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LANDING OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS.

HE breaking waves dashed high
On a stern and rock-bound coast,

And the woods against a stormy sky
Their giant branches tossed;

And the heavy night hung dark,

The hills and waters o'er,

When a band of exiles moored their bark
On the wild New England shore.

Not as the conqueror comes,
They, the true-hearted, came;
Not with the roll of the stirring drums,
And the trumpet that sings of fame.

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They shook the depths of the desert's gloom,

With their hymns of lofty cheer.

Amidst the storm they sang,

And the stars heard, and the sea!

And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang

To the anthem of the free!

The ocean eagle soared

From his nest by the white wave's foam, And the rocking pines of the forest roared;This was their welcome home!

There were men with hoary hair
Amidst that Pilgrim band;

Why have they come to wither there,
Away from their childhood's land?

There was woman's fearless eye,

Lit by her deep love's truth;

There was manhood's brow, serenely high,
And the fiery heart of youth.

What sought they thus, afar?
Bright jewels of the mine?

The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? -
They sought a faith's pure shrine!

Aye, call it holy ground,

The soil where first they trod!

They have left unstained what there they found —
Freedom to worship God!

WH

USE PLAIN LANGUAGE.

HAT do you say? What? I really do not understand you. Be so good as to explain yourself again. Upon my word, I do not; -Oh! now I know; you mean to tell me it is a cold day. Why did you not say at once, "It is cold to-day? If you wish to inform me it rains or snows, pray say, "It rains," "It snows;" or, if you think I look well, and you choose to compliment me, say, "I think you look well."

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"But," you answer, "that is so common and so plain, and what everybody can say." "Well, and what if everybody can ? Is it so great a misfortune to be understood when one speaks, and to speak like the rest of the world?

I will tell you what, my friend,—you do not suspect it, and I shall astonish you, but you, and those like you, want common sense! Nay, this is not all; it is not only in the direction of your wants that you are in fault, but of your superfluities; you have too much conceit; you possess an opinion that you have more sense than others. That is the source of all your pompous nothings, your cloudy sentences, and your big words without a meaning.

Before you accost a person, or enter a room, let me pull you by the sleeve, and whisper in your ear, "Do not try to show off your sense; have none at all; that is your cue. Use plain language, if you can; just such as you find others use, who, in your idea, have no understanding; and then, perhaps, you will get credit for having sense.

THE YOUNG ORATOR.

́OU'D scarce expect one of my age

YOU'D

To speak in public on the stage;

And if I chance to fall below

Demosthenes or Cicero,

Don't view me with a critic's eye,
But pass my imperfections by.

Large streams from little fountains flow;
Tall oaks from little acorns grow:
And though I now am small and young,
Of judgment weak, and feeble tongue,
Yet all great learned men, like me
Once learned to read their A, B, C.

But why may not Columbia's soil
Rear men as great as Britain's isle;
Exceed what Greece or Rome has done,
land beneath the sun?

Or

any

Mayn't Massachusetts boast as great
As any other sister state?

Or where's the town, go far or near,
That does not find a rival here ?
Or where's the boy, but three feet high,
Who's made improvement more than I?

These thoughts inspire my youthful mind
To be the greatest of mankind;
Great, not like Caesar, stained with blood;
But only great as I am good.

“DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY;" OR, TWO GREAT

TH

MARTYRS.

HERE was once a Roman general, who won battles and conquered countries, until the power of Rome was so great that she was called the "Mistress of the World." He wrote histories of his journeys and wars, he made stirring speeches in the Senate, and became the first man in the whole nation. But a few men, jealous of his power, thought he meant to make himself Emperor over them all. A plot was laid to take his life, and at last in the public place, where he had often spoken to the people, he was one day stabbed in their midst, by one of his own old friends, and then by many others. The Roman people mourned and lamented for him, and to this day, men everywhere hold JULIUS CESAR first among great warriors and statesmen.

HENRY IV., a king of France, was so much loved that he was called the "Father of his People." He came to the throne when France had long suffered under bad kings, and his wise government made his people prosperous and happy. He was a great warrior, and they were proud of his manly and heroic deeds; he was joyous and kind, and they loved him for his goodness to all the poor and sorrowful. But a few hated him, and when he was only forty-six years old, assassins killed him in his carriage. His name was long very dear to every Frenchman. A famous ballad about one of his great battles, says,

"Oh, never was a braver knight, in friendship or in war, Than our sovereign liege, King Henry, the soldier of Navarre."

In Holland, there were once the most terrible wars for freedom. The people revolted against Spain, and after many years of bloodshed and suffering, became free. WILLIAM, PRINCE OF ORANGE, had been the best friend of his people from his youth, and their leader for many years. They loved him as the Saviour of the Country. But the King of Spain

offered a great reward to any one who would kill William, and he was finally shot in his own dining-room. The murderer was caught and put to death in a horrible way; but that would not bring back the good prince to life, nor would

it console his weeping people.

Everybody hoped that such wicked deeds would never be done again in a Christian country; but there has been another, even more awful than these.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN was not a great general like Cæsar, nor a brave and popular king like Henry of Navarre, nor a rich and powerful prince like William of Orange. He was a plain man, without money, without remarkable education, without great talents; but he was wise, honest, and faithful; and when, in troubled times he became the President of the United States, he was enabled to do great work for his country; and so to do it, that even his enemies respected him. And just as it seemed that Peace was coming after a long sad war, and that he would enjoy the reward of his faithful work, a bloody hand carried out the plan of traitors, and took away his life. We shall mourn for him, we shall honor his name, we shall reverence his memory. Among all who have won men's praises for what they, living or dying, have done for their country, every grateful American will place first and hold dearest, our murdered President, ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

THE ROBE OF INNOCENCE.

S Innocence went forth one day,

Ashe lost her white robe by the way.

She called on Fortune, Fame, Pleasure,
Seeking of each the missing treasure,
And, seeking it of each in vain;
Repentance brought it back again.

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