with rice almost to bursting; he can hardly fly for corpulency. Last stage of his career, we hear of him spitted by dozens, and served up on the table of the gormand, the most vaunted' of southern dainties, the rice-bird of the Carolinas. 13. Such is the story of the once musical and admired, but finally sensual and persecuted boblink. It contains a moral worthy the attention of all little birds and little boys; warning them to keep to those refined and intellectual' pursuits, which raised him to so high a pitch of popularity, during the early part of his career; but to eschew' all tendency to that gross and dissipated indulgence, which brought this mistaken little bird to an untimely end. WASHINGTON IRVING. IV. 4. THE NOTES OF THE BIRDS. ELL do I love those various harmonies WE That ring so gayly in Spring's budding woods, 2. If thou art pained with the world's noisy stir, Or crazed with its mad tumults, and weigh'd down With any of the ills of human life; If thou art sick and weak, or mourn'st the loss Of brethren gone to that far distant land To which we all do pass, gentle and poor, 3. How rich the varied choir!" The unquiet finch Its crimson-spotted cups, or chirps half-hid 4. With the sweet airs of Spring, the robin comes; Her last year's wither'd nest. But when the gloom 5. In the last days of Autumn, when the corn 6. The bearded wheat in sheaves, then peals ăbroad Lone whip-poor-will,' 5 And lifts his anthem when the world is still : 1 Chime, the harmonious sound of musical instruments, bells, running waters, etc. 2 Whip'-poor-will, an American bird, related to the nighthawk, so called from the sounds of its voice. Dirge, a mournful song. 'Recluse', a person who lives in retirement, or apart from others. An' them, a piece of music set to verses from the Bible, used in church; & sacred song or hymn, etc. I hear thee oft at midnight, when the thrush And the blithe,' twittering swallows have long ceased 2 7. Far up some brook's still course, whose current streams The forest's blacken'd roots, and whose green marge Is seldom visited by human foot, 3 The lonely heron sits, and harshly breaks And you may find her by some reedy pool, 5 And, poising thy gray wing, thy glossy beak 9. And now, wouldst thou, O man! delight the ear Or the harp's melody, or the notes that gush 8 ISAAC MCLELLAN, JR. 1 Pois ́ ing, balancing. Spěc ́ter, a ghost; the appear ance of a person who is dead. 7 Lute, a stringed musical instrument formerly much used. "Ruby, (ro' bf), red. SECTION II. I. 5. DANIEL WEBSTER AT SCHOOL. HEN Webster first entered Phillips Academy, at Exe WH ter, he was made, in consequence of his unpolished' country-like appearance, and because he was placed at the foot of the class, the butt of ridicule by some of the scholars. This treatment touched his keen sensibility, and he spoke of it with regret to his friends where he boarded. They informed him that the place assigned him in the class was according to the standing regulations of the school, and that by diligence' he might rise above it. They also advised him to take no notice of the laughter of the city boys; for, after awhile, they would become weary of it and would cease. 5 2. The assistant tutor, Mr. Emèry, was informed of the treatment which Webster received. He, therefore, treated him with special consideration, told him to care for nothing but his books, and predicted that all would end well. This kindness had the desired effect. Webster applied himself with increased diligence, and with signal success. He soon met with his reward, which made those who had laughed at him hang their heads with shame. 3. At the end of the first quarter, the assistant tutor called up the class in their usual order. He then walked to the foot of the class, took Webster by the arm, and marched him, in front of the class, to the head, where, as he placed him, he said, 'There, sir, that is your proper place." This practical rebuke' made those who had delighted to ridicule the country boy feel mortified and chagrined. He had outstripped them. 4. This incident greatly stimulated' the successful student. He applied himself with his accustomed in'dustry, and looked forward with some degree of solicitude' to the end of the second term, to see whether he would be able to retain his relative' rank in the class. Weeks slowly passed away; the end of the term arrived, and the class was again summoned to be newly arranged, according to their scholarship and deportment, as evinced during the preceding term! 5. While they were all standing in silence and suspense, Mr. Emery, their teacher, said, fixing his eye at the same time upon the country boy: "Daniël Webster, gather up your books and take down your cap." Not understanding the design of such an order, Daniel complied with troubled feelings. He knew not but he was about to be expelled from school for his dullness. 6. His teacher perceived the expression of sadness upon his countenance, but soon dispelled' it by saying: "Now, sir, you will please pass into another room, and join a higher class; and you, young gentlemen," addressing the other scholars, "will take an affectionate leave of your classmate, for you will never see him again!" As if he had said: "This rustic lad, whom you have made the butt of ridicule, has already so far outstripped you in his studies, that, from your stand-point, he is dwarfed in the distance, and will soon be out of sight entirely. He has developed' a capacity for study which will prevent you from ever overtaking him. As a classmate, you will never see him again." 7. It would be in'teresting to know who those city boys were who made the young rustic" an object of sport. What have they come to? What have they accomplished? Who has heard of the fame of their attainments? Scholars should be careful how they laugh at a classmate because of his unpolished manners or coarse raiment. Under that rough exterior" may |