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And while we linger, we may all
A backward glance still throw
To the days when we were pioneers,
Fifty years ago.

QUESTIONS.-1. What scenes does the author refer to, as having transpired fifty years ago? 2. To what other land may those who have been pioneers in this world, look forward!

LESSON LXXVII.

SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. CAR NIV O ROUS, flesh-eating, 2. EX PANDED, drawn out; enlarged. 3. CON SPIC' U OUS, prominent; remarkable. 4. TRANS PORT' ING, conveying from one point to another. 5. PE RUS' ING, reading attentively. 6. MOD' EL pattern. 7. As SIDU' I TY, diligence. 8. CON STRUCT' ING, building. 9. As so' CIATE, unite. 10. IN' STINCT, natural impulse or aptitude. 11. STIM' U

LATE, to urge or spur on. 12. SO LIO I TUDE, anxiety. 13. CHRYS'A LIDS, insects in their second state, passing to their perfect_form. 14. DEX TER I TY, skill. 15. SUB TER RA' NE AN, under-ground. 16. CEL' E BRA TED, praised; distinguished. 17. RE MOT' EST, most distant. 18. AN TIQ' UI TY, olden times.

Avoid saying nes for nests, we are rapt, for we are apt, &c.

SOCIETY OF ANIMALS.

SMELLIE.

1. It is needless to remark that man holds the first rank in animal associations. If men did not assist each other, no operation of any magnitude could possibly be effected. A single family, or even a few families united, like other carnivorous animals, might hunt their prey, and procure a sufficient quantity of food.

2. Man, even in his most uninformed state, possesses the germs of every species of knowledge and of genius. But they must be cherished, expanded, and brought gradually to perfection. It is by numerous and regularly-established societies alone, that such glorious exhibitions of human intellect can be produced.

3. Next to the intelligence exhibited in human so

ciety, that of the beavers is the most conspicuous. Their operations in preparing, fashioning, and transporting the heavy materials for building their winter habitations, are truly astonishing; and when we read their history, we are apt to think that we are perusing the history of man, in a period of society not inconsiderably advanced.

4 They never quarrel nor injure one another, but live together in different numbers in the most perfect harmony. Their association presents a model of a pure and perfect republic, the only basis of which is mutual attachment. They have no law but the law of love, and of parental affection. Humanity prompts us to wish, that it were possible to establish republics of this kind among men.

5. Pairing birds, in some measure, may be considered as forming proper societies; because, in general, the males and females mutually assist each other in building nests and feeding their young.

6. The honey-bees not only labor in common with astonishing assiduity, but their whole attention and affections seem to center in the person of their queen, or sovereign of the hive. While some are busily employed at home in constructing the cells, others are equally industrious in the fields, collecting materials for carrying on the work.

7. If bees did not associate and mutually assist one another in their various operations, the species would soon be annihilated. But Nature has endowed them with an associating principle, and with instincts which stimulate them to perform all those wonderful operations that are necessary for the existence of individu als, and the continuation of the species.

8. The ants not only associate for the purpose of constructing their habitations, but for cherishing and protecting their young. Every person must have observed, when part of a nest is suddenly exposed, their extreme solicitude for the preservation of their chrysalids or nymphs, which often exceed the size of the animals themselves.

9. With amazing dexterity and quickness the ants transport their nymphs into the subterraneous galleries of the nest, and place them beyond the reach of any common danger. The fortitude with which they defend their young, is no less astonishing. The wisdom and foresight of the ants have been celebrated from the remotest antiquity.

10. Another kind of society is observable among domestic animals. Horses and oxen, when deprived of companions of their own species, associate, and discover a visible attachment. A dog and an ox, or a dog and a cow, when placed in certain circumstances, acquire a strong affection for each other. The same kind of association takes place between dogs and cats, and between cats and birds.

QUESTIONS.-1. What would be the consequence, supposing men did not assist each other? 2. What is said of the intelligence of the beaver? 3. How do these animals agree with one another? 4. What is said of the habits of the bees and the ants? 5. What is said of some domestic animals, when deprived of companions of their own species? 6. What moral ought we to derive from these animals?

LESSON LXXVIII.

