LESSON LXXXIII.

The Sleepers.-MISS M. A. BROWNE.

1. THEY are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Children, wearied with their play;
For the stars of night are peeping,
And the sun hath sunk away.
As the dew upon the blossoms

Bow them on their slender stem,
So, as light as their own bosoms,
Balmy sleep hath conquered them.

2. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Mortals, compassed round with wo,
Eyelids, wearied out with weeping,
Close for very weakness now:
And that short relief from sorrow,
Harassed nature shall sustain,
Till they wake again to-morrow,
Strengthened to contend with pain!

3. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Captives, in their gloomy cells;
Yet sweet dreams are o'er them creeping;
With their many-colored spells,

All they love-again they clasp them;
Feel again their long-lost joys;

But the haste with which they grasp them,
Every fairy form destroys.

4. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Misers, by their hoarded gold;
And in fancy now are heaping
Gems and pearls of price untold.
Golden chains their limbs encumber,
Diamonds seem before them strown:
But they waken from their slumber,
And the splendid dream is flown.

5. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Pause a moment, softly tread;
Anxious friends are fondly keeping
Vigils by the sleeper's bed!
Other hopes have all forsaken,—
One remains,-that slumber deep
Speak not, lest the slumberer waken
From that sweet, that saving sleep.

6. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Thousands, who have pass'd away,
From a world of wo and weeping,
To the regions of decay!

Safe they rest, the green turf under:
Sighing breeze, or music's breath,
Winter's wind, or summer's thunder,
Cannot break the sleep of death!

LESSON LXXXIV.

A Good Scholar.-MAY.

1. A GOOD scholar is known by his obedience to the rules of the school, and to the directions of his teacher. He does not give his teacher the trouble of telling him the same thing over and over again; but says or does immediately whatever he is desired. His attendance at the proper time of school is always punctual. Fearful of being too late, as soon as the hour of meeting approaches, he hastens to the school, takes his place. quietly, and instantly attends to his lesson. He is remarkable for his diligence and attention. He reads no other book than that which he is desired to read by his master. He studies no lessons but those which are appointed for the day.

2. He takes no toys from his pocket to amuse himself or others; he has no fruit to eat, no sweetmeats to give away.If any of his companions attempt to take off his eye or his mind from his lesson, he does not give heed to them. If they still try to make him idle, he bids them let him alone, and do their own duties. And if, after this, they go on to disturb and vex him, he informs the teacher, that both, for their sake and for his own, he may interfere, and, by a wise reproof, prevent the continuance of such improper and hurtful conduct.

3. When strangers enter the school, he does not stare rudely in their faces; but is as attentive to his lesson as if no one were present but the master. If they speak to him, he answers with modesty and respect. When the scholars in his class are reading, spelling, or repeating any thing, he is very attentive, and studies to learn by listening to them. His great desire is to improve, and therefore he is never idle,-not even when he might be so, and yet escape detection and punishment.

4. He minds his business as well when his teacher is out of sight, as when he is standing near him, or looking at him. If possible, he is more diligent when his teacher happens for a little

to be away from him, that he may show "all good fidelity" in this, as in every thing else. He is desirous of adding to the knowledge he has already gained, of learning something useful every day. And he is not satisfied if a day passes without making him wiser than he was before, in those things which will be of real benefit to him.

5. When he has a difficult lesson to learn, or a hard task to perform, he does not fret or murmur at it. He knows that his master would not have prescribed it to him, unless he had thought that he was able for it, and that it would do him good. He therefore sets about it readily; and he encourages himself with such thoughts as these: "My parents will be very glad when they hear that I have learned this difficult lesson, and performed this hard task. My teacher, also, will be pleased with me for my diligence. And I myself shall be comfortable and happy when the exercise is finished. The sooner and the more heartily I apply myself to it, the sooner and the better it will be done."

6. When he reads, his words are pronounced so distinctly, that you can easily hear and understand him. His copy book is fairly written, and free from blots and scrawls. His letters are clear and full, and his strokes broad and fine. His figures are well made, accurately cast up, and neatly put down in their regular order; and his accounts are, in general, free from mistakes.

