Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

252. The Interrogation, (3) indicates a pause, equal to the Colon, or Period, according to circumstances. It is generally used as a sign of asking questions: though sometimes, it is one of the strongest modes of affirmation. 1. Can you see? 2. Can you hear? 3. Can you taste? 4. Can you smell? 5. Can you feel? 6. Who are you? 7. What are you doing? 8. Where are you going? 9. What is your destiny? 10. Who made you? 11. Of what are you thinking? 12. Whom do

a love?

253. Among the examples above, are, the first five questions, that are direct: because they admit the answer, yes, or no; all such interrogations require the voice to glide upward, in asking them; the last seven questions are indirect; because they do not admit the answer yes, or no; all such interrogations require the voice to glide downward, in asking them. You can test the theory thus: Can you see? Yes; or no. Who are you? Yes; or no. The former makes sense; the latter nonsense. Can you hear? Yes. Can you taste? No. What are you doing? Yes. Where are you going? No. However, it will be seen hereafter, that the slides of the voice, up, or down, may be reversed in every instance, and yet make good sense.

254. Direct Question in reference to our Living Temples. Is not the house, in which we live, a very curious building? Can we conceive of any form-more beautiful than the human form, when it has not been perverted, or deformed? Who knows best, we, or our Creator, what is the proper shape in which we should be? Can we mend his works? Is any thing beautiful that is not useful? Were we not made right, and have we not, in a measure, unmade ourselves? Is not OUR HOUSE a very convenient one, and its furniture admirably adapted to the wants of its occupant? Would it not be well-frequently to take a view of the form, covering, apartments, furniture, employments, uses and abuses of this wonderful house of ours?

Anecdote. A Challenge. After the battle of Actium, Mark Antony - challenged Augustus, who disarmed him in the following words. "If Antony - is weary of his life, there are other ways of despatch, besides fighting him; and for my part, I shall not trouble myself to be his executioner."

There are some-heart-entwining hours in life,
With sweet seraphic inspiration rife;
When mellowing thoughts, like music on the ear,
Melt through the soul, and revel in a tear;
And such are they, when, tranquil and alone,
We sit-and ponder-on long periods flown;
And, charmed by fancy's retrospective gaze,
Live in an atmosphere of other days;
Till friends and faces, flashing on the min,
Conceal the havoc-time has left behind

Proverbs. 1. Manifest no excitement, when a mistake is made. 2. Be sincere-in your professions of friendship. 3. Cultivate a pure heart, and you will have a pleasant countenance. 4. Never speak to the disadvantage of any one, unless duty requires it. 5. Avoid ght and trifling conversation. 6. A civil answer, to a rude speech-costs but little, and is worth a good deal. 7. Dispel corrod

ing care; and consider it sinful-to give way w

passion. 8. Charms-strike the sight; but meritwins the soul. 9. Persons are to be estimated, according to their goodness, not according to their

dress. 10. The sincere and candid man, has nothing to conceal; for he speaks nothing but the truth. 11. Turn a deaf ear to angry words. 12. He who promises-runs in debt.

Laconics. We esteem most things according to their intrinsic merit; it is strange MAN should be an exception. We prize a horse for his strength and courage, not for his furniture. We prize a man for his sumptuous palace, his great train, his vas revenue; yet these are his furniture, not his mind.

Varieties. 1. Which is the more important and useful discovery, the balloon, ог the telegraph? 2. What is the cause of seacurrents? 3. Will it take ages to discover the truth; or ages to acknowledge it, when it is discovered? 4. What is meant by the words, a pure state of nature? Do they not mean that state, in which the condition, circumstances, and habits of men are in strict accordance with the laws of his nature? 5. Is not Hip-poc-ra-tes called the Father of Medicine? 6. If we are not happy, is it because our Creator has not endowed us with the capability of becoming so! 7 What is the difference-in reasoning from facts and experience, and reasoning from a mixture of truth and falsehood? Do not many reason from the latter, instead of from the former?

THE BEACON.

