LESSON XXXVI.

SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. PLY' ING, working or employing. 2. FATIGU' ED, wearied; tired. 3. BASK, to warm one's self. 4. ES PI' ED, saw; observed. 5. CON'FAB, talk; conversation. 6. Rr' or, live sumptuously; revel. 7. HUES, colors; tints. 8. HUGE, large; vast. 9. BE GUILE, to elude; while away. 10. PHIL O SOPH' IC AL, pertain ing to a philosopher; wise; thoughtful. 11. GAUD' Y, showy. 12. AT TIRE', dress. 13. No TA BLE, remarkable; strange. 14. SUR VIVE, out-live; remain alive. 15. REF UGE, place of retreat; a retreat. 16. PER ILS, dangers; hazards. 17. A WAITS', waits for; stands ready for.

Articulate distinctly shr in shrugged, rch in search, thr in throw cts in directs.

THE ANT AND THE BUTTERFLY.

1. A butterfly gay, in the month of July,

When flowerets were in their full bloom,
Was plying his wings 'neath a beautiful sky,
In search of the richest perfume.

Fatigued with its pleasures it rested awhile
On a sand-bank to bask in the sun,

Where an ant it espied, at its wearisome toil,
And the following confab begun:

ANON.

2. "Ah, why, foolish thing, dost thou work like a slave? Why toil on this beautiful day?

Come ramble with me, and thou pleasure shalt have,
And thy moments glide gayly away.

I toil not like thee, yet I live like a king,

And riot in garden and grove;

The sweets of the flowers I enjoy as they spring;
Where fancy directs me to rove.

3. "Behold for thyself, too, now gay I appear!
The hues of the rainbow are mine;

How blest my condition, how pleasant my cheer,
And my looks, how much better than thine!
Now take my advice and give up thy hard toil,
And throw thy huge burden away;

Enjoyment and pleasures our hours shall beguile,
And thus we shall get through the day."

4. The ant, with a true philosophical eye, Viewed the butterfly's gaudy attire ;

Next paused, shrugged his shoulders, then made this reply: "Suppose you should fall in the mire,

Methinks you would tumble and flutter about,
And wish yourself safe in my hut;

But, if by good fortune you chanced to get out,
What a notable figure you'd cut?

5. "But that's a misfortune you never may meet,
Yet tempest and storm will arrive;

Then where are your perfumes that now are so sweet?
They're gone, and you can not survive.

As for me, while there's plenty, I make me a home,
And to store it industrious am I;

I've a refuge to fly to when perils do come,
Tine's precious-I wish you good-by."

3. Some men, like the butterfly, madly pursue
The baubles of earth while they've breath;
The wants of the future they keep not in view,
Nor prepare for the winter of death.

But some, like the ant, are industrious and wise,
Improving each hour that is given;

They lay up their treasure above the bright skies,
And a mansion awaits them in Heaven.

2.

QUESTIONS.--1. What did the butterfly invite the ant to do! What motives were urged to persuade him? 3. What was the ant's reply? 4. In what respect do some men resemble the butterfly! What is mesut by you'd, that's, they're, they've, I've, &c.

LESSON XXXVII.

5.

SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. STRAND' ED, driven on the strand or shore. 2. EP AU LET, a shoulder-knot; a military ornament. 3. TWIRL' ED, turned around rapidly; whirled. 4. Cov' ET, desire; wish for. ART' I SAN, one skilled in an art or trade; a workman. 6. PLUME, feather. 7. FOND' LED, fostered; cherished. 8. SHEEN, brightness; splendor.

Avoid blending the termination of one word with the beginning of another, as, an deye dit to'er ran do'er, for and eyed it o'er and o'er, &c.

THE SILVER BIRDSNEST.

1. A stranded soldier's epaulet
The waters cast ashore;
A little winged rover met,
And eyed it o'er and o'er.
The silver bright so pleased her sight
On that lone idle vest,

She knew not why she should deny
Herself a silver nest.

H. F. GOULD.

2. The shining wire she pecked and twirled;
Then bore it to her bough,

Where on a flowery twig 'twas curled,
The bird can show you how.
But when enough of that bright stuff
The cunning builder bore,

Her house to make, she would not take,
Nor did she covet more.

