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not surprising to consider in animals, which are formed for our use, and which can finish their business in a short life.

7. The silk-worm, after having spun her task, lays her eggs and dies. But a man cannot take in his full measure of knowledge, has not time to subdue his passions, establish his soul in virtue, and come up to the perfection of his nature, before he is hurried off the stage. Would an infinitely wise Being make such glorious creatures for so mean a purpose? Can he delight in the production of such abortive intelligences, such short-lived reasonable beings? Would he give us talents that are not to be exerted ? capacities that are never to be gratified?

8. How can we find that wisdom which shines through all his works, in the formation of man, without looking on this world as only a nursery' for the next; and without believing that the several generations of rational creatures, which rise up and disappear in such quick successions, are only to receive their first rudiments" of existence here, and afterwards to be transplanted into a more friendly climate, where they may spread and flourish to all eternity?

9. There is not, in my opinion, a more pleasing and triumphant consideration in religion, than this of the perpetual progress, which the soul makes towards the perfection of its nature, without ever arriving at a period in it. To look upon the soul as going on from strength to strength; to consider that she is to shine for ever with new accessions of glory, and brighten to all eternity; that she will be still adding virtue to virtue, and knowledge to knowledge; carries in it something wonderfully agreeable to that ambition, which is natural to the mind

of man.

10. Nay, it must be a prospect pleasing to God himself, to see his creation for ever beautifying in his eyes; and drawing nearer to him, by greater degrees of resemblance. Methinks this single consideration, of the progress of a finite" spirit to perfection, will be sufficient to extinguish all envy in inferior natures, and all contempt in superior.

11. That cherub which now appears as a god to a human soul, knows very well that the period will come about in eternity, when the human soul shall be as perfect as he himself now is: nay, when she shall look down upon that degree of perfection, as much as she now falls

short of it. It is true, the higher nature still advances, and by that means preserves his distance and superiority in the scale of being; but he knows that, how high soever the station is of which he stands possessed at present, the inferior nature will, at length, mount up to it; and shine forth in the same degree of glory.

12. With what astonishment and veneration, may we look into our own souls, where there are such hidden stores of virtue and knowledge, such inexhausted sources of perfection! We know not yet what we shall be; nor will it ever enter into the heart of man to conceive the glory that will be always in reserve for him.

13. The soul, considered with its Creator, is like one of those mathematical lines, that may draw nearer to another for all eternity, without a possibility of touching it: and can there be a thought so transporting" as to consider ourselves in these perpetual approaches to HIM, who is the standard not only of perfection, but of happiness?

ADDISON.

CHAPTER V.

Descriptive Pieces.

SECTION 1.

a Reg-u-lar-i ty, rẻg-ù-lår'-è-tè, method, certain order

sion to authority

the general appearance of any action, the whole mixture of objects

O-be-di-ence, d-bè'-jè-ênse, submis-i Cot-tage, kôt'-táje a hut, a mean hab

itation

c Dis-crim-i-nate, dis-krim'-è-nåte, to j Gran-a-ry, grân'-á-rè, a store-house mark, select, separate

for corn

d Un-de-light-ful, an-de-lite'-fül, notk Car-ni-val, kár'-nè-vál, a feast pleasing

e In-stance, in'-stânse, importunity, motive, example, to offer an example

f Glow, glò, to be heated, to burn

Qui-e-tude, kwl'-è-tude, rest, repose, quiet

m Be-nig-nant, bé-nig'-nânt, gracious, kind

g Yield, yeeld, to produce, resign, sub-in A-dapt, á-dapt', to fit, proportion

mit

h Scene, sèèn, the stage part of a play,

1.

AMONG

o In-no-va-tion, în-nd-vâ'-shan, introduction of novelty

The Seasons.

MONG the great blessings and wonders of the création, may be classed the regularities of times and

seasons. Immediately after the flood, the sacred promise was made to man, that seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, should continue to the very end of all things. Accordingly, in obedience to that promise, the rotation is constantly presenting us with some useful and agreeable alteration; and all the pleasing novelty of life arises from these natural changes: nor are we less indebted to them for many of its solid comforts.

2. It has been frequently the task of the moralist and poet, to mark, in polished periods, the particular charms and conveniences of every change; and, indeed, such discriminate observations upon natural variety, cannot be undelightful; since the blessing which every month brings along with it, is a fresh instances of the wisdom and bounty of that Providence, which regulates the glories of the year. We glowƒ as we contemplate; we feel a propensity to adore, whilst we enjoy.

s. In the time of seed-sowing, it is the season of confidence; the grain which the husbandman trusts to the bosom of the earth, shall, haply, yields its seven-fold rewards. Spring presents us with a scene of lively expectation. That which was before sown, begins now to discover signs of successful vegetation. The labourer observes the change, and anticipates the harvest; he watchcs the progress of nature, and smiles at her influence; while the man of contemplation walks forth with the evening, amidst the fragrance of flowers, and promises of plenty; nor returns to his cottage till darkness closes. the scene upon his eye.

