LESSON XV.

6.

SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. DIS CI' PLE, a learner; a scholar. 2. REP'TILES, animals that crawl or move by means of short legs, as snakes, lizards, &c. 3. VERM' IN, all sorts of small animals that are destructive to grain and other produce. 4. LOATH' SOME, exciting extreme disgust; offensive. 5. VI CIN' I TY, neighborhood. WHOLESOME, tending to promote health; healthful. 7. NES' TLE, to settle; to harbor. 8. REC OG NIZE, to recollect or recover the knowledge of. 9. UN' DER WOOD, small trees that grow among larger ones. 10. STAG' NANT, not flowing or running in a stream. 11. IM' AGE, a representation or likeness.

Articulate distinctly dst in wouldst, nts in plants, mpt in attempt, rth in fourth, ngs in things, &c.

THE VOICE OF NATURE.

KRUMMACHER.

1. Among the disciples of Hillel, the wise teacher of the sons of Israel, was one named Saboth, whom every kind of labor displeased, so that he gave himself up to idleness and sloth. Hillel was grieved for the youth, and resolved to reform him. To this end he conducted him out one day to the valley of Hinnon, near Jerusalem.

2. Here there was a large pool of stagnant water, full of reptiles and vermin, and covered with slimy weeds. When they reached the valley, Hillel laid aside his staff, and said: "Here we will rest from our journey." But the youth was astonished, and said: "What! master; by this loathsome swamp? Do you not perceive what a poisonous odor arises from it?"

Who

3. "Thou art right, my son," answered the teacher. "This swamp is like the soul of the idler. would remain in its vicinity?" Thereupon Hillel conducted the youth to a desolate field, in which grew only thorns and thistles, which choked the corn, and the wholesome plants.

4 Then Hillel leaned upon his staff and said: "Be hold, this field has a fruitful soil, to bring forth all things agreeable and useful! But it has been forgotten and neglected. So it now produces stinging thistles, and thorns, and poisonous plants; and among them nestle snakes and moles. Before thou sawest the soul; now recognize the life of the idler."

5. Then Saboth was filled with shame and repentance, and he said: "Master, why hast thou brought me to such a desolate and dreary region? This is the painful image of my soul and my life." Hillel, however, answered: "As thou wouldst not believe my words, I have tried whether the Voice of Nature would reach thy heart."

6. Saboth pressed the hand of his teacher, and said "Thy attempt has not failed; a new life, thou shalt see, has begun within me." Thus it was, Saboth became an industrious youth.

7. Then Hillel conducted him into a fruitful valley, on the shore of a clear brook which streamed forth in lovely meanderings among fruitful trees, blooming meadows, and dark underwood. "See here," said the sage to the astonished youth, "the image of thy new, active life! Nature, which has warned thee, may now also reward thee. Her grace and beauty can delight those only, who, in her, gaze upon their own life."

QUESTIONS.-1. Why did Hillel conduct his pupil to a pool of stagnant water? 2. Whither next did he conduct him? 3. What effect did the Voice of Nature produce in his pupil's future conduct? 1. Whither next was he conducted? 5. Of what was it an image! With what inflection should the latter part of the 2d paragraph be read?

LESSON XVI.

6.

SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. Es' SAY, a composition intended to prove vr illustrate a particular subject. 2. CLEV' ER, skillful; dextrous. B. AC QUIT TED, discharged from an obligation. 4. AUD' IT OR, a hearer. 5. DE TERM IN A' TION, resolution; settled purpose. MOR' AL IZE, to make a moral reflection. 7. GE NI US, a particular natural talent for a particular study or course of life. 8. DIS CUSS', to debate; to reason on. 9. DROLL ER Y, sportive tricks. 10. BAROM' E TER, an instrument for measuring the weight of the atmosphere. It is also used to indicate changes of weather. 11. DISPATCH' ED, finished. 12. COM PLA CEN CY, pleasure; satisfaction. 13. E NU MER A TING, counting or reckoning. 14. Sr' NE CURE, an office which has revenue without employment; leisure.

THEORY AND PRACTICE.

JANE TAYLOR.

1. One evening during the vacation, Frank amused his younger brother, Henry, by reading an essay which had gained him the first prize at school. The subject was Self-Denial. Frank was a clever lad, and had acquitted himself very well. He represented his subject in so striking a light, that it made a considerable impression on the mind of his young auditor; who, as soon as it was finished, thanked his brother for his good advice, and expressed a determination to endeavor to profit by it.