The scene-was more beautiful-far to my eye
Than if day-in its pride-had arrayed it;
The land-breeze blew mild, and the azure arch'd sky
Look'd pure-as the Spirit that made i
The murmur rose soft, as I silently gaz'd
On the shadowy wave's playful motion,
From the dim distant hill, till the beacon-fire blaz'd

Like a star-in the midst of the ocean.
No longer the joy of the sailor boy's breast
Was heard in his wildly breath'd numbers,
The sea-bird-had flown to her wave-girdled nest,

The fisherman-sunk to his slumbers.
One moment I look'd-from the hill's gentle slope,
All hush'd-was the billow's commotion,
And thought-that the beacon look'd lovely as hope,
That star-on life's tremulous ocean.

The time-is long past, and the scene-is afas,

Yet, when my head-rests on its pillow
Will memory-sometimes-rekindle the star
That blazed-on the breast of the billow.
In life's closing hour, when the trembling soul thes,
And death-stills the heart's-last emotion,
O then-may the seraph of mercy arise!
Like a star-on Eternity's ocean.

Proverbs. 1. Great designs, and small means-have been the ruir of many. 2. He, is a slave to the greatest slave, who serves none but

himself. 3. Correct the errors of others, when you can, and inspire them with the love of goodnce and truth. 4. It is the act of a base mind, to de ceive, by telling a lie. 5. Liberality-consists .css in giving profusely, than in giving judiciously. 6. The head and feet cool; the rest will take little harm.

255. The exciamation Point (!) indicates about the same length of silence, as the Interrogation: but the slide of the voice, is generally downward, from the 6th or 8th note, because there is a kind of an outflowing, and then an indrawing of the mind, an inflowing of the affections, that give rise to this manifestation. 1. What a beautiful Lake! 2. How delightful the music is! 3. What a splendid piece of workmanship! 4. How charming is the prospect! 5. What a majestic scene! 6. How inimitable those strains are! 7. What a piece of work is man! 8. How glorious are all the works of God! 9. What splendid views of heaven! 10. How majes- 12. Poverty is an evil counsellor. 13. Delay-often tically-the Sun-wheels his mighty round!

7. We know well, only what has cost us trouble to learn. 8. "Haste not, rest not;" was the motto on Goethe's ring. 9. Keep your thoughts-close, and your coun-tenace-open, and you may go safely through the world. 10. With the humble, there is perpetual peace. 11. Long is the arm of the needy

makes one wise.

256. Examples of Exclamation. 1. Fa- War and Truth. A wise minister would thers! Senators of Rome! the arbiters of na- rather preserve peace, than gain a victory; trons! to you I fly for refuge! 2. Eternity! because he knows that even the most successthou pleasing, dreadful thought! 3. Behold ful war leaves a nation poor, and always more the daughter of innocence! what a look! profligate, than before it. There are real evilt

what beauty! what sweetness! 4. Behold -a great, a good man! what majesty! how graceful! how commanding! 5. O, venerable shade! O, illustrious hero! 6. Farewell! a long farewell to all my greatness! 7. It stands-solid and entire! but it stands alone-and it stands amidst ruins! 8. I am stripped of all my honor! I lie prostrate on the earth! 9. Leave me! oh! leave me to repose! 10. Hear me, O Lord! for thy loving kindness is great!

257. Natural Theology. From the external and internal evidences afforded us, from creation, and the modes of existence, we assume, that man is naturally a religious being: the stamp of the Deity is upon him even before his birth; and in every subsequent stage of his existence, no matter what may be his social, moral or civil condition, that stamp-remains with him. It is not to be found on the Jew and Christian only, but on all men, in all ages, climes, and conditions

of life.

Anecdote. A Lawyer and Physician,
having a dispute about precedence, referred
the case to Di-og-e-nes, the old philosopher;
who gave judgment in favor of the Lawyer,
in these words: "Let the thief go before, and
!et the executioner follow after."
The rill-is tuneless-to his ear, who feels
No harmony within; the south wind-steals
As silent-as unseen-among the leaves.
Who has no inward beauty, none perceives,
Though all around is beautiful. Nay, more-
In nature's calmest hour-he hears the roar
Of winds, and flinging waves-put out the light,
Wher. high-and angry passions meet in fight;
And, his own spirit into tumuk hurled,
He makes a turmoil of a quiet world:
The fiends of his own bosom-people air
W.th kindred fiends, that hunt him to despair.

