Capt. W. In my right arm. My sword was struck from my hand. I saw our banner borne before your starry flag-I saw our soldiers driven before the victorious troops of Washington. Deprived of arms, strength, hope, what could I do but fly?

Mrs. E. Then Washington again triumphs!-now, as ever, the guardian of American liberty. Thanks be to God! I thought I heard the shout of victory mingling with the distant cannon's roar!

Capt. W. Oh, Madam! your exultation is my country's shame. I should not wish to live, but for the warm hearts that are yearning for me in my native land. But for them, I would willingly lie down and die, and let our withered laurels cover my early grave.

Mrs. E. In an unjust cause defeat is more honorable than success. Blush not to yield to a power which heaven visibly assists. The sling and pebble in the hand of David prostrated Goliath in all his giant strength and brazen armor. But you look very pale. Suffer

me to bind up your wounds.

Capt. W. Thank you, madam, I have already staunched the blood with my handkerchief. I hear voices approaching. If I am discovered, I shall be taken captive, and captivity is more terrible than death.

Mrs. E. Fear not, sir; you shall be safe. You have thrown yourself on my protection; and if the home of an American lady is an asylum from danger, that protection shall be yours. Enter here, [opening the door of an inner chamber] and remain till pursuit is over, [CAPT. WATSON goes out. Loud knocking without.]

Enter CAPT STANTON, an American officer, with soldiers. Capt. Stanton. Is not a British officer concealed in your house, madam?

Mrs. E. Supposing there is, I have room and welcome for my American brethren.

Capt. S. Pardon me, madam, it is not a light question that I ask. A British officer was seen to enter your gate; one, too, who fled from our pursuit. We cannot believe that a lady of your acknowledged patriotism would harbor the enemies of your country.

Mrs. E. If you cannot believe, why do you seek one under my roof?

Capt. S. Because I know he has found admission here. Much as I regret the necessity, you constrain me to search the house. The house of a patriot should never be the shelter of a British officer.

Mrs. E. It has ever been, and ever will be, the asylum of weak· ness, and the shelter of the oppressed. What lustre can it add to your triumph to swell the number of your captives with the name of one wounded and helpless man? You are masters of the field— victory has again descended on the banner of Washington, whose noble heart forgets not the claims of mercy in the exultation of

conquest. Return, I pray, to the battle-plain. See if there are no wounded to heal, no dying to whom your ministrations would be welcome as angel-visits. Let me give you bandages and lint, which I always keep ready for occasions like this.

Capt. S. In a few moments, madam; but I must first pass into this chamber. A soldier's duty must be fulfilled, even at the risk of losing the character of a gentleman.

Mrs. E Placing herself before the door]. You shall not enter, sir. This chamber is my sanctuary, and no foot shall pass over the threshold unsanctioned by my authority. I thought every American soldier knew what was due to a lady, as well as to himself. Sorry, indeed, shall I be, if I have occasion to blush for my countryman.

Capt. S. I would never willingly forfeit the character of a gentleman, or the respect due to a lady like yourself. But I find myself in a very extraordinary situation. I shall be compelled to account for my conduct to my commander-in-chief. I shall be robbed of the reward of this day's valor. [Stepping forward and taking hold of the door.]

Mrs. E. You shall take my life before you invade that sanctuary! My body shall be a rampart across this threshold; and if you must enter, your footsteps shall be tracked in the blood of a woman, who has armed her brothers for the conflict, and moulded bullets, nay, even cannon-balls, with her own feeble hands.

Enter CAPT WATSON from the chamber.

Capt. W. No, madam! you shall not suffer from your noble generosity to an enfeebled enemy. I willingly surrender myself into your hands, sir, rather than my noble hostess should be exposed to indignity and persecution. But, I must say, I did not expect this scene, when an American officer was chief actor. I thought I had been conquered by a generous foe!

Mrs. E. Oh! let not so dark a stain rest upon our country's glory, as that of unmercifully triumphing over a fallen foe. Surely, this gentleman will be permitted to remain, unmolested under my roof this night. He is wounded, and requires assistance and rest. You will not be outdone in delicacy and generosity.

Capt. S. You have conquered, madam. I feel that, flushed with the ardor of victory, mingled with the impatience of baffled pursuit, I forgot for a moment what was due to myself, to you, and to him. Capt. Watson, you have fought like a brave man, and I believe, on my soul, that it is the weakness of your cause that alone gives us the victory.

Capt. W. No wonder America triumphs when such a spirit animates the bosoms of its daughters. Such heroism, such dignity, blended with such gentleness and compassion! If I am permitted to return to my native land, I will call on British women to

admire the high and exalted virtues of their Transatlantic sisters. Mrs. E. I hope the time will shortly come when we may indeed be allowed to greet each others as sisters and friends. We never forget our lineage; and, even in the midst of oppression and wrongs our hearts have yearned with filial tenderness toward the land that gave our fathers birth.

Capt. S. Soldiers, you may depart. Madam, once more accept my apology for the harshness of my conduct. Capt. Watson, give me your hand, and show me that a brave man can forgive over-zeal in the exercise of a soldier's duty.

Capt. W. I am almost tempted to exclaim, "Oh that I too were an American!" I begin to feel there is no shame in yielding to a country over whose destiny a Washington presides; which can boast of daughters such as these, and of sons as ready to listen to the pleadings of mercy as to the promptings of valor and the urgings of ambition. Happy, thrice happy America!

