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3. But the risk was so great of being borne down by the rapidity of the stream, of being dashed against the fragments of the bridge, or of being crushed by the falling stones, that not one among the vast number of spectators had courage enough to attempt such an exploit. A peasant passing along, was informed of the proffered reward. Immediately jumping into a boat, he, by strength of oars, gained the middle of the river, brought his boat under the pile, and the whole family safely descended by means of a rope.

4. "Courage" cried he, "now you are safe." By a still more strenuous effort, and great strength of arm, he brought the boat and family to the shore. "Brave fellow !" exclaimed the nobleman, handing him the purse; "here is the promised recompense."

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5. "I shall never expose my life for money," answered the peasant; my labor is a sufficient livelihood for myself, my wife and children. Give the purse to this poor family who have lost all."

LESSON XXIX.

Biographical Sketch of Major Andre.

1. JOHN ANDRE, Aid-de-camp to Sir Henry Clinton, and Adjutant-General of the British army in America, during the revolution, was born in England in 1741. He was, in early life, a merchant's clerk, but obtained a commission in the army at the age of seventeen. Possessing an active and enterprising disposition, and the most amiable and accomplished manners, he soon conciliated the esteem and friendship of his superior officers, and rose to the rank of Major.

2. After Arnold* had intimated to the British, in 1780, his intention of delivering up West Point to them, Major Andre

Benedict Arnold, at the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, was a resident of New-Haven, Connecticut. He embraced with enthusiasm the cause of the colonies, and, on account of his daring courage, was promoted to the rank of Major-General; but he was vicious, extravagant, cruel, vain, luxurious, and mean. Becoming displeased with the government, he basely resolved to deliver up West Point to the British, and turn traitor to his country. When Andre was taken, he escaped with difficulty, on board a British ship of war. He was made a Brigadier-General in the British army, and at the close of the war he went to England, and received 10,000. sterling, as a reward of his villany. He died in London, 1801, detested by all who knew him.

+ West Point, a military post on the Hudson river, 58 miles north of the city of New-York.

was selected as the person to whom the maturing of Arnold's treason, and the arrangement for its execution, should be committed. A correspondence was for some time carried on between them, under a mercantile disguise, and the feigned names of Gustavus and Anderson; and at length, to facilitate their communications, the Vulture sloop of war moved up the North River, and took a station convenient for the purpose, but not so near as to excite suspicion.

3. An interview was agreed on, and in the night of September 21, 1780, he was taken in a boat, which was despatched for the purpose, and carried to the beach without the posts of both armies, under a pass* for John Anderson. He met General Arnold at the house of a Mr. Smith. While the conference was yet unfinished, day-light approached; and to avoid the danger of discovery, it was proposed that he should remain concealed till the succeeding night.

4. He desired that he might not be carried within the American posts; but the promise, made to him by Arnold, to respect this objection, was not observed. He was carried within them contrary to his wishes and against his knowledge. He continued with Arnold the succeeding day, and when on the following night he proposed to return to the Vulture, the boatmen refused to carry him because she had during the day shifted her station, in consequence of a gun having been moved to the shore and brought to bear upon her.

5. This embarrassing circumstance reduced him to the necessity of endeavoring to reach New-York by land. Yielding with reluctance to the urgent representations of Arnold, he laid aside his regimentals, which he had hitherto worn under his surtout, and put on a plain suit of cloaths, and receiving a pass from the American General, authorizing him, under the feigned name of John Anderson, to proceed on the public service to the White Plains, or lower, if he thought proper, he set out on his return.

6. He had passed all the guards and posts on the road without suspicion, and was proceeding to New-York in perfect security, when, on the twenty-third of September, one of the three militia men, who were employed with others in scouting parties between the lines of the two armies, springing suddenly from his covert in the road, seized the reins of his bridle and stopped his horse.

* Pass, a written licence from one in authority, granting permission to > person to go from one place to another, without hindrance or molestation.

7. Instead of producing his pass, Andre, with a want of selfpossession, which can be attributed only to a kind of providence, asked the man hastily where he belonged, and being answered, "to below," replied immediately," and so do I." He then declared himself to be a British officer, on urgent business, and begged that he might not be detained. The other two militia men coming up at this moment, he discovered his mistake; but it was too late to repair it.

8. He offered a purse of gold, and a valuable watch, to which he added the most tempting promises of ample reward and permanent provision from the government, if they would permit him to escape; but his offers were rejected without hesitation. The names of the militia men who apprehended Andre, were John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Vanwert, who, immediately after searching, carried him before their commander, Col. Jamieson.

9. On the 29th of September, 1780, General Washington appointed a board of fourteen general officers, part of whom were General Green,* the Marquis de la Fayette,† and Baron de Steuben, with the assistance of the Judge Advocate, John Lawrence. After the most mature deliberation they pronounced Major Andre a spy from the enemy, and that agreeably to the laws of nations he ought to suffer death.

