SIR WALTER AND THE LION.

A. WALCHNER.

1. SIR WALTER of Thurn, over the Syrian waste,
Rides away with a flowing rein;

But he hears a groan that checks his haste,
As if death were in the strain.

He spurs his steed

Whence the sounds proceed;

And there, from a rocky chasm, arise
Fierce cries of pain, that assail the skies;
And his horse uprears

In excess of fears,

As the glance of a lion attracts his eyes.

2. Fierce struggling there in the monster folds
Of a serpent that round him twines;
Sir Walter a moment the scene beholds,
Then to save the beast inclines.

His good sword stout

From its sheath leaps out,

When down it falls on the Python's' crest,
And cleaves the coils that the lion invest;
And the noble beast,

From its thrall released,

Shows grateful joy most manifest.

3. He shakes his mane, and bends his form,
And licks his preserver's hand,

As if he yields allegiance warm
To his supreme command.

Like the faithful hound

To be constant found,

And follow his steps forevermore;

And thus he follows, on sea and shore,
In the battle's tide,

He stands by his side,

Or with him rests when the strife is o'er.

4. In Palestine Sir Walter is known,-
Long years attest his fame;

And many brave deeds he there hath done,
That ray with glory his name;

But his heart doth expand

For the fatherland,

And he fain its pleasant scenes would see,
With his friendly lion for company;
But with fearful breast,

The sailors protest,

As they glanced at the beast and his majesty.

5. Rich guerdon he proffers, and golden store;
But though the prize were great,
The sailors hurry away from the shore
As if from the doom of fate.

The poor beast moans

In piteous tones,

Then darts impetuously o'er the sands,-
Then looks to the ship, and mournfully stands,

Then plunges into the gloomy wave,

The perils of the depths to brave.
Already he nears the flying bark,

Already his roar of grief they hark;

But his strength is spent, and the sea is strong,
And he may not the fearful struggle prolong.

His dying glances are fondly cast

Along the track where the loved one passed;
Then sinks to his grave

Beneath the wave,

And the night and the ocean behold him the last.

QUESTIONS.-1. What did Sir Walter discover as he was riding over the Syrian waste? 2. What did he do? 3. What did the lion do, after being released? 4. Did the sailors allow the lion to go on board the ship? 5. What did the lion then do? 6. What became of him?

UN IN TER RUPT ED, (UN, not; INTER, in between; RUPTED, broken;) not broken in between ; unbroken.

It is sometimes desirable to have each member of the class read a piece complete in itself. To answer this end, the following collection of brief, though beautiful productions, have been brought together all under one head.

CHOICE EXTRACTS.

I.

WHAT REALLY BENEFITS US.

It is not what we earn, but what we save, that makes us rich. It is not what we eat, but what we digest, that makes us strong. It is not what we read, but what we remember,

that makes us learned. It is not what we intend, but what we do, that makes us useful. It is not a few faint wishes, but a life-long struggle, that makes us valiant.

II.

GOD'S LOVE

There's not a flower that decks the vale,
There's not a beam that lights the mountain,
There's not a shrub that scents the gale,
There's not a wind that stirs the fountain,
There's not a hue that paints the rose,
There's not a leaf around us lying,
But in its use or beauty shows

God's love to us, and love undying!

III.

LIFE-WORK.

To acquire a thorough knowledge of our own hearts and characters,. to restrain every irregular inclination, to subdue every rebellious passion, to purify the motives of our conduct, to form ourselves to that temperance which no pleasure can seduce, to that meekness which no provocation can ruffle, to that patience which no affliction can overwhelm, and that integrity which no interest can shake; this is the task which is assigned to us,-a task which can not be performed without the utmost diligence and care.

IV.

HUMILITY.

The brightest stars are burning suns;

The deepest water stillest runs;
The laden bee the lowest flies;
The richest mine the deepest lies;

The stalk that's most replenished,
Doth bow the most its modest head.
Thus, deep Humility we find
The mark of every master-mind;
The highest-gifted lowliest bends,
And merit meekest condescends,
And shuns the fame that fools adore,-
That puff that bids a feather soar.

V.

BENEFITS OF ADVERSITY.

A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.

Neither do

uninterrupted prosperity and success qualify man for usefulness or happiness. The storms of adversity, like the storms of the ocean, rouse the faculties and excite the invention, prudence, skill, and fortitude of the voyager.

VI.

OUR MOUNTAIN HOMES.

MRS. S. R. A. BARNES.

Why turn we to our mountain homes
With more than filial feeling?
"Tis here that Freedom's altars rise,
And Freedom's sons are kneeling'
Why sigh we not for softer climes?
Why cling to that which bore us?
'Tis here we tread on Freedom's soil,
With Freedom's sunshine o'er us!

If

VII.

MAKE A BEGINNING.

you do not begin, you will never come to the end. The first weed pulled up in the garden, the first seed set in the