Not rural sights alone-but rural sounds
Exhilarate the spirits.

that cannot be brought into a list of indemn ties, and the demoralizing influence of war not among the least of them. The triumphs of truth are the more gloridus, chiefly, because they are the most bloodless of all victories, deriving their highest lustre from the saved, not from the slain.

Varieties. 1. It is the nature of truth,
-never to force. 2. Is not the science of
human nature, very comprehensive, as well
as complicated and profound? 3. How can
the mere knowledge of historical events-
avail to the salvation of the soul? 4. What
is meant by the martyr Stephen, seeing the
HEAVENS OPENED; and, John's being in the
spirit, on the Lord's day? 5. To see spirit-
ual existences, must not the eyes of the un-
derstanding be opened? 6. There is but
one law in being, which the Lord fulfilled,
and went through, in the world: He passed
through the whole circle-of both spiritual
and natural order, and assumed all states,
possible for man to be in, when in progression
from the state of nature, to that of perfect
grace; and by virtue thereof, can touch us-
in all states of trial, we can possibly be in.
'Tis the quiet hour of feeling,
Now-the busy day is past,
And the twilight shadows-stealing,

O'er the world-their mantle cast;
Now, the spirit, worn and saddened,
Which the cares of day had bowed,
By its gentle influence-gladdened,
Forth emerges from the cloud;
While, on Memory's magic pages,
Rise our long lost joys to light,
Like shadowy forms of other ages,
From the oblivious breast of night;
And the loved and lost-revisit
Our fond hearts, their place of yore,
Till we long with them to inherit
Realms above-to part-no more.
The patient mind, by yielding, overcomca

258. The Parenthesis (-) shows, that the words included within it, must be read, or spoken, on a lower pitch, and with a quicker movement, than the other parts of the sentence; as though anxious to get through with the explanation, or illustrative matter-contained in it; and the parenthetical clause, generally, has the same slide, or inflexion of voice, as the last word of the sentence, immediately preceding it. 1. An honest man, (says Mr. Pope,) is the noblest work of God. 2. Pride, (as the Scripture saith,) was not made for man. 3. The Tyrians were the first, (if we are to believe-what is told us by writers of the highest authority,) who learned the art of navigation. 4. Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law-hath dominion over a man-as long as he liveth?

259. That strong, hyperbolical manner, which we have long been accustomed to call the Oriental style of poetry, (because some of the earliest poetical productions-came to us from the East,) is, in truth, no more Oriental, than Oc-ci-den-tal; it is characteristic of an age, rather than of a country, and belongs, in some manner, to all nations, at that period, which gave rise to music and song.

260. MINERALOGY-treats of minerals; their properties, composition, classification, and uses. A mineral-is an organic natural substance, either gaseous, as air; liquid, as water; or solid, as earth and stones: it is inseparably connected with GEOLOGY, which treats of the structure of the earth, and the masses that compose it; also, of the changes it has undergone, and to which it is still exposed; while its practical importance is recognized in Agriculture, Mining, and Engineering, it ranks with Botany and Chemistry in its recondite developments, and with Astronomy in the sublimity of its themes and results, as one of the most profound and interesting of the sciences.

Anecdote. Fashion's Sake. Lord Mansfield, being willing to save a man, who had stolen a watch, directed the jury-to bring it ta value-ten pence. "Ten pence, my Lord!" vaid the prosecutor; "why, the very fashion of it cost fifty shillings." His lordship replied, "Perhaps so; but we cannot har a nan for fashion's sake."

I venerate the pilgrim's cause,

Yet, for the red man-dare to plead:
We-bow to Heaven's recorded laws,
He-turn'd to Nature for a creed;
Beneath the pillar'd dome,

We seek our God in prayer;
Through boundless woods-he loved to roam,
And the Great Spirit-worshiped there.
But one, one fellow-throb with us he felt;
To one Divinity-with us he knelt-
Freedom! the self-same freedom-we adore,
Bele him-defend his violated shore.

