comparatively recent period, we find a succession of wonder. ful incidents related, originating either from the most inaccurate observation of fact, or from the wildest extravagance of fancy. 9. The following story will be amusing, and we hope not uninstructive, by showing how far the human mind may permit itself to be misled; and setting at rest, by exposing their falsity, such recitals as the beauty and excellence of poetry tend to perpetuate as probable or true. 10. “A scholar," says Pliny the Younger," "in the time of Augustus," who was attending school at Puteoli, was in the habit of going daily along the shores of Baiæ," and about midday, of stopping and throwing pieces of bread into the water to a dolphin. If the youth called the dolphin at any time, he would immediately come, and, after eating his bread, would offer his back for the use of his friend, who would mount upon it, and he would swim with him to Puteoli, and afterward carry him back in the same manner. This friendly intercourse was maintained for several years, when the boy dying, the afflicted animal came frequently to the accustomed place, remained there sorrowful and wretched, and finally died of grief." NOTES.a Pliny the Younger; a nephew of Pliny the Elder, a statesman and writer, born in 62. None of his writings have been preserved, except his letters, consisting of ten books, and his panegyric on Trajan, the Roman emperor. b Au-gus'tus (Cæsar); a distinguished Roman statesman, general, and emperor; he was born before Christ 65 years, and died A. D. 14. The month of August was named in honor of him. c Puteoli (Pu-te'o-li); an ancient town on the coast of Italy, not far from Mt. Vesuvius, and now called Puzzuoli. d Baix (blễ); a bay on the coast of Italy, near Puteoli, and now called Baia. QUESTIONS. 1. What are the size and color of the dolphin? 2. In what respects does it resemble a fish? 3. What is said of its swiftness? 5. How did the dolphins show their sportiveness in the case mentioned? 8. How has the dolphin been regarded by historians and poets? 10. Relate the story of the scholar and dolphin. 10. Is this story true? 10. Who was Pliny the Younger? 10. What writings of his remain? 10. Who was Augustus? 10. Why was the month of August so named? 10. What was Puteoli? 10. What was Baie 1 1. Cank'er-ing, corroding. 1. Ty-ran'ni-cal, arbitrary. LESSON XIII. Spell and Define. 2. Be-think', to bring to recollection. 2. Watch'word, the word given to senti3. Chanc'es, fortunes. 3. Hope'ful, full of hope. 4. Max'ims, proverbs, sayings. [nels. 6. Dis-tress'es, afflictions. ERRORS. -2. Kin'ly for kindly; 3. ar-rang'es for ar-rāng'es; 5. wust for worst, 6, prov'i-dunce for prov'i-dence; 6. yore for your. NEVER GIVE UP. M. F. TUPPER. [This maxim is intended to convey the idea that when we have engaged in a just and laudable undertaking, we should not relinquish it without weighty reasons.] 1. NEVER give up! it is wiser and better Always to hope, than once to despair; 2. Never give up! or the burden may sink you; And in all trials or troubles, bethink you, The watchword of life must be, Never give up! 3. Never give up! there are chances and changes And through the chaos High Wisdom arranges Ever success, 4. Never give up! for the wisest is boldest, 5. Never give up! though the grape-shot may rattle, Stand like a rock, and the storm or the battle 6. Never give up! if adversity presses, Providence wisely has mingled the cup; QUESTIONS. What idea is this maxim intended to convey? 2. What should be the watchword of life? 3. Why should we never give up? 1. Wig'wams, Indian cabins. LESSON XIV. Spell and Define. 3. Char'ac-ter-iz-ed, distinguished. 3. Mas'sa-cres, butcheries of human beings. 6. Au-stere', stern, rigid. 8. Aisles, walks in churches, walks. 4. Col'o-ny, a company of settlers. 13. An-nounc'ed, proclaimed. ERRORS.1. In'jun for In'dian; 3. in'ner-cent for in-no'cent; 4. sile for soil; 5. in-dus'trous for in-dus'tri-ous; 5. seun for soon; 5. tos'sel-ed for tas'sel-ed; 2. groun'nuts for ground'nuts; 8. a'cons for a'corns; 11. bun'nets for bon'nets; 15. re'cess-es for re-ccss'es. THE LOST CHILDREN. C. A. LIVERMORE. 1. Nor many years ago, the beautiful hills and valleys of New England, gave to the wild Indian a home, and its NOTES.