which may be reserved for a few great occasions in life; but one that is wanted every day, and every hour; or, at least, as often as we are tempted to SELF-INDULGENCE.

QUESTIONS.-1. What was the subject of Frank's essay? 2. Did he practice it himself? 3. What opinion did he entertain of his brother Henry? 4. What qualities did Henry possess? 5. In what instances did Henry practice self-denial? 6. What effect did it produce on his mind? 7. When should we exercise self-denial? What rule for the rising inflection on Henry, 7th par.? What, for the falling on no? What kind of emphasis on self-denial and self-indulgence?

LESSON XVII.

WORDS FOR SPELLING AND DEFINING.

DE CEIVER, deluder.

UN IM PROVED, neglected.
CHOICE, Selection.

FALSE, deceitful; treacherous.

FOUN DA TION, basis; groundwork.

PROS' PER ED, succeeded.

HEED, attention.
SPEED, make haste.
PHANTOM, Vision; fancy.
SIN CERE', true; candid.
RE VERE', reverence.

Let the following lines be read very slow, and be careful to emphasize properly the words printed in Italics and capitals.

TO-MORROW.

1. TO-MORROW! grand deceiver of our race!

For thee, still unimproved, to-day gives place,-
The heart's bad choice, and hence the tongue still
To-morrow.

2. TO-MORROW! false foundation, broken reed!
Who ever prospered, that to thee gave heed?
Who madly wastes to-day, will never speed
To-morrow.

3. TO-MORROW! phantom of the idler's brain!
To-day, as yesterday, has come in vain
To him who, trifling, wisdom hopes to gain

To-morrow.

says

4. TO-MORROW! Let the man of heart sincere
The present time improve, his God revere;
Who wisely lives to-day, has naught to fear
To-morrow.

QUESTIONS.-1. To what is to-morrow compared in the 1st verse! 2. To what, in the 2d? 3. To what, in the 3d 4. Who has naught to fear to-morrow? 5. Are we likely to improve to-morrow, if we misimprove to-day?

1. If Fortune with a smiling face,
Strew roses on our way,

CHARLES MACKAY.

When shall we stoop to pick them up?
To-day, my friend, to-day.

But should she frown with face of care,
And talk of coming sorrow,

When shall we grieve, if grieve we must?
To-morrow, friend, to-morrow.

2. If those who've wronged us, own their fault,
And kindly pity pray,
When shall we listen, and forgive?
To-day, my friend, to-day.

But, if stern Justice urge rebuke,

And warmth from Memory borrow,

When shall we chide, if chide we dare?
Tomorrow, friend, to-morrow.

3. If those to whom we owe a debt,
Are harmed unless we pay,
When shall we struggle to be just?
To-day, my friend, to-day.
But, if our debtor fail our hope,
And plead his ruin thorough,
When shall we weigh his breach of faith?
To-morrow, friend, to-morrow.

4. For virtuous acts, and harmless joys,
The minutes will not stay;
We've always time to welcome them,
To-day, my friend, to-day.
But care, resentment, angry words,
And unavailing sorrow,

Come far too soon, if they appear

To-morrow, friend, to-morrow.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is the subject of this poetry? 2. What virtues does it inculcate? 3. Why do Fortune, Justice, and Memory, begin with capital letters? 4. What is meant by who've and we've?

LESSON XIX.

WORDS FOR SPELLING AND DEFINING.

EA GER NESS, ardent desire.
WA' RI LY, cautiously.
IN JU DI CIOUS, indiscreet.
DIS COVER IES, disclosures.
VA RIE TY, different kinds.
TRANSIENT, short; hasty.
DE SCRIP TION, account.
MO RASS', low, wet ground.
SA VAN' NAS, plains destitute of

trees.

SU PER FI CIAL, not profound.
CON TEM PLA' TION, meditation.
MYS' TER IES, hidden things.
TRIVI AL, trifling.
SCRU PLE, doubt.