2. "I am afraid," said he, "I have never learned to deny myself as I ought; but I hope, brother Frank, that I shall not forget this lesson of yours. I wish now you would be so kind as to give me some more good hints on the subject."

.

3. Frank, not considering this the best possible compliment that could be paid to his composition, felt disappointed that, instead of commenting upon the force of his arguments, or the graces of his style, he should begin gravely to moralize about it, and it confirmed him in a favorite opinion of his, that his brother, Henry, had not a spark of genius, nor ever would have.

4. Henry repeated his request; but finding his brother more inclined to discuss the merits, and relate the success of his essay, than to draw a practical improvement from it, he contented himself with his own private resolutions. "To-morrow," said he to himself, "to-morrow morning I will begin." "But why not begin to-night ?" said Henry.

5. The clock had just struck, and Henry recollected that his mother had desired them not to sit up a minute after the clock had struck nine. He reminded his brother of this order. "Never mind," said Frank; "here's a famous fire, and I shall stay and enjoy it." "Yes," said Henry; "here's a famous fire, and I should like to stay and enjoy it; but that would not be self-denial; would it, Frank?"

6. "Nonsense!" said Frank,-"I shall not stir yet, I promise you." "Then good night to you," said Henry.

7. Whether his brother was correct in his opinion of Henry's want of genius, we shall not stay to inquire. Indeed, it is a question of very little importance, either to us or to him; since it can not be denied, that his reflections, and his conduct, on this occasion, displayed good sense, good principle, and strength of character; and these are sterling qualities, for which the brightest sparks of genius would be but a poor exchange.

8. Six o'clock was the time at which Henry was expected to rise; but not unfrequently, since the cold weather set in, he had indulged an hour longer When it struck six, the next morning, he started up: but the air felt so frosty, that he had a strong inclination to lie down again. "But no!" thought he, "here is a fine opportunity for self-denial; and up he jumped without further hesitation.

9. "Frank! Frank!" said he to his sleeping brother; "past six o'clock, and a fine star-light morning." "Let me alone," cried Frank, in a cross drowsy voice. "Very well, then; a pleasant nap to you," said Henry, and down he ran as gay as a lark. After finishing his Latin exercise, he had time to take a pleasant walk before breakfast; so that he came in fresh and rosy, with a good appetite, and, what was still better, in a good humor.

10. But poor Frank, who had just tumbled out of bed when the bell rang, came down stairs looking pale, and cross, and cold, and discontented. Henry, who, if he had no genius, had some sly drollery peculiar to himself, was just beginning to rally him on his forlorn appearance, when he recollected his resolution. "Frank does not like to be laughed at, especially when he is cross," thought he; so he suppressed his joke; and it requires some little self-denial, even to suppress a joke.

11. "I should like another half, I think, mother,”

"Any

"If you

said Frank, that day at dinner, just as he had dis patched a large hemisphere of mince pie. more for you, Hénry ?" said his mother. please-nò; thank you," said Henry, withdrawing his plate; "for," thought he, "I have had enough, and more than enough to satisfy my hunger; and now is the time for self-denial."

12. "Brother Henry," said his little sister after dinner, "when will you show me how to do that pretty puzzle? You said you would a long time ago." "I am busy now, child," said Henry, "don't tease me,there's a good girl." She said no more, but looked disappointed, and still hung upon her brother's chair. "Come, then," said he, suddenly recollecting himself; "bring me your puzzle;" and laying down his book, he very good-naturedly showed his little sister how to place it.

13. That night, when the two boys were going to bed, Henry called to mind, with some complacency, the several instances in the course of the day, in which he had succeeded in exercising self-denial; and he was on the very point of enumerating them to his brother Frank. "But no," thought he; "here is another opportunity still of denying myself; I will not say a word about it; beside, to boast of it would spoil all."

14. Henry lay down quietly; making the following sage reflections: "This has been a pleasant day to me, although I have had several disappointments in it, and done several things against my will. I find that self-denial is painful for a moment, but very agree able in the end. If I go on this plan every day, I shall stand a good chance of having a happy life; for life is made up of days and hours, and it will be just as pleasant and as easy."

15. But here Henry's thoughts began to wander, and soon became quite indistinct. In fact he was sound asleep, before he had half finished his reflec tions; the remainder must be supplied by the reader. One of them will, doubtless, be this-that self-denial