To shield him 'mid temptation, toil, and sin,
And he shall go to glory's field, possessing
Strength to contend, and confidence to win.
Write, father, write!

Write, sister, write!

Nay, shrink not, for a sister's love is holy!
Write words the angels whisper in thine ears,-

No bud of sweet affection, howe'er lowly,
But planted here, will bloom in after years.
Write, sister, write!

Something to cheer him, his rough way pursuing,
For manhood's lot is sterner far than ours;
He may not pause,-he must be up and doing,
Whilst thou sitt'st idly, dreaming among flowers.
Write, sister, write!

4.

5.

Write, brother, write!

Strike a bold blow upon those kindred pages,-

Write; shoulder to shoulder, brother, we will go;
Heart linked to heart, though wild the conflict rages,
We will defy the battle and the foe.
Write, brother, write!

We who have trodden boyhood's path together,
Beneath the summer's sun and winter's sky,
What matter if life brings us some foul weather,
We may be stronger than adversity!

Write, brother, write!

Fellow immortal, write!

One GOD reigns in the Heavens,-there is no other,—

And all mankind are brethren-thus 'tis spoken,—
And whoso aids a sorrowing, struggling brother,
By kindly word, or deed, or friendly token,
Shall win the favor of our heavenly Father,
Who judges evil, and rewards the good,
And who hath linked the race of man together,
In one vast, universal brotherhood!

Fellow immortal, write!

QUESTIONS.-1. What may the mother write in the Life-Book? 2. What, the father? 3. What, the sister? 4. What, the brother? 5. What may all write ?

ODE, short poem.

LESSON LXXXIV.

PA TER NAL, coming by inheritance.
AT TIRE', clothing; raiment.

UN CON CERN' ED LY, without care.

REO RE A'TION, amusement.
IN' NO CENCE, freedom from guilt
MED I TA' TION, contemplation.
UN LA MENTED, unmourned.

ODE ON SOLITUDE.

Written when the author was twelve years of age.

1. HAPPY the man whose wish and care

A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground.

РОРЕ.

2. Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire;
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter fire.

3. Blest who can unconcern'dly find

Hours, days, and years glide soft away,
In health of body, peace of mind,
Quiet by day.

4. Sound sleep by night; study and ease,
Together mixed; sweet recreation;
And innocence, which most doth please
With meditation.

5. Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
Thus unlamented let me die;

Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.

QUESTIONS.-1. Who, did the writer think, were happy? 2. How did he wish to live and die? 3. Analyze the word recreation, (RE, back; CREATION, act of bringing into life;) act of bringing back to life; a reviving.