the officers, and he was made one of Washington's lifeguard. Like every one else, who knew that great and good man, he soon loved him with unbounded attachment and respect. While the general had his head quarters at Cambridge, it was frequently necessary for detachments of the army to make excursions into the neighboring towns. 5. On one of these occasions, Washington and his lifeguard were pursued by a company of English soldiers. They retired as rapidly as possible, but the English being close upon their rear, they were often obliged to turn and fight. 6. In the midst of the retreat, an Englishman had just raised his sword above the head of the general, when Mr. Upton sprang forward and placed his body between him and the commander. The uplifted weapon descended upon his thigh, and crippled him for life. 7. After they had safely effected their return to the American barracks, Washington called to inquire concerning the man, who had so generously preserved his life at the risk of his own. "Thanks be to God, my general, that your life is saved," exclaimed the wounded soldier; "America could lose such a man as I am, but what could she do without your honor?" 8. His wound disabled him for battle, but he continued to perform various services to his country until the close of the war. After seeing his country in the possession of peace and freedom, he returned to his home. True, it was now almost desolated and comfortless. No one had been left to cultivate his small farm, and what little stock he possessed had been killed for the use of the army. America was then too poor to pay her soldiers for what they had lost and suffered; and Mr. Upton was obliged to contend with poverty as he could. 9. His hard-earned bread, however, was sweetened by the respect which was every where paid to him. When he swung his axe over his shoulder, and went forth to labor in the woods, he was always welcomed with smiling looks and a cordial shake of the hands from his companions; and the older boys would often call out to their little brothers, "Off with your hat, John, and make a bow, for there is the man who saved the life of General Washington." 10. The poor soldiers of the revolution had but few of those comforts, which now make our firesides so cheerful; but when the long winter evenings came on, dearly did they love to fight their battles over again, and often would they say to Mr. Upton, "The loss of your limb in such a cause, neighbor, is a greater honor to you, than if you had King George's crown upon your head.” 11. The tears would sometimes trickle down his cheeks, as he replied, "The Lord make us thankful that it saved his honor's life. It is little we should have done against all Burgoyne's troops, if his wisdom had not been at the helm. I am thinking, friends, that I could depart in peace, if I could once more look George Washington in the face, and say, 'God bless your honor.'” 12. Now, my young readers, this was in 1784, which you all ought to remember was the year after Great Britain acknowledged the independence of America; and can you believe that only four years after, when General Washington desired an interview with Mr. Upton, he was ashamed to grant it? 13. Yes! the man whose bravery saved his general; whose integrity won the respect of his neighbors; whose industry had procured a comfortable home; and whose kindness had ensured him an affectionate family, gave way to the SIN of INTEMPERANCE. 14. Once his little ones used to run out eagerly to kiss his healthy, good-humored countenance; but now he had become so cross and troublesome that children were afraid of him. His firm, bold step, had become weak and trembling with intoxication; and his round, handsome face, was now red and bloated. 15. When Washington visited New England, he sent a servant to request a visit from his old preserver. The wretched man heard the summons, and wept aloud."Heaven knows," said he, "that in my best days, I would have walked from here to Mississippi, for the honor which Washington now pays me. 16. 66 But I can not, I can not carry this shameful face into his presence. Tell General Washington that my love and gratitude will always follow him. Tell him that none but the good have a right to look upon his blessed countenance, and Mr. Upton is no longer among that number." 17. If ever my young friends should be tempted to persevere in one thing, which they know to be wrong, let them remember, that ONE BAD HABIT changed Mr. Upton from a brave soldier and a respected citizen, into a worthless and neglected sot; procured for him the contempt of those who once esteemed him; the fear and distrust of his family; the sorrowful disapprobation of his general; and finally broke his heart with shame and remorse.