CAROLINE LEE HENTZ.

LESSON CLVIII.

DE-FER', to put off to a future time.
DUL'CET, Sweet.

EM'U-LATE, to strive to equal or excel.
IN-SID I-OUS, lying in wait, watching to
entrap, treacherous.

SI'RENS, fabulous females who dwelt near the coast of Sicily, and by their

sweet singing enticed sailors to their destruction; hence, siren signifies al luring, bewitching.

SKEP TIC, doubting, hesitating to accept
truth.

TIM ID, fearful, cowardly.
GUILE, craft, deceit.*

PRONUNCIATION.- Em'u-late 16, re'al 3a, be-low' 1, tim id 1c, future 17 and 18, wa'ver-ing 3, be-neath 15, taunt 20, daunt 20, de ferred'1, brok'en 4d.

"NO."

1. WOULD you learn the bravest thing that man can ever do?
Would you be an uncrowned king, absolute and true?
Would you seek to emulate all we learn in story,
Of the moral, just, and great, rich in real glory?
Would you lose much bitter care in your lot below?
Bravely speak out when and where it is right to utter “No.”

2. Learn to speak this little word in its proper place;
Let no timid doubt be heard, clothed with skeptic grace;
Let the lips without disguise boldly pour it out;
Though a thousand dulcet lies keep hovering about.
For, be sure, our hearts would lose future years of woe,
If our courage could refuse the present hour with "No."

3. When temptation would you lead to some pleasant wrong
When she calls you to give heed to her siren song;
When she offers bribe and smile, and your conscience feels
There is naught but shining guile in the gifts she deals;

Then, O! then, let courage rise to its strongest flow;
Show that you are brave as wise, and firmly answer "No."

4. Men with goodly spirits blessed, willing to do right,

Yet who stand with wavering breast beneath persuasion's might;
When companions seek to taunt judgment into sin,

When the loud laugh fain would daunt your better voice within,
O! be sure you'll never meet a more insidious foe;

Strike the coward to your feet by reason's watchword, "No."

5. Few have learned to speak this word when it should be spoken; Resolution is deferred, vows to virtue broken.

More of virtue is required this one word to say

Than to stand where shots are fired in the battle fray.
Use it fitly, and you'll see many a lot below

May be schooled, and nobly ruled by power to utter “No.”

PRONUNCIATION.-Pos'ture 17 and 18, be-neath' 15, fis'sure 19 exception, stra'tum 276, em'a-na-ted 1f, croc'o-dile 2d, o'pened 4d, launched 20, vi'o-lent 2d, rep'tile 5a, sud'den-ly 4c.

AN UNEXPECTED GUEST.

1. SOME travelers in South America, having shot a monkey, determined to cook and eat it. One of them arranged the wood, and, having placed the monkey on it, blew the fire till a bright blaze had completely enveloped the animal.

2. He sat by the fire, now and then raking up the cinders with a long pole which he held in his hand, while his eyes from time to time rested on the monkey before him.

3. At length the monkey appeared to be completely cooked. With his knife in one hand and a forked stick in the other, he was just bending forward to lift it off the fire, when, to his horror, the ground was felt to move beneath him, causing him to stagger, and almost throwing him from his feet!

4. Before he could recover himself the surface again heaved up,

and a loud report was heard like the explosion of some terrible engine; then another up-heaval-another report.

5. The ground opened in a long fissure. The burning wood, the cinders, and the monkey were thrown hither and thither, and the man himself went sprawling on his back.

6. Was it an earthquake? So thought the man's companions, who were now on their feet running about in great consternation. This belief was, however, of short duration.

7. The shocks continued; the dried mud flew about in large pieces; and the burning wood and splinters were showered in the air. The smoke covered the spot and prevented a clear view; but through the smoke the spectators could see that some large body was in motion, apparently struggling for life.

8. In another moment it broke through the bending stratum of mud, causing a long rift, and there was displayed before their eyes the hideous form of a gigantic crocodile! Though not quite so terrible as an earthquake, it was a fearful monster to behold.

9. It was one of the largest, being nearly twenty feet in length, with a body thicker than that of a man. Its immense jaws were several feet long; and its huge tusks, plainly seen, gave it a most frightful appearance.

10. Its mouth was thrown open, as though it gasped for air; and a loud bellowing proceeded from its throat, sounding like a union of the grunting of a hog with the lowing of a bull.

11. The air was filled with a strong musky odor, emanating from the body of the animal; while the noise of the crocodile itself, the screams of the party, and the yelling of the various birds, made it for some moments utterly impossible for any voice to be heard above the rest. It was, indeed, a scene of confusion.

12. Some were running to and fro; the cook was tumbling about where he had fallen, and the great lizard was writhing and flapping his tail, making the pots, pans, half-burned fagots, and monkey continue to fly about in all directions.

13. Of course such a violent scene could not be of long duration. The cook, who soon came to himself, had already conceived a plan of terminating the scene.

14. Getting his ax, which fortunately lay out of the range of the crocodile's tail, he approached in a stealthy manner, with the intention of striking a blow.

15. He intended to aim at the root of the reptile's tail, for he knew that was the only place where a blow of the ax would cripple it. 16. But just as he was getting within reach, the crocodile suddenly shifted itself round, making its tail fly like a piece of sprung whalebone. The man leaped hastily back, but not quick enough to quite clear himself.