LESSON CXIX. "WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT THE E?" MISS PAMELIA S. VINING 1. 'TWERE naught to me, yon glorious arch of night, 2. Twere naught to me, this ever-changeful scene The cloud, the flower, the landscape, and the leaf; My soul would pine 'mid earth's vain pageantry, And droop in hopeless orphanage and grief. 3. Twere naught to me, the ocean's vast expanse, From Nature's myriad vòices; for the hymn Robbed of the tones that tell my soul of Him. The noonday sun with all his glories crowned, LESSON CXX. THE MEMORY OF WASHINGTON. KOSSUTH. MR. PRESIDENT: I consider it a particular favor of Providence that I am permitted to partake, on the present solemn occasion, in paying the tribute of honor and gratitude to the memory of your immortal Washington. 2. An architect having raised a proud and noble building to the service of the Almighty, his admirers desired to erect a monument to his memory. How was it done? His name was inscribed upon the wall, with these additional words: "You seek his monument-look around.” 3. Let him who looks for a monument of Washington look around the United States. The whole country is a monument to him. Your freedom, your independence, your national power, your prosperity, and your prodigious growth, is a monument to Washington. 4. There is no room left for panegyric, none especially to a stranger whom you had full reason to charge with arrogance, were he able to believe that his feeble voice could claim to be noticed in the mighty harmony of a nation's praise. Let me, therefore, instead of such an arrogant attempt, pray that that God, to whose providential intentions Washington was a glorious instrument, may impart to the people of the United States the same wisdom for the conservation of the present prosperity of the land and for its future security, which he gave to Washington for the foundation of it. 5. I yield to nobody in the world in reverence and respect to the immortal memory of Washington. His life and his principles were the guiding star of my life; to that star I looked up for inspiration and advice, during the vicissitudes of my stormy life. Hence I drew that devotion to my country and to the cause of national freedom, which you, gentlemen, and millions of your fellow-citizens, and your national government. are so kind as to honor by unexampled distinction. 6. Sir, I have studied the history of your immortal Washington, and have, from my early youth, considered his principles as a living source of instruction to statesmen and to patriots. When, in that very year in which Washington issued his Farewell Address, M. Adet, the French Minister, presented to him the flag of the French Republic, Washington, as President of the United States, answered officially, with these memorable words: "Born in a land of liberty, having early learned its value, having engaged in a perilous conflict to defend it, having devoted the best years of my life to secure its permanent establishment in my country, my anxious recollections, my sympathetic feelings, and my best wishes, are irresistibly attracted, whensoever in any country I see an oppressed nation unfurl the banner of freedom." 7. Thus spoke Washington. Have I not then full reason to say, that if he were alive his generous sympathy would be with me, and the sympathy of a Washington never was, and never would be, a barren word. Washington, who raised the word "honesty " as a rule of policy, never would have professed a sentiment which his wisdom as a statesman would not have approved. 8. Sir! here let me end. I consider it already as an immense benefit that your generous attention connected the cause of Hungary with the celebration of the memory of Washington. 9. Spirit of the departed! smile down from heaven upon this appreciation of my country's cause; watch over those principles which thou hast taken for the guiding star of thy noble life, and the time will yet come when not only thine own country, but liberated Europe, also, will be a living monument to thy immortal name. LESSON CXXI. THE LOST ONE'S LAMENT. 1. OH! the snow, the beautiful snow, Flirting, Skimming along! Beautiful snow! it can do no wrong. Flying to kiss a fair lady's cheek, 2. Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, How the flakes gather and laugh as they go? It plays in its glee with every one; Chasing, Laughing, It lights on the face and it sparkles the eye! The town is alive, and its heart in a glow 3. How wild the crowd goes swaying along, Dashing they go Over the crust of the beautiful snow; 4. How strange it should be that this beautiful snow, Fainting, To wicked for prayer, too weak for a moan To be heard in the crazy town, Gone mad in the joy of the snow coming down; With a bed and a shroud of the beautiful snow ! |