7. He not only improves himself, but he rejoices in the improvement of others. He loves to hear them commended, and to see them rewarded. "If I do well," he says, "I shall be commended and rewarded too; and if all did well, what a happy school would ours be! We ourselves should be much more comfortable; and our master would have a great deal less trouble and distress than he has, on account of the idleness and inattention, of which too many of us are guilty."

8. His books he is careful to preserve from every thing that might injure them. Having finished his lesson, he puts them in their proper place, and does not leave them to be tossed about, and, by that means, torn and dirtied. He never forgets to pray for the blessing of God on himself, on his school-fellows, and on his teacher; for he knows that the blessing of God is necessary to make his education truly useful to him, both in this life, and in that which is to come.

9. And, finally, it is his constaat endeavor to behave well when he is out of school, as well as when he is in it. He remem. bers that the eye of God is ever upon him, and that he must at

last give an account of himself to the great Judge of all. And, therefore, he studies to practise, at all times, the religious and moral lessons that he receives from his master, or that he reads in the Bible, or that he meets with in the other books that are given him to peruse; and to "walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless "

LESSON LXXXV.

Select Sentences.

1. If the mind is well cultivated, it produces a store of fruit; if neglected, it is overrun with weeds.

2. The young are slaves to novelty;-the old to custom. 3. Ingratitude is more baneful than a pestilential vapor,― and more destructive to society than a band of robbers.

4. There is nothing honorable, that is not innocent ;—and nothing mean, but what attaches guilt.

5. As, among wise men, he is the wisest who thinks he knows the least,―so, among fools, he is the greatest who thinks he knows the most.

6. Precipitation ruins the best contrived plan;—patience ripens the most difficult.

7. It was a saying of Socrates, that we should eat and drink in order to live; instead of living as many do, in order to eat and drink.

8. Men make themselves ridiculous, not so much by the qualities they have, as by the affectation of those they have not. 9. The injuries we do, and those we suffer, are seldom weigh

ed in the same balance.

10. Never delay to a future period, that which can be done immediately, nor transfer to another, what you can perform yourself.

11. Be sincere in all your words,-prudent in all your ac tions, and obliging in all your manners.

12. Seriousness is the greatest wisdom,-temperance, the best medicine, and a good conscience, the best estate.

13. It is better to do and not promise,-than to promise and not perform.

14. No station is so high, no power so great, no character so unblernished, as to exempt men from the attacks of rashness, malice, or envy.

15. Contemporaries appreciate the man rather than the merit: but posterity will regard the merit rather than the man

16. Mystery magnifies danger, as a fog the sun; the hand that warned the eastern prince,* derived its horrifying influence from the want of a body.

17. True friendship is like sound health,—the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.

18. Young folks tell what they do,-old ones what they have done, and fools what they will do.

19. From principles is derived probability; but truth is obtained only from facts.

20. The volume of nature is the book of knowledge, and he becomes most wise, who makes the most judicious selection. 21. Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious;but an ill one more contemptible. Vice is infamous, though in a prince; and virtue honorable, though in a peasant.

22. What you keep by you, you may mend and change;— but words once spoken can never be recalled.

23. What is the most constant of all things?-hope ;-because it still remains with man, after he has lost every thing else.

24. A just man should account nothing more precious than his word, nothing more venerable than his faith,—and nothing more sacred than his promise.

25. A hypocrite is hated by the world for seeming what he is not but he will be condemned by his Creator for not being what he seems.

26. The greatest friend of truth, is time, her greatest enemy is prejudice, and her constant companion is humility.

27. When you have nothing to say, say nothing;—a weak defence strengthens your opponent, and silence is less injurious than a bad reply.

28. When the million applaud you, seriously ask yourself what harm you have done:—when they censure you, what good?

29. Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by repetition; approved of by reflection; and strengthened by enjoyment.

30. Vice stings us, even in our pleasures, but virtue consoles us, even in our pains.

31. Let fame be regarded, but conscience much more. It is an empty joy to appear better than you are ;-but a great blessing to be what you ought to be.

* See the 5th chapter of Daniel.