10. When his sentence was announced to him, he remarked, that since it was his lot to die, as there was a choice in the mode, which would make a material difference in his feelings, he would be happy, if it were possible, to be indulged with a professional death; but the indulgence of being shot rather than hanged was

Nathaniel Green, a Major-General in the army of the United States, during the war of the Revolution, was born in Warwick, Rhode-Island, 1741. His bravery, skill, and services, were such as to merit the highest approbation of his country. He died in Georgia, 1786.

+ Gilbert Mottier, Marquis de la Fayette, was born in France in 1757. He descended from distinguished ancestors, and inherited a princely fortune. Such was his ardor in the cause of liberty, that, at the age of 19, he came to America, and joined the army under Washington. He was appointed a Major-General, and by his active and faithful services, he gained the esteem and affection of the whole American people. In 1824, he visited the United States, when he made a tour through the country, and was every where received with the highest marks of gratitude and respect. He returned to France in 1825.

+ Frederick William, Baron de Steuben, was a native of Prussia. He came to America in 1777, and volunteered his services in the cause of liberty. He was appointed a Major-General in the American army, and by his knowledge of the military tactics of Europe, he rendered the most essential service to the revolutionary army. He died at Steubenville, in the state of New-York, in 1794.

not granted, because it was considered contrary to the custom of war.

11. When he was led out to the place of execution, he bowed familiarly to all those with whom he had been acquainted during his confinement; a smile of complacency expressed the serene fortitude of his mind. Upon seeing the preparations at the spot, he asked with some emotion, "must I die in this manner ?". He was told it was unavoidable. "I am reconciled to my fate," said he, "but not to the mode." Soon after, however, recollecting himself, he added, " It will be but a momentary pang and springing upon the cart, performed the last office to himself, with a composure that excited the admiration and melted the hearts of all the spectators.

12. Being told that the fatal moment was at hand, and asked if he had any thing to say, he answered, "Nothing, but to request that you will witness to the world that I die like a brave man. Thus died Major Andre, universally esteemed and regretted.

LESSON XXX.

The Miracle.-A GERMAN PARABLE.

1. ONE day in spring, Solomon, then a youth, sat under the palm-trees, in the garden of the King, his father, with his eyes fixed on the ground, and absorbed in thought. Nathan, his preceptor, went up to him and said, "Why sittest thou thus, musing under the palm-trees ?" The youth raised his head, and answered, "Nathan, I am exceedingly desirous to behold a miracle."

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2. "A wish," said the prophet, with a smile, " which I entertained myself in my juvenile years." "And was it granted?" hastily asked the Prince. "A man of God," answered Nathan, came to me, bringing in his hand a pomegranate seed. Observe, said he, what this seed will turn to! He thereupon made with his fingers a hole in the earth, and put the seed into the hole, and covered it."

3. "Scarcely had he drawn back his hand, when the earth parted, and I saw two small leaves shoot forth—but no sooner did I perceive them than the leaves separated, and from between them arose a round stem, covered with bark, and the stem became every moment higher and thicker."

4. "The man of God thereupon said to me, 'take notice!' And while I observed, seven shoots issued from the stem, like

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the seven branches on the candlestick of the altar." astonished, but the man of God motioned to me, and commanded me to be silent, and to attend. Behold, said he, new creations will soon make their appearance.'

5. "He thereupon brought water in the hollow of his hand from the stream which flowed past; and lo! all the branches were covered with green leaves, so that a cooling shade was thrown around us, together with a delicious odor.-"Whence,” exclaimed I," is this perfume amid the refreshing shade?""Seest thou not," said the man of God," the scarlet blossom, as, shooting forth from among the green leaves, it hangs down in clusters?"

6. "I was about to answer, when a gentle breeze agitated the leaves, and strewed the blossoms around us, as the autumnal blast scatters the withered foliage. No sooner had the blossoms fallen, than the red pomegranates appeared suspended among the leaves, like the almonds on the staves of Aaron. The man of God then left me in profound amazement."

7. Nathan ceased speaking. "What is the name of the god-like man?" asked Solomon, hastily. "Doth he yet live? Where doth he dwell?" "Son of David," replied Nathan, "I have related to thee a vision." When Solomon heard these words, he was troubled in his heart, and said, "How canst thou deceive me thus ?" "I have not deceived thee, son of David," rejoined Nathan. "Behold, in thy father's garden thou mayest see all that I have related to thee. Doth not the same thing take place with every pomegranate, and with the other trees?"

8. "Yes," said Solomon," but imperceptibly, and in a long time." Then Nathan answered-" Is it therefore the less a divine work, because it takes place silently and insensibly? Study nature and her operations; then wilt thou easily believe those of a higher power, and not long for miracles wrought by a human hand."

LESSON XXXI.

The Compassionate Judge.

1. THE celebrated Charles Anthony Domat was promoted to the office of a Judge of a provincial court, in the south of France, in which he presided, with public applause, for twentyfour years. One day a poor widow brought a complaint before him, against the Baron de Nairac,* her landlord, for turning her out of possession of a farm which was her whole dependence. Pronounced Bar'-on de Na-rak.

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