-a New England; the north-eastern portion of the United States, compris ing the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. b Indian (ind'yan); one of the native inhabitants of America when it was first discovered. bright waters and quiet forests, furnished him with food. Rude wigwams stood where now ascends the hum of the populous city, and council-fires blazed amid the giant trees which have since bowed before the ax of the settler. 2. Between that rude age and the refinement of the present day, many and fearful were the strifes of the red owner of the land with the invading white man, who having crossed the waters of the Atlantic, sought to drive him from his hitherto undisputed possessions. a 3. The recital of deeds of inhuman cruelty which characterized that period, the rehearsal of bloody massacres of inoffensive women and innocent children, which those cruel savages delighted in, would even now curdle the blood with horror, and make one sick at heart. It was in this period of fearful warfare that the events occurred which form the foundation of the following story. b 4. Not far from the year 1680, a small colony was planted on the banks of the beautiful Connecticut. A little company from the sea-side, found their way through the tangled and pathless woods to the meadows that lay sleeping on the banks of this bright river; and here, after having felled the mighty trees whose brows had long been kissed by the pure heavens, they erected their humble cottages, and began to till the rich alluvial soil. 5. The colonists were persevering and industrious, and soon a little village grew up beside the shining stream; fields of Indian cornd waved their wealth of tasseled heads in the breezes; the rudely constructed schoolhouse echoed with the cheerful hum of the little students, and a rustic church was NOTES.a At-lan'tic; a vast body of water, from 3000 to 5000 miles wide, lying between Europe and Africa on the east, and America on the west. b Connecticut (kon-net'i-kut); a river 450 miles long, separating New Hampshire from Vermont. c Alluvial soil; a soil formed of mud and earth washed down by rivers and deposited On their banks. d Indian corn is commonly supposed to be a native of this country, and is so named because it was cultivated by the Indians when Columbus discov. ered America. dedicated to the God of the Pilgrims. He who officiated as the spiritual teacher of this new parish, also instructed the children during the week. 6. A man he was of no inferior mind, or neglected-education; of fervent but austere piety, possessing a bold spirit and a benevolent_heart. His family consisted of a wife and two daughters; Emma, the older, was a girl of eight summers, and Anna, the younger, was about five. Never were children more frolicsome and mirth-loving than Emma and Anna Wil son, the daughters of the minister. 7. Not the grave admonitions of their mother, or the severe reproofs of their stern father; not their many confinements in dark and windowless closets, or the memory of afternoons, when supperless they had been sent to bed, while the sun was yet high in the heavens; not the fear of certain punishment, or the suasion of kindness, could tame their wild nature or force them into anything like woman-like sobriety. 8. Hand in hand, they would wander amid the aisles of mossy-trunked trees, plucking the flowers that carpeted the earth; now digging for ground-nuts, now turning over the leaves for acorns. Sometimes they would watch the nibbling squirrel, as he nimbly sprung from tree to tree, or overpower with their boisterous laughter the gushing melody of the bobolink; they mocked the querulous cat-bird and the cawing crow, started at the swift winging of the shy blackbird, and stood still to listen to the sweet song of the clear-throated thrush. 9. Now they bathed their feet in the streamlets that went singing on their way to the Connecticut, and then throwing up handfuls of the running water, which fell again upon their heads, they laughed right merrily. They were happy as the days were long; but wild as their playfellows, the birds, the streams, and the squirrels. NOTE. - a Pilgrims; a name given to the first Christian settlers of New England. |