Its leaf, though late in spring it shares As late and long in autumn wears "Type of an honest English heart, Its acorns, graceful to the sight, Adds mirth to Christmas cheer. For childhood, youth, or hoary age, But prouder yet its glories shine, And braves the bursting storm; 3 4 Bernard Barton. 1 alcove, a recess or part of a room separated from the rest by a partition, and containing shelves for books, a bed of state, or seats for company. 2minstrel, bard; one of an order of men who in the middle ages sang to the harp verses frequently composed by themselves. yew tree, large and beautiful evergreen trees, common in churchyards. willow, (see app.) 5 birch, a very beautiful forest tree abounding in the north of Europe. The bark is smooth and silvery white. The smaller branches hang down gracefully. "tress, a braid or curl of hair; here means leaves. poplar, a tree remarkable for its straight trunk, with erect instead of spreading branches, and for its very rapid growth. 7 8 9 It attains a height of a hundred or even one hundred and fifty feet. beech, forest tree bearing nuts called beechmast. The beech is an ornamental tree with far-spreading branches which often droop gracefully almost to the ground. dight, adorned. 10 zephyr, the west wind. "1 type, emblem; figure; likeness; symbol. 12 life's closing stage, old age. 13 hoary, grey or white with age. 14 nobler form, when made into a ship. 15 work of love, spread of the gospel. benighted, not enlightened; ignorant. clime, country. 19 sublime, high; lofty; noble. 16 17 Do not talk to me about a boy being 1clever; for if he has nothing but cleverness to recommend him, I think but little better of him than if you told me he could dance a 'hornpipe. The broad sails of a gay-rigged ship are pleasant to gaze on; but if the vessel wants ballast, those broad sails may be the means of her destruction. In like manner, the cleverness of a boy may attract attention; but if he has no "principle to direct his ❝talents, 'his cleverness may lead him into sin and sorrow. Clever men have not always been the most useful, nor are clever boys of necessity the most promising. A little principle is worth a great deal of cleverness any day of the year. When a clever boy is brought to me, I ask these questions about him:-Does he fear God, honour his parents, obey his teachers, speak the truth, act 3 honestly, and behave kindly to those around him? If he does these things, I hear of his talents with pleasure; but if he does them not, his cleverness is to me as nothing. Give me a boy of common understanding and good principles, who is teachable, patient, industrious, and persevering, and I will match him in the long-run against the cleverest boy you can find, deficient in these qualities. Now mind, it is not cleverness that I undervalue, but unprofitable cleverness. I would have every boy clever if I could; I would have him say to himself, “Be my station high or low, with God's help I will do my duty therein with all my ability." Then let cleverness and usefulness go hand in hand together. Explain cleverness and principle. Why should cleverness and good principle work together? Which of these could a person best do without? Why? Illustrate the evils attending the clever. ness which has no guiding principles. Name good actions which spring from good principles. 2 1 clever, possessing skill, talent, knowledge; having the power of acquiring knowledge without much trouble. hornpipe, a dance common among the Scotch people and among sailors. It is remarkable for the rapidity with which the feet move. ballast, any heavy substance placed in the hold of a vessel to steady it. be the means. Not unfrequently vessels, especially fishing sloops caught in a sudden squall with all sails set, have been blown over and swamped. principle. Every person possesses certain notions of right and wrong. Because of this, good people make certain rules by which their actions are governed. By principle is meant that fixed rule which governs a person's conduct. He who has no principle is one whose actions are not governed by the law of right and wrong. He simply acts according to his own inclination. talents, cleverness; genius; endow 6 5 8 7 ments; intellectual ability. his cleverness may lead him into sin and sorrow. The genius of Napoleon Bonaparte brought untold misery on himself and his people (see notes on the lesson "Behind Time"). does he fear, etc. Fearing God, honouring parents, obeying teachers, acting honestly, and behaving kindly to all, are good actions springing from good principles. I will match him, etc. A good illustration of this is the lesson on the proverb "He that runs fast will not run long" (see page 92). 9 FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF A YOUNG SAILOR. ac-com'-pa-ni-ments mo-not'-o-nous in-sen'-si-ble un-in-tel'-li-gi-ble im-pres'-sions con-fu'-sion hal'-li-ards ho-ri'-zon in-ter-ming'-ling bound'-less-ness ex-pe'-ri-ence nau'-ti-cal WITH all my 'imperfections on my head, I joined my first ship, and we hauled out into the stream, and came to anchor for the night. The next morning was Saturday, and a breeze having sprung up from the southward, we took a pilot on board, "hove up our anchor, and began beating down the bay. I could take but little part in all the preparations of a vessel putting out to sea. Unintelligible orders were so rapidly given, and so immediately executed; there was such a hurrying about, and such an intermingling of strange cries and stranger actions, that I was completely bewildered. There is not so helpless and pitiable an object in the world, as a landsman beginning a sailor's life. The first day we passed at sea was the Sab "I felt for the first time the perfect! silence of the sea." (p. 60.) bath. As we were just from port, and there was a great deal to be done on board, we were kept at work all day, and at night the 'watches had time for reflection. I felt for the first time the perfect silence of the sea. The officer was walking the 'quarterdeck, where I had no right to go; one or two men were talking on the 10forecastle, whom I had little inclination to join, so that I was left open to the full "impression of everything about me. However much I was 12affected by the beauty of the sea, the bright stars, and the clouds driven swiftly over them, I could not but remember that I was separating myself from all the 13social and 14intellectual enjoyments of life. Yet, strange as it may seem, I did then and afterwards take pleasure in these reflections, hoping by them to prevent my becoming 15insensible to the value of what I was leaving. But all my dreams were soon put to flight by an order from the officer to trim the 16yards, as the wind was getting ahead, and I could plainly see, |