-THE TOKEN. QUESTIONS. Of whom does this lesson treat? Where did Mr. Upton reside? Whose son was he? What trade did he learn? What was the character of Mr. Upton? Did Mr. Upton marry? What did his wife manage to do? Should not every wife manage to make her fireside the most pleasant place to her husband? Can any husband expect to find REAL HAPPINESS except in the bosom of his family? At the time that Mr. Upton's affairs were thus prosperous, what did he feel it his duty to do? What was the name of the war in which he engaged? With what nation was the war? What was a sad trial for him? How did he endure it? What was he soon made? Why? Whom did he love with unbounded attachment? What was frequently done while General Washington had his head quarters at Cambridge? What happened on one occasion? While retreating, what was an English soldier about to do? What did Mr. Upton then do? What happened to him? What did Washington do, on returning to the barracks? What did Upton, the wounded soldier, say? How did his wound affect him? When did he return home? In what condition did he find his family and farm? What was he obliged to do? Why? What was sweetened? Why? What would the boys often say and do? What did the neighbors say to him? What would he reply? What trickled down his cheek? What did he then say of Washington? In what year was that? How many years after did Washington desire to see him? Did Mr. Upton call to see Washington? Why did he not? What can be more lamentable than that this good and faithful soldier, who risked his own life to save the life of Washington, should become so debased and degraded by the LOATHSOME HABIT and WICKED PRACTICE of DRINKING RUM, that he was ashamed to call on that good man? What did he say when Washington sent for him? What did his children once do? Will my young friends remember that ONE BAD HABIT ruined and debased this good soldier ? SPELLING LESSON LVI. Blub ber (blub' bûr), n. the fat of whales and other large sea animals; a bubble; the sea nettle: v. to weep so as to swell the cheeks. Con cern (kon sêrn'), n. anxiety, interest; business; affair: v. to relate to; to belong to; to affect; to interest. Con sid er a bly (kön sîd' êr å blẻ), ad. in a great degree; in a degree deserving notice. Crawl (kråwl), v. to creep, move slowly; to cringe. Crawl ed (kråwld), pre. of Crawl. [of Crow. Crew (kr88), n. a ship's company; a low or vulgar crowd: pre. Cubs (kubz), n. plu. of Cub, the young of certain beasts, as of a bear, fox, &c. Di rect ing (de rêkt' îng), par. of Direct, to aim; to regulate; to order; to address: a. straight, right; open, plain; express. Dis cov er ies (dis kûv' ûr `rîz), n. plu. of Discovery, the act of finding or bringing any thing to light; first sight of; disclosure. Di vi ding (dè vi' ding), par. of Divide, to part any thing into two or more pieces; to separate; to distribute, deal out. En tice (ên tise'), v. to urge or lead; to allure, attract; to incite, instigate; to invite. Ex pi ring (êks p' ring), part. a. dying, breathing the last; emitting; exhaling: par. of Expire, to emit or breathe the last; to breathe out, exhale; to die. Fetch ed (fêtsht), pre. of Fetch, to go and bring; to reach; to draw: n. a stratagem, artifice, trick. Fish, n. an animal that lives in the water: v. to catch or try to catch fish, &c.; to seek by art. Fånd' nêss, n. tenderness, affection; love; foolishness; weakness; strong appetite, relish, or propensity. Got ten (got' tn), per. par. of Get, to reach, arrive at; to procure, obtain; to gain, earn; to learn; to persuade; to adGreen' land, n. prop. the name of a country. [vance. Growl ed (gråúld), pre. of Growl, to snarl as a dog; to murmur; to grumble. [told, or uttered. In ex pres si ble ('in êks prês' sẻ bl), a. not to be expressed, Jour nal (jûr' nål), n. a diary, daily account of occurrences; a newspaper, book, or pamphlet published at stated times; a daily register or account-book of daily transactions. Lev el led (lev' ild), pre. of Level, to take aim; to make even or flat: a. even, flat; smooth; plain: n. a plain; a standard; an equal; an instrument. Lick ing (lik' king), par. of Lick, to touch or pass over with the tongue; to lap: n. a place where wild animals lick for salt. Lump, n. a shapeless mass; a cluster; the gross: v. to throw into a mass; to take in the gross. Mast-head (måst-hêd'), n. the head or top of the mast of a ship. Moan (mône), v. to grieve, to mourn; to lament: n. audible sorrow or grief; lamentation. Moan ing (mone' ing), par. of Moan. Moan ed (mond), pre. of Moan. Pa ces (på' siz), n. plu. and pres. t. of Pace, a step.; gait; manner of walking; a measure of 24 feet: v. to measure by steps; to move slowly, or, with a particular gait. Påw' ing, par. of Paw, to scrape or strike with the foot along the ground; to handle roughly: n. the foot of a beast. Re la tion (rẻ là shắn), n. narrative; kindred; respect; refer. ence; connexion between things, alliance. Re ser ving (rẻ zêr' vîng), par. of Reserve, to retain; to keep in store; to lay up: n. an exception; caution; modesty; something for exigence. [to smell; to perfume. Scent (sent), n. smell; odor; chase or pursuit by the smell: v. Sea shore (see shore), n. the coast of the sea. She-bear (she'-båre), n. the female bear. Sin gly (sing' gle), ad. one by one; individually; only; sincerely. Smel' ling, par. of Smell, to perceive by the nose: n. perception by the nose; odor. [pain or distress. Sore ly (sore' le), ad. severely, greatly; grievously; with great Spitz ber gen (spitz' bêr `gên), n. prop. the name of a country in Europe. Un con su med ('ûn kön súmd'), a. not consumed. charge of small arms at once; a burst: v. to throw out at Vo ra cious ly (vỏ rả' shûs 'lè), ad. greedily, ravenously, [once. READING LESSON LVI. The White Bear. 1. The white bear of Greenland and Spitzbergen is considerably larger than the brown bear of Europe, or the black bear of North America. This animal lives upon fish and seals, and is seen not only upon land in the countries bordering on the North Pole, but often upon floats of ice several leagues at sea. The following relation is extracted |