obliterate. The hair of the corpse, all smooth and glossy, was curled with elaborate precision; and the skinny, sallow neck was encircled with a string of glistening pearls. The ghastly visage of death thus leering through the tinsel of fashion, the "vain show" of artificial joy, was a horrible mockery of the fooleries of life! 10. Indeed, it was a most humiliating and shocking spectacle. Poor creature! struck dead' in the very act of sacrificing at the shrine of female vanity! 11. On examination of the body, we found that death had been occasioned by disease of the heart. Her life might have been protracted, possibly for years, had she but taken my advice, and that of her mother. hu 12. I have seen many hundreds of corpses, as well in the calm composure of natural death, as mangled and distorted by violence; but never have I seen so startling a satire upon man vanity', so repulsive', unsightly', and loathsome a spectacle', as a corpse dressed for a ball! DIARY OF A PHYSICIAN. UESTIONS. -Narrate, in a few words, the story you have been readdie suddenly? As no one knows the time What is the reason given in the Bible for ing. Is it common for persons to of his death, how should all live? obeying parents? Is a ballroom a suitable place to prepare for death? Why has the question in the first paragraph the falling inflection, and those in the second paragraph the rising inflection? Why have the words “ Betty" in the second, and "ma'am" in the third paragraph, the rising inflection? Give rules for the other inflections marked. Which are the verbs in the first paragraph? What is the nominative to the first? To the second? To the third? To the fourth? To the last but one? To the last? How many simple sentences are there in that paragraph ? PRONUNCIATION.- - List-en-ed, pro. lis-n'd: pet-u-lant, not pet-tylunt: min-utes, pro. min-its: des-o-late, not des-er-lit: in-ces-sant, not in-cessunt con-trib-u-ted, not con-trib-it-id: win-dow, not win-der: brace-let, not brass-let: nar-row-ly, not nar-rer-ly: e-lab-or-ate, not e-lab-er-ate: glist-en-ing. pro, glis'-ning. SPELL AND DEFINE.-3. Unsuccessfully, shriek: 4. incessant, summoned: 5. hysterics: 6. scattered: 7. encircled, bracelet: 9. smirk, precision, glistening 10. spectacle: 11. protracted: 12. composure, mangled, startling, repulsive, loathsome. : EXERCISES. LESSON X. - He was burn'd on the hand. He learnt the art of war in Spain. A song bursts from the groves. Earth's ample breast. The busts of Fox and Pitt were there. The songs broke the stillness of the night. A rat ran over the roof of the house, with a raw lump of liver in his mouth. Words to be Spelled and Defined. 6. Sub'-tile, a. thin, delicate. [the head. 6. Wi'-ly, a. cunning, sly. Crest, n. a tuft or ornament worn on THE SPIDER AND THE FLY. 1. "WILL you walk into my parlor'?" said a spider to a fly', "'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy. The way into my parlor is up a winding stair, And I have many pretty things' to show when you are there'." "Oh no, no'," said the little fly', "to ask me is in vain, [again." For who goes up your winding stair' can ne'er come down' 2. "I'm sure you must be weary' with soaring up so high'; Will you rest upon my little bed'?" said the spider to the fly'. "There are pretty curtains drawn around', the sheets are fine and thin'; And if you like to rest awhile', I'll snugly tuck you in'." "Oh no', no'," said the little fly', "for I've often heard it said, They never, never, wake' again, who sleep upon your bed!” [do', 3. Said the cunning spider to the fly', "Dear friend', what shall I To prove the warm affection' I've always felt for you? I have within my pantry', good store of all that's nice'; I'm sure you're very welcome'; will you please to take a slice'?" "Oh no, no!" said the little fly', "kind sir', that cannot be'; I've heard' what's in your pantry', and I do not wish to see'.” wise', 4. "Sweet creature!" said the spider', "you 're witty' and you're [eyes'! How handsome are your gauzy wings', how brilliant are your I have a little lookingglass upon my parlor shelf, If you 'll step in one moment, dear', you shall behold yourself." "I thank you, gentle sir'," she said, "for what you're pleased to say', And bidding you good morning now', I'll call another day." 5. The spider turned him round about, and went into his den', For well he knew the silly fly would soon be back' again: So he wove a subtile web', in a little corner, sly, And set his table ready to dine upon the fly. Then he went out to his door again, and merrily did sing, "Come hither', hither', pretty fly', with the pearl and silver wing; Your robes are green and purple'; there's a crest upon your [lead." head'; Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as 6. Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly', 7. He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den, MARY HOWITT. QUESTIONS. — In what manner does the spider take the fly? What moral is to be drawn from the fable? Why has "fly" in the first line, the falling inflection? (Rule I.) Why has "fly" in the first line of the 3d stanza, the rising inflection? (Rule IV.) N. B. When a phrase like that referred to in the above questions, introduces the quotation, it should have the rising inflection, according to Rule IV; when it comes after the quotation, it requires the falling inflection, according to Rule I; and when it is included between the different parts of the quotation, it may have either inflection, according to the connection. PRONUNCIATION. - Pret-ti-est (pro. prit-ti-est), not put-ti-est: crea-ture, not crea-ter, nor crit-ter: fool-ish, not ful-lish: fièrce-ly, not ferss-ly. SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. Parlor : 2. soaring: 3. affection : 4. gauzy, brilliant: 5. diamond: 6. flattering, fiercely: 7. counselor. LESSON XI. EXERCISES. The bell tinkles. The man truckles to power. Thou chuckl'dst over thy gains too soon. It was barb'd and bulb'd. The bulbs are sprouting. The pert fairies and the dapper elves. Is this delft-ware, or delfware? The costliest silks are there. Overwhelm'd with whirlwinds and tempestuous fire. Words to be Spelled Con-trast'-ed, a. set in opposition. So-lil-o-quies, n. talking to one's self. 2. Pe-ri-od'-ic-al, a. performed regularly in a certain time. Rev-o-lu'-tion, n. circular motion of a body on its axis. 3. An'-a-ly-zed, v. separated into the parts which compose it. 4. Grav-i-ta'-tion, n. the force by which bodies are drawn to the center. 5. Nat-u-ral-ist, n. one that studies natural history; as, the history of plants, animals, &c. and Defined. Vi-tal'-i-ty, n. principle of life. En-am'-el, v. to form a glossy surface. 7. Met-a-phys'-ic-al, a. relating to the sci- 8. Im'-po-tence. n. want of power. CONTRASTED SOLILOQUIES. 1. " Alas!" exclaimed a silver-headed sage', "how narrow' is the utmost extent of human science! how circumscribed the sphere of intellectual exertion! I have spent my life in acquiring knowledge; but how little do I know! The further I attempt to penetrate the secrets of nature', the more I am bewildered and benighted'. Beyond a certain limit', all is but confusion or conjecture'; so that the advantage of the learned over the ignorant', consists greatly in having ascertained how little is to be known. 2. "It is true that I can measure the sun', and compute the distances of the planets'; I can calculate their periodical movements', and even ascertain the laws by which they perform their sublime revolutions'; but with regard to their construction', and the beings which inhabit' them, what do I know more than the clown'? 3. " Delighting to examine the economy of nature in our own' world, I have analyzed the elements'; and have given names' to their component parts'. And yet, should I not be as much at a loss to explain the burning of fire, or to account for the liquid quality of water, as the vulgar, who use and enjoy them without thought or examination'? 4. "I remark that all bodies, unsupported, fall to the ground'; and I am taught to account for this by the law of gravitation. But what have I gained here more than a term? Does it convey to my mind any idea of the nature' of that mysterious and invisible chain which draws all things to a common center? I observe the effect', I give a name to the cause'; but can I explain or comprehend' it? 5. "Pursuing the track of the naturalist, I have learned to distinguish the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms; and to divide these into their distinct tribes and families; but can I tell, after all this toil, whence a single blade of grass derives its vitality'? Could the most minute researches enable me to discover the exquisite pencil, that paints and fringes the flower of the field'? Have I ever detected the secret, that gives their brilliant dye to the ruby and the emerald, or the art that enamels the delicate shell'? 6. "I observe the sagacity of animals'; I call it instinct', and speculate upon its various degrees of approximation to the reason of man. But, after all, I know as little of the cogitations of the brute, as he does of mine. When I see a flight of birds' overhead, performing their evolutions', or steering their course to some distant settlement', their signals and cries are as unintelligible to me, as are the learned languages to the unlettered rustic: I understand as little of their policy and laws, as they do of Blackstone's Commentaries. 7. "But, leaving the material creation, my thoughts have often ascended to loftier subjects, and indulged in metaphysical speculation. And here, while I easily perceive in myself the two distinct qualities of matter and mind, I am baffled in every attempt to comprehend their mutual dependence and mysterious connection. When my hand moves in obedience to my will, have I the most distant conception of the manner in which the volition is either communicated or understood? Thus, in the exercise of one of the most simple and ordinary actions, I am perplexed and confounded, if I attempt to account for it. E. "Again, how many years of my life were devoted to the acquisition of those languages, by the means of which I might explore the records of remote ages, and become familiar with the learning and literature of other times! And what have I gathered from these, but the mortifying fact, that man has ever been struggling with his own impotence, and vainly endeavoring to overleap the bounds which limit his anxious inquiries! |