3. And when the little artisan,

With neither pride nor guilt,
Had entered in her pretty plan,
Her resting-place had built,
With here and there a plume to spare
About her own light form,

Of these, inlaid with skill, she made
A lining soft and warm.

4. But do you think the tender brood
She fondled there and fed,

Were prouder when they understood
The sheen about their béd?

(<) Do you suppose they ever rose,
Of higher powers possessed,

Because they knew they peeped and grew
Within a silver nest?

4.

5.

QUESTIONS.-1. What did the little bird find on the strand? 2. What did she then do with the epaulet? 3. Were the young birds in the nest prouder, because of the brightness about them? Were they any the better for being brought up in a silver nest! Are children the better merely on account of having rich parents! In what respect do the 5th and 7th lines of each verse, differ from the rest? With what modulation of voice should the las verse be read? With what inflection? Why?

LESSON XXXVIII.

SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. PE CUL' IAR, special; particular. 2. PROV INCE, department; office. 3. PRO FES' SION, calling; avocation. 4. ZEAL OUS, eager. 5. CON SPIC' U ous, prominent. 6. PROP O SI' TION, a thing proposed; proposal. 7. IN FAL LI BLE, unmistakable; sure 8. PER EMP TO RY, positive; dogmatical. 9. As SUM' ING, haughty arrogant. 10. DE CI' SIVE, positive. 11. REF U TA' TION, the act of proving any thing erroneous. 12. OR A TO RY, art of speaking; elocution. 13. IN SIN' U ATE, to hint; intimate. 14. SAR' CASM, keen reproach; taunt. 15. PER VERSE', distorted from the right. 16. INVID' I OUS, exciting envy, or ill will. 17. IM PUT ED, ascribed or attributed. 18. SE REN' I TY, quietness; mildness. 19. IN FIRM' 1 TIES, frailties; weaknesses.

Avoid saying appen for happen, uppose for oppose, uppear for ap pear, ign'rance for ignorance, &c.

RULES FOR IMPROVEMENT BY CONVERSATION.

DR. WATTS.

1. If we would improve our minds by conversation, it is a great happiness to be acquainted with persons wiser than ourselves. It is a piece of useful advice, therefore, to get the favor of their conversation frequently, as far as circumstances will allow and if they happen to be a little reserved, use all obliging methods to draw out of them what may increase your own knowledge.

2. If you happen to be in company with a merchant or a sailor, a farmer or a mechanic, a milkmaid or a spinster, lead them into a discourse of the matters of their own peculiar province or profession; for every one knows, or should know, his own business best. In this sense a common mechanic is wiser than a philosopher. By this means you may gain some improvement in knowledge from every one you

meet.

3. Attend with sincere diligence while any of the company is declaring his sense of the question proposed; hear the argument with patience, though it differ ever so much from your sentiments; for you yourself are very desirous to be heard with patience by others who differ from you. Let not your thoughts

be active and busy all the while to find out something to contradict, and by what means to oppose the speaker,. especially in matters which are not brought to an issue.

4. This is a frequent and unnappy temper and prac tice. You should rather be intent and solicitous to take up the mind and meaning of the speaker, zealous to seize and approve all that is true in his discourse, nor yet should you want courage to oppose where it is necessary; but let your modesty and patience, and a friendly temper, be as conspicuous as your zeal.

5. As you should carry about with you a constant and sincere sense of your own ignorance, so you should not be afraid or ashamed to confess this ignorance, by taking all proper opportunities to ask and inquire for further information; whether it be the meaning of a word, the nature of a thing, the reason of a proposition, or the custom of a nation. Never remain in ignorance for want of asking.

6. Be not too forward, especially in the younger part of life, to determine any question in company with an infallible and peremptory sentence, nor speak with assuming airs, and with a decisive tone of voice. A young man in the presence of his elders, should rather hear and attend, and weigh the arguments which are brought for the proof or refutation of any doubtful proposition; and when it is your turn to speak, propose your thoughts rather in the way of inquiry.

7. Take heed of affecting always to shine in com. pany above the rest, and to display the riches of your own understanding or your oratory, as though you would render yourself admirable to all that are present. This is seldom well taken in polite company; much less should you use such forms of speech as would insinuate the ignorance or dullness of those with whom you converse.

8. Banish utterly out of your conversation, and especially out of all learned and intellectual conference,