Proverbs. 1. Discord-reduces strength-ta weakness. 2. No sweet, without some sweat: no pains, without some gains. 3. Whatever you do, do it to some purpose; whether conquering, or conquered. 4. We are inclined to believe those we do not know, because they have never deceived us. 5. Gentleness often disarms the fierce, and me ts the stubborn. 6. Stake even life, if necessary, in the support of truth. 7. Listen to the voice of experimental truth, and confide-in her opinion. R. A good appetite gives relish to the most hum the fare. 9. There is no secret in the heart, tha?

our actions do not disclose. 10. Where there is a will, there is a way. 11. True valor-is fire; boasting-is smoke.

The Telescope. A spectacle-maker's boy, amusing himself in his father's shop, by holding two glasses between his finger and thumb, and varying the distance, the weathercock of the church spire, (opposite them,) seemed to be much longer than ordinary, and apparently much nearer, and turned upside down. This excited the wonder of the father, and led him to additional experiments; and thence resulted that astonishing instrument, the tel. escope, as invented by Gal-i-le-o, and perfected by Herschell. This is only one instance, among thousands, that show great effects may result from small causes.

Varieties. 1. Is not prejudice-inveterate, in proportion to its irrationality? 2. The most delicate, and the most sensible, of all pleasures consists in promoting the happiness of others. 3. Wit-sparkles as a meteor, and like it, is transient; but geniusshines like a splendid luminary, marking its course in traces that are immortal. 4. Men can have no principles, unless they are revealed to them by Deity. 5. Is there anything that melts- and conquers - like love? 6. Confessing a folly, or crime, is an act of judgment: a compliment-we rarely pass on ourselves. 7. Spiritual truth, is the light of heaven: the good-proper to it, is the heat, or love thereof; to be filled with both, is the perfection of life, and true salvation; conferable, only, by the Lord Jesus Christ, the giver of eternal life, and our Redeemer and Savior.

Besides, school-friendships are not always to be found
Though fair in promise, permanent and sound;
The most disint'rested and virtuous minds,
In early years connected, time unbinds:
New situations-give a diff 'rent cast
Of habis, inclination, temper, taste;
And he, that seem'd our counterpart at first,
Soon shows the strong similitude revers'd.
Young heads are giddy, and young hearts are warm
And make mistakes for manhood to reform
Boys are at best, but pretty buds unblown, [known
Whose scent and hues-are rather guess'd than
Each-dreams that each is just what he appears
But learns his error-in maturer years,
When disposition, like a sail unfurl'd.
Shows all its rents and patches to the world.

261. The Rhetorical Pause-is dictated Proverbs. 1. Pride- is the afspring of folly by the thought and feeling, and is usually and the plague of fools. 2. A bad man's dislike addressed only to the ear; it is here indicated is an honor. 3 The censure of some persons

generally, by a dash (-,) and its length must be determined by the subject, and occasion; it is usually, however, about the length of a Semicolon, or Colon: and one thing must be distinctly observed, that the reader and speaker is always to inhale breath-at every Rhetorical Pause, and generally, at each Grammatical Pause; if the system berelaxed, inhalation will be almost sure to take place. Indeed, one of the great secrets of reading, speaking and singing for hours in succession, with effect, and without injurious exhaustion, consists in the proper management of the breath: not that there should be anything stiff and mechanical in the act; for all must be the result of the perfect freedom of nature.

is praise; and their praise, condemnation-in the eyes of the world. 4. It is a base thing-to lie;

truth alone, becomes the ingenuous mind. 5. Riches-either serve or rule, every one who posses ses them; and thus, they are either blessings, or curses. 6. In cases where doubt exists, always lean to the side of mercy. 7. Poets are born such; orators are made such. 8. Malice is a mean,

and deceitful engine of mischief. 9. Nature-is superior to Art: have faith in her, and success is yours. 10. All rules and principles, to be of use, must be understood, and practiced. 11. The offender-rarely pardons. 12. Might too often makes right. 13. Truth has a good basis.

