17. Just then his old playmate, the cat, crossed the floor. "There goes pussy," said he. "Oh dear! I shall never play with pussy any more." he 18. At that moment a deadly change passed over his face; looked up to his father with an imploring expression, and put out his hands. There was one moment of agony, and then the sweet features settled into a smile of peace, and "mortality was swallowed up of life." 19. My uncle laid him down, and looked one moment at his beautiful face; and "he lifted up his voice and wept." The next morning was the Sabbath- the funeral day—and it rose 66 with breath all incense, and with cheek all bloom.” 20. Uncle Abel was as calm and collected as ever; but in his face there was a sorrow-stricken expression that could not be mistaken. I remember him at family-prayers, bending over the great Bible, and beginning the psalm, "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations." 21. Apparently he was touched by the melancholy splendor of the poetry; for after reading a few verses he stopped. There was a dead silence, interrupted only by the tick of the clock. He cleared his voice repeatedly, and tried to go on, but in vain. He closed the book, and knelt in prayer. 22. The energy of sorrow broke through his usual formal reverence, and his language flowed forth with a deep and sorrowful pathos, which I have never forgotten. The God so much reverenced, so much feared, seemed to draw near to him as a friend and comforter, to be his refuge and strength, "a very present help in time of trouble." 23. My uncle arose, and I saw him walk toward the room of the departed one. I followed, and stood with him over the dead. He uncovered the face. It was set with the seal of death, but oh, how surpassingly lovely was the impression! The brilliancy of life was gone, but the face was touched with the mysterious, triumphant brightness which seems like the dawning of heaven. 24. My uncle looked long and steadily. He felt the beauty of what he gazed on; his heart was softened, but he had no words for his feelings. He left the room unconsciously, and stood in the frontdoor. 25. The bells were ringing for church; the morning was bright; the birds were singing merrily, and the little pet squirrel of little Edward was frolicking about the door. My uncle watched him as he ran first up one tree, and then up another, and then over the fence, whisking his brush, and chattering just as if nothing was the matter. 26. That day the dust was committed to dust, amid the lamentations of all who had known little Edward. LESSON CCI. BE-GUILE, to deprive a disagreeable | thing of its unpleasantness, to amuse. CHIME, a tune performed by a clock; the musical ringing of the bell of a clock. STOCK, store, property. FAL'TER, to hesitate in the utterance of words, to stammer. HOUSE HOLD, belonging to the house and family, that which the house holds. MON'I-TOR, one who warns or admonishes. PRONUNCIATION.-And 29, morning 12, tears 22, get 33, pre-pare' 1, giv′en 4d, bright'est 16, warn’ing 12 THE HOUSEHOLD CLOCK. 1. OH, the old, old clock of the household stock 'T was a monitor, too, though its words were few; And its voice, still strong, warned old and young, Up, up, and go, or else, you know, You will never rise soon in the morning." 2. A friendly voice was that old, old clock And blessed the time with a merry chime, But a cross old voice was that tiresome clock As it called at daybreak boldly, When the dawn looked gray o'er the misty way, And the early air blew coldly. "Tick, tick," it said "quick out of bed, For five I have given warning; You will never have health, you will never get wealth, 3. Still hourly the sound goes round and round, While the tears are shed for the bright days fled, And the old friends lost for ever. Its heart beats on, though hearts are gone Its hands still move, though hands we love "Tick, tick," it said -"to the churchyard-bed, The grave hath given warning Up, up, and rise, and look to the skies, And prepare for a heavenly morning." ANONYMOUS. LESSON CCII. AN-NOUNCE', to proclaim, to declare. DISK, the face of the sun, moon, or any planet. PHE-NOM E-NON, an appearance, a remarkable natural appearance. TOR'PID, numb, without the power of motion. VIS-IT-A'TION, calamity, infliction. PRONUNCIATION.-Ap-pearance 22, sin'gu-lar 2e, lo'custs 29, us'u-al-ly 3a, were 33, ho-rizon 26c, anx-i'e-ty 28, a-larm' lf, said 33, the 31, a 31, chil'dren 11. THE LOCUSTS. 1. HENDRIK VON BLOOM, one of the Dutch settlers of the Cape Colony, in Africa, had removed to the interior, among the Bushmen. Here he had a farm, covered with promising crops. 2. One day, while he was in the field, he saw a strange appearance along the lower part of the sky. It resembled a dun-colored mist or smoke, as if the plain at a great distance was on fire. 3. Could that be so? it a cloud of dust? Had some one fired the bushes? Or was 4. He continued to gaze at the strange phenomenon, which seemed to be rising higher against the blue sky-now resembling dust, now like the smoke of a wide-spreading conflagration, and now like a reddish cloud. 