The wide-spreading pond, and the mill which stood by it,
The bridge and the rock where the cataract fell;
The cot of my father, the dairy-house nigh it,

And e'en the rude bucket which hung in the well!
The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,

The moss-covered bucket, which hung in the well. 2. That moss-covered vessel I hail as a treasure;

For often, at noon, when returned from the field,
I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure,

The purest and sweetest that nature can yield.
How ardent I seized it, with hands that were glowing,
And quick to the white pebbled bottom it fell;
Then soon, with the emblem of truth overflowing,
And dripping with coolness, it rose from the well!
The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,

The moss-covered bucket arose from the well.

3. How sweet from the green mossy brim to receive it,
As poised on the curb it inclined to my lips!
Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it,
Though filled with the nectar that Jupiter sips.
And now, far removed from the loved situation,
The tear of regret will intrusively swell,
As fancy reverts to my father's plantation,

And sighs for the bucket which hangs in the well;
The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,
The moss-covered bucket, which hangs in his well.

WOODWORTH.

THE STREAMLET.

4. I saw a little streamlet flow
Along a peaceful valé,

A thread of silver, soft and slow,
It wandered down the dale;
Just to do good it seemed to move,
Directed by the hand of love.

5. The valley smiled in living green ;
A tree, which near it gave
From noon-tide heat a friendly screen,
Drank from its limpid wave,
The swallow brushed it with her wing,
And followed its meandering.

6. But not alone to plant and bird
That little stream was known,
Its gentle murmur far was heard-
A friend's familiar tone!

It glided by the cotter's door,
It blessed the labor of the poor.

7. And would that I could thus be found,
While traveling life's brief way,

A humble friend to all around,
Where'er my footsteps stray,

Like that pure stream, with tranquil breast,
Like it, still blessing, and still blest.

M. A. STODART.

LESSON VII.

EXERCISE ON RHETORICAL PAUSE.

RHETORICAL pauses are those rests or stops which a good reader makes when reading aloud. They are independent of the grammatical points; without them no person can read with ease, much less with beauty or effect.

RULE 1.-Pause after the nominative case when it consists of SEVERAL words, or of ONE only, if it be emphatic or important. The place of pause is denoted by the dash.

1. The conquest of English America-is an impossibility. 2. The colors of the rainbow--are violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red.

3. The wisdom of God-is as the light of Heaven; he reasoneth not; he is the fountain of truth.

4. Proud Cumberland—-prances, insulting the slain,

And their hoof beaten bosoms—are trod to the plain. 5. The tongue of the sincere—is rooted in his heart; deceit- -has no place in his words.

6. To be ever active in laudable pursuits- -is the distinguishing characteristic of a man of merit.

7. 'Tis finished: their thunders—are hushed on the omoors; Culloden--is lost, and my country deplores!

8. To weep without measure- -is folly; not to weep at all --is insensibility.

9. For the Angel of Death-spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;

And the eyes of the sleepers-waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once-- -heaved, and forever were still! 10. The Gospel is the pearl of great price; the Gospelis the light that shines from Heaven.

11. A quibble--is the golden apple for which he would always turn aside from his career or stoop from his elevation. A quibble--was to him the fatal Cleopatra for which he lost the world, and was content to lose it.

12. These are difficulties, in comparison with which, those of war—are the mere levities of play; these▬▬will sift and winnow you; these--demand a man sustained by the Divine assistance, tutored and instructed almost by a personal communication with his God.

LESSON VIII.

APPLICATION AND INDUSTRY.

1. SINCE the days that are past are gone forever, and those that are to come may not come to thee; it behoveth thee, O man, to employ the present time, without vainly regretting the loss of that which is past, or too much depending on that which is to come.

2. This instant is thine; the next is in the womb of futurity, and thou knowest not what it may bring forth. Whatever thou resolvest to do, do it quickly: defer not till the evening what the morning may accomplish.

3. Idleness is the parent of want and of pain; but the labor of virtue bringeth forth pleasure. The hand of diligence defeateth want: prosperity and success are the industrious man's attendants.

4. Who is he that hath acquired wealth, that hath risen to power, that hath clothed himself with honor, that is spoken of in the city with praise, and that standeth before the king in his council?

5. Even he, that hath shut out idleness from his house, and hath said unto sloth, Thou art mine enemy. He riseth up early and lieth down late; he exerciseth his mind with contemplation, and his body with action; and preserveth the health of both.

6. The slothful man is a burden to himself; he loitereth about, and knoweth not what he would do. His days pass away like the shadow of a cloud; and he leaveth behind him no mark for remembrance. His body is diseased for want of exercise; he wisheth for action, but hath not power to move. His mind is in darkness, his thoughts are confused; he longeth for knowledge, but hath no application.

7. He would eat of the almond, but hateth the trouble of breaking its shell. His house is in disorder; his servants are wasteful and riotous; and he runneth on towards ruin: he seeth-he heareth it with his ears; he shaketh his head and wisheth, but hath no resolution; till ruin coineth upon him like a whirlwind; and shame and repentance descend with him to the grave.

DODSLEY.

1. THE animal and vegetable kingdoms in cold countries, have a very different appearance to that which they have in very hot ones. The care of Almighty God is, however, seen alike in both; and their productions are equally fitted to the comforts and the wants of the inhabitants.

2. The soil of very cold countries cannot yield much. The summer is so short, that fruits and grains do not ripen; and