9. I pulled my valve-cord to descend. It refused to obey my hand. For a moment I was horror-struck. What was to be done? If I ascended much higher, the balloon would explode. I threw over some tissue paper to test my progress. It is well known that this will rise very swiftly. It fell, as if blown downward by a wind from the zenith. I was going upward like an arrow. I attempted to pray, but

my parched lips could not move.

I seized the cord again, with desperate energy. Blessed Heaven! it moved.

10. I threw out more tissue. It rose to me like a wing of joy. I was descending. Though far from sunset, it was now dark about me, except a track of blood-red haze in the direction of the sun. I encountered a strong current of wind; mist was about me; it lay like dew upon my coat. At last, a thick bar of vapor being past, what a scene was disclosed! A storm was sweeping through the sky, nearly a mile beneath; and I looked down upon an ocean of rainbows, rolling in indescribable grandeur, to the music of the thunder-peal, as it moaned afar and near, on the coming and dying wind.

11. A frightened eagle had ascended through the tempest, and sailed for minutes by my side, looking at me with panting weariness, and quivering mandibles, but with a dilated eye, whose keen iris flashed unsubdued. Proud emblem of my country! As he fanned me with his heavy wing, and looked with a human intelligence at the car, my pulse bounded with exulting rapture. Like the genius of my native land, he had risen above every storm, unfettered and

FREE.

12. But my transports were soon at an end. He attempted to light on the balloon, on the balloon, and my heart sunk; I feared his huge claws would tear the silk. I pulled my cord; he rose, as I sank, and the blast swept him from my view in a

moment. A flock of wild-fowl, beat by the storm, were coursing below, on bewildered pinions; and, as I was nearing them, I knew I was descending. A breaking rift now admitted the sun. The rainbows tossed and gleamed; chains of fleecy rack, shining in prismatic rays of gold, and purple, and emerald, "beautiful exceedingly," spread on every hand. 13. Vast curtains of clouds pavilioned the immensity, brighter than celestial roses; masses of mist were lifted on high, like strips of living fire, more radiant than the sun himself, when his glorious noontide culminates from the equator. A kind of aërial Euroclydon now smote my car, and three of the cords parted, which tilted my gondola to the side, filling me with terror. I caught the broken cords in my hand, but could not tie them.

14. The storm below was now rapidly passing away, and beneath its waving outline, to the south-east, I saw the ocean. Ships were speeding on their course, and their bright sails melting into distance; a rainbow hung afar; and the rolling anthems of the Atlantic came like celestial hymnings to my ear. Presently all was clear below me. The fresh air played around. I had taken a noble circuit; and my last view was better than the first. I was far over the bay, "afloating sweetly to the west." The city, colored by the last blaze of day, brightened remotely to the view.

15. Below, ships were hastening to and fro through the Narrows, and the far country lay smiling like an Eden. Bright rivers ran like ribbons of gold and silver, till they were lost in the vast inland, stretching beyond the view; the gilded mountains were flinging their purple shadows over many a vale; bays were blushing to the farewell day-beams; and now I was passing over a green island. I sailed to the mainland; saw the tall, old trees waving to the evening brecze; heard the rural lowing of herds, and the welcome

sound of human voices; and, finally, sweeping over foresttops and embowered villages, at last, descended with the sun, among a kind-hearted, surprised, and hospitable community, in as pretty a town as one could desire to see, "safe and well."

QUESTIONS.-1 What demonstrations were made by the people as the aeronaut began to ascend?. 2. How did the city and other objects appear to him? 3. What could he hear? 4. Describe the appearance of the ocean. 5. What did he do with his carrier-pigeon? 6. How high did he ascend? 7. Describe his descent. 8. What is said about the eagle that came near him? 9. Describe the appearance of the clouds beneath him.

LESSON LXXIX.

BOUN' TY, charity; favor.

FRU GAL, prudent; economical.
FLOUR ISH ED, thrived; prospered.

DIS CHARGED, performed.

BREED' ING, education.

EM RRAC' ED, accepted.

MAIN TAIN' ED, supported.

TRUDG' ED, traveled.
BE GUIL' ED, amused.
LE' GAL, lawful.
TWAIN, two.

BE WITCH' ING, charming.
YOUNK' ER, lad; youngster.
MED' I TA TIVE, thoughtful.

PRO VÕK' ED, (PRO, forward, forth; VOKED, called;) called forth; excited

IN CLUDE', (IN, in; CLUDE, shut ;) shut in; inclose.

IN SERT', (IN, in; SERT, join, set:) join, or set in; put in.

THE DAPPLE MARE.

JOHN G. SAXE

1. ONCE on a time," as ancient tales declare, There lived a farmer in a quiet dell

In Massachusetts, but exactly where,

Or when, is really more than I can tell,-
Except that quite above the public bounty,
He lived within his means and Bristol county.

2. By patient labor and unceasing care,

He earned, and so enjoyed, his daily bread;
Contented always with his frugal fare,

Ambition to be rich ne'er vexed his head;
And thus unknown to envy, want, or wealth,
He flourished long in comfort, peace, and health.

3. The gentle partner of his humble lot,

The joy and jewel of his wedded life, Discharged the duties of his peaceful cot,

Like a true woman and a faithful wife;

Her mind improved by thought and useful reading, Kind words and gentle manners showed her breeding.

4. Grown old, at last, the farmer called his son,

The youngest, (and the favorite I suppose,)

And said, "I long have thought, my darling John,

'Tis time to bring my labors to a close ;

So now to toil I mean to bid adieu,

And deed, my son, the homestead-farm to you.”

5. The boy embraced the boon with vast delight,

And promised, while their precious lives remained, He'd till and tend the farm from morn till night,

And see his parents handsomely maintained;
God help him, he would never fail to love, nor
Do aught to grieve his gen'rous old gov'nor.

6. The farmer said," Well, let us now proceed,
(You know there's always danger in delay,)
And get 'Squire Robinson to write the deed;

Come, where's my staff?-we'll soon be on the way." But John replied, with tender, filial care,

"You're old and weak-I'll catch the Dapple Mare."

7. The mare was saddled, and the old man got on,
The boy on foot trudged cheerfully along,
The while, to cheer his sire, the duteous son

Beguiled the weary way with talk and song.
Arrived, at length, they found the 'Squire at home,
And quickly told him wherefore they had come.

8. The deed was writ in proper form of law,

With many a "foresaid," "therefore," and "the same,"
And made throughout without mistake or flaw,
To show that John had now a legal claim
To all his father's land-conveyed, given, sold,
Quit-claimed, et cetera,*-to have and hold.

9. Their business done, they left the lawyer's door,
Happier, perhaps, than when they entered there;
And started off as they had done before,-
The son on foot, the father on the mare.
But ere the twain a single mile had gone,
A brilliant thought occurred to Master John.

10. Alas for truth!-alas for filial duty!—

Alas that Satan in the shape of pride,

(IIis most bewitching form save that of beauty,) Whispered the lad-"My boy, you ought to ride!” "Get off!" exclaimed the younker—“ 't is n't fair That you should always ride the Dapple Mare!"

11. The son was lusty, and the sire was old,

And so, with many an oath and many a frown,
The hapless father did as he was told;

The man got off the steed, the boy got on,

And rode away as fast as she could trot,
And left his sire to trudge it home on foot!

*And so forth.