5. It was in the west, and already the setting sun was obscured by it. It had passed over the sun's disk like a screen, and his light no longer fell upon the plain. Was it the forerunner of some terrible storm? 6. All at once the dark-red mass seemed to envelop the cattle upon the plain, and these could be seen running to and fro, as if affrighted. 7. The voice of Swartboy, a Bushman who lived with Von Bloom, could now be heard crying out, "Mr. Von Bloom! The locusts are coming! the locusts! the locusts!" 8. Swartboy knew them well. Although he announced their approach in a state of great excitement, it was the excitement of joy; for the Bushmen eat the locusts with the greatest avidity. 9. The children laughed, clapped their hands, and waited with curiosity until the locusts should come nearer. All had heard enough of locusts to know that they were only grasshoppers, which neither bite nor sting. Even Von Bloom himself was at first very little concerned about them. 10. But suddenly his eye rested upon his fields of maize and buckwheat, upon his garden of melons and fruits and other vege tables. A new alarm seized him. All his crops were threatened with utter destruction. 11. He stood watching the flight with painful emotions. But as the swarm was still full half a mile distant, and appeared to be coming no nearer, he still had some hope. His countenance grew brighter. The children noticed this, and were glad, but said nothing. All stood silently watching. 12. The swarm kept extending to the south; in fact, it now stretched along the whole western horizon, and was gradually getting lower down; that is, its top edge was sinking in the heavens. Were the locusts passing off to the west? No. 13. "They are going to roost for the night. Now we will get them in bagfuls," said Swartboy, with a pleased look. 14. The sun had set. The cool breeze weakened the wings of the insect travelers, and they were compelled to halt for the night upon the trees, bushes, and grass. 15. In a few minutes the dark mist that had hidden the blue rim of the sky was seen no more; but the distant plain looked as if a fire had swept over it. 16. Von Bloom and his companions then went to take a nearer view. On approaching the locusts they beheld a singular sight. The ground was covered with these reddish-brown creatures, in some spots to the depth of several inches. On the scanty bushes they were clustered all over the leaves and branches, like swarms of bees. Not a leaf or blade of grass that was not covered with their bodies. 17. They moved not, but remained as if torpid or asleep. The heavy dews loaded their wings, and the cold of the evening had deprived them of the power of flight. 18. Von Bloom slept but little that night. Anxiety kept him awake. When the first ray of light appeared he rushed out. A strong breeze was blowing from the west! He had no longer any hope of escaping the terrible visitation. 19. In half an hour afterwards the sun rose in African splendor, and his hot rays warmed the host of locusts into life and activity. 20. They began to crawl, to hop about; and then, as if by one impulse, myriads rose in the air. The breeze drove them in the direction of the devoted fields. 21. In less than five minutes from the time they had taken wing they were dropping by tens of thousands upon the fields. Slow was their flight, and gentle their descent; and they presented the appearance of a shower of black snow falling in large, feathery flakes 22. Soon the ground was completely covered; every stalk of maize, every plant and bush carried its hundreds. The great flight mmm having now passed eastward of the house, the sun was again hidden by them, as if eclipsed. 23. At the end of two hours Von Bloom looked forth. The thickest of the flight had passed. The sun was again shining-but on what? No longer on green fields and a flowery garden. Around the house, on every side-north, south, east, and west- -was black desolation. 24. Not a blade of grass, not a leaf, could be seen. The very bark was stripped from the trees, which now stood as if withered by the hand of God! A fire sweeping the ground could not have left it more naked and desolate. The house stood in the midst of a desert. MAYNE REID. CUR'RY, to dress leather. LESSON CCIII. FATH'OM-LESS, bottomless, very deep. FORGE, to shape by heating and ham. mering. MINT, the place where money is coined. PRONUNCIATION.-Ne'er 33, glit'ter-ing 3b, hid'den 4d, fountain (fountʼin) le, gran'ite 5a, pu'ny 16. THE SONG OF STEAM. 1. In the darksome depth of the fathomless mine My tireless arm doth play, Where the rocks ne'er saw the sun's decline Or the dawn of the glorious day. I bring earth's glittering jewels up And I make the fountain's granite cup 2. I blow the bellows, I forge the steel, I hammer the ore, and turn the wheel, And all the acts of the day I print At the coming of the eve. 3. I've no muscles to weary, no breast to decay, And soon I intend you may "go and play,"- But harness me down with your iron bands; For I scorn the strength of your puny hands, G. W. CUTTER. |