SPELL AND DEFINE.—1. AL' TI TUDE, hight; elevation. 2. OR'I SONS, prayers; supplications. 3. EARTH' WARD, toward the earth. 4. CREST, tuft of feathers on the head. 5. DAL' LY ING, loitering. 6. DO MIN'ION, right of possession. 7. POIS' ED, balanced. 8. KEN, reach of sight. 9. ANI MA TED, stimulated. 10. PRI ME' VAL, primitive; original. 11. MOORS, extensive marshy wastes. 12. SYM PA THY, fellow feeling. 13. PAS' TIME, sport; amusement. 14. NA TIV' I TY hirth. 15. PIN' IONS, wings. 16. MEL' O DY, an agreeable succession of sounds. 17. EF FUS' ING, pouring out.

1 THE TOWER OF BELUS, in ancient Babylon, arose in the midst of the sacred precincts of Jupiter Belus. The whole structure was divided into eight separate towers, rising one above the other, and gradually decreasing in size to the summit. It was of immense hight, and served, (among other uses,) as an observatory. An ascent, winding round the towers on the outside, led up to them.

THE LARK.

WILSON.

1. Higher and higher than ever rose 'THE TOWER OF BELUS, uplifted by ecstasy, soars the LARK, the lyrical poet of the sky. (P) Listen! listen! and the more remote the bird, the louder seems his hymn in heaven. He seems, in such altitude, to have left the earth forever, and to have forgotten his lowly nest. The prim-roses and the daisies, and all the sweet hill flowers, must be unremembered in that lofty region of light.

2. But just as the lark is lost-he and his song to gether as if his orisons had been accepted-both are seen and heard fondly wavering earthward, and, in a little while, he is walking with his graceful crest, contented along the furrows of the bearded corn, or on the clover lea, that in man's memory has not felt the plowshare; or, after a pause, in which he seems dallying with a home-sick passion, dropping down like one dead beside his mate in her shallow nest.

3. Of all birds to whom is given dominion over the air, the lark alone lets loose the power that is in his wings, only for the expression of love and gratitude. The eagle sweeps in passion of hunger,-poised in the sky, his ken is searching for prey on sea or sward;— his flight is ever animated by destruction.

4. The dove seems still to be escaping from something that pursues,-afraid of enemies even in the dangerless solitudes where the old forests repose in primeval peace. The heron, high over houseless moors, seems at dusk fearful in her laborious flight, and weariedly gathers her long wings on the tree-top, as if thankful that day is done, and night again ready with its rest.

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5. "The blackening trains o' craws to their repose, is an image that affects the heart of "mortal man who liveth here by toil," through sympathy with creatures partaking with him a common lot. The swallow, forever on the wing, and wheeling fitfully before fancy's eyes in element adapted for,perpetual pastime, is flying but to feed, for lack of insects prepares to forsake the

land of its nativity, and yearns for the blast to bear it across the sea.

6. Thou alone, O lark! hast wings given thee that thou mayest be perfectly happy,-no other bird but thee can at once soar and sing, and heavenward thou seemest to be borne, not more by those twinkling pinions than by the ever-varying, ever-deepening melodies effusing from thy heart.

QUESTIONS.-1. Higher than what does the lark soar? 2. Can you describe its descent? 3. What is said of the eagle? 4. Of the dove? 5. Of the heron? 6. Of "the blackening trains o' craws?" 7. Of the swallow? 8. In what respect does the flight of the lark differ from other birds, as it soars heavenward? 9. What is meant by "bearded corn," 2d paragraph?

LESSON LXXIX.

SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. BLITHE SOME, gay; cheerful. 2. CUM' BERLESS, unburdened; untroubled. 3. MAT IN, morning; morning song or prayer. 4. MOOR LAND, marshy ground, or low land. 5. EM'BLEM, symbol; sign. 6. Down' y, resembling down, or fine soft feathers. 7. EN ER GY, force. 8. FELL, a barren or stony hill. 9. HER' ALDS, proclaims. 10. CLOUD' LET, a little cloud. 11. CHER' UB, celestial being. 12. GLOAM' ING, twilight. 13. HEATH' ER, a kind of shrub; heath.

ODE TO THE LARK.

1. Bird of the wilderness,

Blithesome and cumberless,

JAMES HOGG.

Sweet be thy matin o'er moorland and lea!
Emblem of happiness,

Blest is thy dwelling-place

O, to abide in the desert with thee!
Wild is thy lay, and loud,

Far in the downy cloud,

Love gives it energy, love gave it birth,
Where on thy dewy wing-

Where art thou journeying?

Thy lay is in heaven, thy love is on earth.

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