4. Then cometh the harvest, when the large wish is: satisfied, and the granaries of nature are loaded with the means of life, even to a luxury of abundance. The powers of language are unequal to the description of this happy season. It is the carnival of nature; sun and shade, coolness and quietude,' cheerfulness and melody, love and gratitude, unite to render every scene of summer delightful.

5. The division of light and darkness is one of the kindest efforts of Omnipotent Wisdom. Day and night yield us contrary blessings; and. at the same time, assist each other, by giving fresh lustre to the delights of both. Amidst the glare of day, and bustle of life, how could we sleep? Amidst the gloom of darkness, how could we labour

6. How wise, how benignant, then, is the proper division! The hours of light are adapted" to activity and those of darkness to rest. Ere the day is passed, exercise and nature prepare us for the pillow; and by the time that the morning returns, we are again able to meet it with a smile. Thus, every season has a charm peculiar to itself; and every moment affords some interesting innovation."

SECTION II.

ter

MELMOTH.

f Ob-sta-cle, ob-stå-kl, hindrance, bar,

let

• Dis-charge, dis-tshårje', to vent, re-je Cat-a-ract, kåť ́-á-räkt, a fall of wa-lease, an explosion, a vent, a re lease Per-pen-dic-u-lar, pêr-pên-dik'k'-ù-lår, Crossing at right angles Rapid, rap'-id, quick, swift, violent Ledge, ledje, a ridge rising above the

rest

g

Tre-men-dous, trè-mên' dis, dread-
ful, horrible

Fu-ry, fu'-rè, madness, rage
U-nite, yu-nite', to join, to concur

The cataract of Niagara, in Canada, North America. 1. THIS amazing fall of water is made by the river St. Lawrence, in its passage from lake Erie into the lake Ontario. The St. Lawrence is one of the largest rivers in the world and yet the whole of its waters is dischargeda in this place, by a fall of a hundred and fifty feet perpendicular. It is not easy to bring the imagination to correspond to the greatness of the scene.

2. A river extremely deep and rapid, and that serves to drain the waters of almost all North America into the Atlantic Ocean, is here poured precipitately down a ledge of recks, that rises, like a wall, across the whole bed of its stream. The river, a little above, is near three quarters of a mile broad; and the rocks, where it grows narrower, are four hundred yards over.

3. Their direction is not straight across, but hollowing inwards like a horse-shoe: so that the cataract, which bends to the shape of the obstacle, rounding inwards, presents a kind of theatre the most tremendouss in nature. Just in the middle of this circular wall of waters, a little island, that has braved the fury of the current, presents one of its points, and divides the stream at top into two parts; but they unite again, long before they

reach the bottom.

4. The noise of the fall is heard at the distance of several leagues; and the fury of the waters, at the termination of their fall is inconceivable. The dashing produs

ces a mist that rises to the very clouds; and which forms a most beautiful rainbow, when the sun shines. It will be readily supposed, that such a cataract entirely destroys the navigation of the stream: and yet some Indians in their canoes, it is said, have ventured down it with safety.

SECTION III.

GOLDSMITH.

a Sub-ter-ra-ne-ous, såb tér-rå'-nè-ůs, m Spar, spår, a small beam, bar lying under the earth n Pet-ri-fi, pet'-tre-fi, to change to stone Grot-to, grot'-tó, a cavern made foro Re-cede, rè-sèèd', to retreat, desist, coolness

[blocks in formation]

fall back

[blocks in formation]

A Con-ere-tion, kon-krè'-shån, coalition, w Ex-pe-dite, êks'-pè-dite, to hasten, a union of particles

In-cite, in-site', to stir up, animate

quicken

The grotto of Antiparos.

1. Of all the subterraneous caverns now known, the grottob of Antiparos is the most remarkable, as well for its extent, as for the beauty of its sparry incrustations.c This celebrated cavern was first explored by one Magni, an Italian traveller, about one hundred years ago, at Antiparos, an inconsiderable island of the Archipelago.

2. 66

Having been informed," says he, "by the natives of Paros, that, in the little island of Antiparos, which lies about two miles from the former, a gigantic statue was to be seen at the mouth of a cavern in that place, it was resolved, that we (the French consule and myself) should pay it a visit. In pursuance of this resolution, after we had landed on the island, and walked about four miles through the midst of beautiful plains, and sloping woodlands, we at length came to a little hill, on the side of which yawned a most horrid cavern, that, by its gloom, at first struck us with terror, and almost repressed curiosity.

66

8.." Recovering the first surprise, however, we entered

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