OB VI OUS NESS, plainness.
TEND EN CY, drift; direction.
IN SIG NIF I CANT, unimportant.
Rides post, rides in haste.
Buckle to, apply with vigor.

INJUDICIOUS HASTE IN STUDY.

JOHN LOCKE.

1. The eagerness and strong bent of the mind after knowledge, if not warily regulated, is often a hinderance to it. It still presses into farther discoveries and new objects, and catches at the variety of knowledge, and, therefore, often

stays not long enough on what is before it, to look into it as it should, for haste to pursue what is yet out of sight.

2. He that rides post through a country, may be able, from the transient view, to tell, in general, how the parts lie, and may be able to give some loose description of here a mountain, and there a plain; here a morass, and there a river; woodland in one part, and savannas in another.

3. Such superficial ideas and observations as these, he may collect in galloping over it; but the more useful observations of the soil, plants, animals, and inhabitants, with their several sorts and properties, must necessarily escape him; and it is seldom men ever discover the rich mines without some digging.

4. Nature commonly lodges her treasures and jewels in rocky ground. If the matter be knotty, and the sense lies deep, the mind must stop and buckle to it, and stick upon it with labor and thought, and close contemplation, and not leave it until it has mastered the difficulty, and got possession of truth.

5. But, here, care must be taken to avoid the other extreme; a man must not stick at every useless nicety, and expect mysteries of science in every trivial question or scruple that he may raise. He that will stand to pick up, and examine every pebble that comes in his way, is as unlikely to return enriched and laden with jewels, as the other that traveled full speed.

6. Truths are not the better nor the worse for their obviousness or difficulty; but their value is to be measured by their usefulness and tendency. Insignificant observations should not take up any of our minutes; and those that enlarge our view, and give light toward further and useful discoveries, should not be neglected, though they stop our course, and spend some of our time in fixed attention.

QUESTIONS.-1. What often proves a hinderance to the acquirement of knowledge? 2. What proof of this? 3. Where are the richest treasures to be found, and how are they to be obtained? 4. What must be done when the sense lies deep? 5. In doing this what should be avoided? 6. By what is the value of truth to be measured?

LESSON XX.

WORDS FOR SPELLING AND DEFINING.

Ac' CESS, admittance; near ap- PREV A LENT, general.

proach.

DE PART' MENTs, parts; portions.
MA TE RI ALS, subjects.
DIS TIN' GUISH ED, eminent.
RE FINE MENT, polish of man-

ners.

EX HIBITS, presents to view.
REV O LU' TIONS, changes.
-PRIV I LEGE, peculiar benefit.
COUNSEL ORS, advisers.
RE FLECT', consider attentively,
CON VERSE', talk familiarly.

CIV IL I ZA TION, state of being RE LATE, tell; narrate.
civilized.

SCANDAL, what is slanderous.

AC QUI SI TION, act of acquiring. VOLUMES, books.

BENEFITS OF READING.

1. Reading may be considered as the key which commands our entrance, and gives us access to the various departments of science and literature. It enlarges the sphere of observation, and affords abundant materials for exercising the faculties of the mind. Among all people distinguished for their refinement and civilization, the most prevalent and important art is that of reading. The improvement of the mind, the cultivation of taste, and the acquisition of knowledge, are the advantages derived from this art.

2. From reading we are made acquainted with the passing events and occurrences in various parts of the world, and are enabled to repeat the sentiments of those who have existed in former times. It brings to view the scenes of departed years, and exhibits the rise and fall, and the revolutions of the ancient communities of mankind; and offers to our reflection all the most important circumstances connected with the improvement of human society.

3. To have good books, and to be able to read them well, is a great privilege. They make us both wiser and better; they instruct us in our duty, and teach us how to behave ourselves. They comfort us in our distresses and afflictions. They pass away our leisure hours pleasantly and usefully; and the amusement which they afford, is cheaper than almost