Anecdote. When the painter, Leo-nardi da Vinci, lay upon his death-bed, the king came to see an; and out of respect, he raised himself from the pillow, but the effort being too great, he fell back; when the king caught him, and he expired in his arms. The king was much affected with the event, and left the chamber in tears; when his nobles endeavored to soothe him, saying,"Consider, he was only a painter." "Yes, yes," replied the monarch, "I do; and though I could make a thousand-such as you, yet God alone can make such a painter, as Leo

262. The Rhetorical Pause always occurs either before or after the important word, or words, of a sentence: if the significant word or phrase, is at the beginning, this pause is made immediately after it; but if such word or phrase, is at the end of the sentence, the pause occurs before it. The design of the pause is, in the first instance, to produce a retrospection of mind; and in the second, to excite attention and expecta- nardi." tion. Ex. 1. Industry is the guardian of Justice. How many tedious and ruinous innocence. 2. Imagery is the garb of poe- law-suits--might have been avoided, had the try. 3. To err is human; to forgive-Dr- parties concerned-patiently examined the VINE. 4. Prosperity-gains friends; adver- facts, with coolness and deliberation; in

sity- tries them. 5. Feelings-generate thoughts; and thoughts-reciprocate feelings. 6. Vanity-is pleased with admiration; Pride-with self-esteem. 7. Dancing -is the poetry of motion. 8. Some-place the bliss in action; some-in ease; Those call it pleasure; and contentment, these. 9. To hope for perfect happiness is vain. 10. And now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity; these three; but the greatest of these is Charity.

263. Individuals of both sexes, often complain of a very unpleasant sensation at the pit of the stomach; some call it a "death-like feeling;" others speak of it as if "the bottom had fallen out:" one of the principal causes is a want of the proper action of the breathing enparatus: the abdominal and dorsal muscles become relaxed, by wrong positions and want of appropriate exercise and food; when their contents fall by their own weight, and the diaphragm does not, consequently, act in a healthy manner. The remedy is a return to the law's of life and being, as nere exhi

bite i.

Conscience-distasteful truths may tell,
But mark her sacred dictatu-well;
Whoever-with her-lives at strife,
Loses their better friend for life.

stead of giving way to the blindness of inter-
est and to passion, by which mutual hatreds
have been generated, or blood spilled,-when
a generous search after truth, and a love of
justice--would have prevented all the evil.
Varieties. 1. What is requisite for the
right formation of character? 2. The true
disciples of nature--are regardless who ac
companies them, provided she be the leader :
for nature, like truth, is immutable. 3.
There is no pride--equal to theirs, who rise
from poverty-to riches; for some-have
even forgotten their own relations. 4. That
form of government is best, which is best
adapted to the state of the people, and best
administered. 5. Cyrus, when young, be-
ing asked-what was the first thing to be
learned; replied, To speak the truth. 6.
The orator's field-is the universe of mind
-and matter: and his subjects-all that is
-and can be known-of God-and man.
7. Every aspiration, desire, and thought-19
heard and accepted--in heaven, when we sur-
render our whole life to the Lord's govern
ment and providence.

Gather the rose-buds-while ye may,
Old Time-is still a-flying;

And that same flower, that blooms to-day,
To-morrite, -shall be dying.

264. MISCELLANEOUS EXAMPLES OF ALL Proverbs. 1. By deferring our repentance

THE PAUSES. The pupil must not rely too much on these external indications of silence; for they are only general rules: hence the necessity of being governed by the promptings and guidance of his own feelings and thoughts, after bringing them in subjection to goodness and truth; of which reasonalways approves. 1. The ostestatious, feeble, harsh, or obscure style, is always faulty; and perspicuity, strength, neatness, and simplicity are beauties-ever to be aimed at. 2. Be wise to-day, 'tis madness to defer; next day-the fatal precedent will plead. Thus on, till wisdom is pushed out of life. 3. How noble 'tis, to own a fault; how nerous, and divine-to forgive it! 4. Who

can forbear to smile with nature? Can the stormy passions-in the bosom roll, while every gale is peace, and ev'ry grove-is melody?

265. 1. The evidence that TRUTH carries

with it, is superior to all argument, and mira-
and it wants neither the support, nor
dreads the opposition, of the greatest abil.
ities. 2. True modesty is ashamed to do
what is repugnant to reason, and common
sense; false modesty to do what is oppos
ed to the humor of the company; true mo-
desty avoids whatever is criminal; false
modesty-whatever is unfashionable. 3.
Some-live within their means; some live up
to their means and some-live beyond their
means. 4. "To what party do you be-
long?" said a noisy politician, to one whose
soul-grasped the interests of his whole coun-
try. To what party do I belong?" replied
the patriot; "I belong to no party, but my
country's party."

Punctuate the following, by reading it correctly.
There is a lady in this land
Has twenty fingers on each hand
Five and twenty on hands and feet
All this is true without deceit.

we accumulate our sorrows. 2. Complaisancerenders a superior-amiable, an equal-ugria ble, and an inferior-acceptable. 3. A wound given by a word, is often harder to be cured, than one made by the sword. 4. The human form is the noblest, and most perfect, of which we can conceive. 5. Intentions, as well as actions, must be good, to be acceptable. 6. Every scene in life, is a picture; of which some part is worthy of ager tion. 7. Receive instruction with gratinide. 8. To such as are opposed to truth, it seems harsh and severe. 9. Never reproach another for doing wrong;

unless you are sure he has done it. 10. Knowledge, to be a good thing, must be rightly applied. 11. Re 12. A chaste eye -banishes evil desires. 13. Respect and contempt, spoil many a one.

plies are not always answers.

Refinement. It is a doubt, whether the refinements of modern times have, or have not, been a drawback upon our happiness: for plainness and simplicity of manners have given way to etiquette, formality, and de. ceit; whilst the hospitality has now almost deserted our land; and what we ap pear to have gained in head, we seem to have lost in heart.

Varieties. 1 What is the difference between the internal and external man? between an internal and external state of mind? 2. Love to God and love to man, is the life and soul, of all sound philosophy; consequently, no one can become a philosopher, who is not a good man. 3. Riches, and cares, are generally inseparable; and whoever would get rid of one, must become divested of the other. 4. The acquirement of useful knowledge, is often difficult and trouble some; but perseverance will reward us for our toil. 5. If we regard our present views -as an infallible test of truth, whatever does not conform to them, we set down as false, and reject it. 6. Ignorance of a fact

266. BOTANY-treats of plants-their-may excuse; but not ignorance of the law

structure, growth, classification, description, localities and uses. They are organized bodies, and endowed with life; but they differ from animals, in wanting sensation and voluntary motion: they differ from minerals, in possessing life; and they contain organs, by which they assimilate new matter to increase their substance, and promote their growth. The study of botany is highly interesting and useful; not only on account of the beauty and variety of plants, but of the important purposes to which they may be applied in sustaining life and curing disease: it is necessary to aid in the development of body and mind.

Anecdote. One day, when the moon was under an eclipse, she complained thus to the sun for the discontinuance of his favor; "My dearest friend," said she, "why do you not shine upon me as you used to do?" "Do I not shine upon thee?" said the sun; "I am very sure I intend it." "O no," replied the moon: "but now I see the reason; that dirty planet, the earth, has got between

which every one is supposed to be ac-
quainted with. 7. Man's will, and under-
standing, are receptacles of life, not life
itself; as is the reception, such is the persua-
sion, faith, wisdom, light, and love.
I care not, Fortune! what you me deny;
You cannot rod me of free nature's grace;
You cannot shut the windows of the sky,
Thro' which Aurora shows her bright'ning face:
You cannot bar my constant feet-to trace
The wood and lawns, by living stream at eve:
Let health my nerves and finer fibres brace,
And I their toys-to the great children leave:
Of fancy, reason, virtue-nought can me bereave.
Another day-is added to the mass

Of buried ages. Lo! the beauteous moon,
Like a fair shepherdess, now comes abroad,
with her full flock of stars, that roam around
The azure meads of heaven. And O how charmed
Beneath her loveliness, creation looks!
Far-gleaming hills, and light-inweaving streams,
And sleeping boughs, with dewy lustre clothed,
And green-haired valleys-all in glory dressed-
Make up the pageantry of night

« ElőzőTovább »