the physician, when all had been tried in vain. "Nothing," answered the physician. 5. A momentary convulsion passed over my uncle's face. "The will of the Lord be done," said he, almost with a groan of anguish. 6. Just at this moment, a ray of the setting sun pierced the checked curtains, and gleamed like an angel's smile across the face of the little sufferer. He woke from troubled sleep. "Oh dear! I am so sick!" he gasped, feebly. His father raised him in his arms; he breathed easier, and looked up with a grateful smile. Just then his old playmate, the cat, crossed the room. "There goes pussy," said he: "Oh dear! I shall never play any mōre.” 7. At that moment, a deadly change passed over his countenance. He looked up in his father's face with an implōring expression, and put out his hand as if for help. There was one moment of agony, and then the sweet features settled into a smile of peace, and "mortality was swallowed up of life." My uncle laid him down, and looked one moment at his beautiful face. It was too much for his principles, too much for his consistency,' and he "lifted up his voice and wept.” 8. The next morning was the Sabbath,-the funeral day; and it rose with "breath all incense, and with cheek all bloom." Uncle Abel was as calm and collected as ever; but in his face there was a sorrōw-stricken expression touching to behold. I remember him at family prayers, as he bent over the great Bible, and began the psalm, "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations." Apparently he was touched by the melancholy splendor of the poetry, for, after reading a few verses, he stopped. 9. There was a dead silence, interrupted only by the ticking of the clock. He cleared his voice repeatedly, and tried to go on, but in vain. He closed the book, and kneeled down to pray. The energy of sorrow broke through his usual formal reverence, and his language flowed forth with a deep and sorrowful pathos' which I shall never forget. The God so much reverenced, so 1 Con sist' en cy, agreement of one's belief or conduct at different times; steadiness. "Pa' thos, passion; warmth of feeling or action; that which awakens tender emotions or feelings. much feared, seemed to draw near to him as a friend and com、 forter, his refuge and strength, "a věry present help in time of trouble." 10. My uncle rose, and I saw him walk to the room of the departed one. He uncovered the face. It was set with the seal of death; but oh, how surpassingly lovely! The brilliancy of life was gone, but that pure, transparent' face was touched with a mysterious, triumphant brightness, which seemed like the dawning of heaven. 11. My uncle looked long and earnestly. He felt the beauty of what he gazed on; his heart was softened, but he had no words for his feelings. He left the room unconsciously, and sat in the front door. 12. The morning was bright, the bells were ringing for church, the birds were singing měrrily, and little Edward's pet squirrel' was frolicking about the door. My uncle watched him as he ran up one tree, and then down, and up another, and then over the fence, whisking his brush, and chattering just as if nothing was the matter. 13. With a deep sigh uncle Abel broke fōrth: "How happy that creature is! Well, the Lord's will be done." That day the dust was committed to dust, ămid the lămentations of all who had known him. 14. Years have passed since then, and all that was mortal of my uncle has long since been gathered to his fathers; but his just and upright spirit has entered the glōrious liberty of the sons of God. Yes, the good man may have had opinions which the philosophical scorn, and weaknèssès at which the thoughtless smile; but death shall change him into all that is enlightened, wise, and refined; for he shall awake in "His likeness," and "be satisfied." 1 Transparent (trans pår' ent), admitting the passage of light; open; bright. MRS. STOWE.5 American authoress, was born in Litchfield, Conn., June 15, 1812. She has written frequently for periodicals, 2 Mysterious, secret; not easily and published several novels, one of understood. 3 Squirrel (skwur' rel). • Phil' o soph' iċ al, skilled in philosophy; deeply learned; wise. Harriet Beecher Stowe, an which, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," has had a wider circulation than any other work of fiction in the English language. She is one of the most popular and successful of living writers. MT V. 57. THE DYING CHILD. 1. ́OTHER, I'm tired, and I would fain1 be sleeping; But promise me that thou wilt leave off weeping, Because thy tears fall hot upon my cheek. Here it is cold; the tempèst ravèth madly; But in my dreams all is so wondrous bright;I see the angel children smiling gladly, When from my weary eyes I shut out light. 2. Mother, one stands beside me now! and listen! Surely, those wings were given him by our Lord! 3. Why dost thou clasp me as if I were going? 1 Fain, with joy or pleasure; gladly. 2 Aċ cord', the union of different sounds, which is agreeable to the ear; agreement of things. 3 Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish poet and novelist, was born ANDERSEN.3 at Odensee, April 2, 1805. His writ ings generally are very popular. His novel, "Improvisatore," his charming "Fairy Tales" for children, and many of his other works have been translated into almost every modern language. XVI. THE SECTION I. 58. THE MERRY SUMMER MONTHS. 1. HEY come! the měrry summer months of beauty, song, and flowers; They come the gladsome months that bring thick leafinèss to bowers. Up, up, my heart! and walk abroad; fling cark' and care aside; Scan through its leaves the cloudless sky in rapt tranquillity. 2. The grass is soft, its velvet touch is grateful to the hand; It stirs their blood with kindèst love, to bless and welcome thee: 3. There is no cloud that sails along the ocean of yŏn sky, But hath its own winged măriners to give it melody; Thou seest their glittering fans outspread, all gleaming like red gold; 4. But soft! mine ear upcaught a sound,—from yonder wood it came! 5 5. Good Lord! it is a gracious boon for thought-crazed wight like me, To smell again these summer flowers beneath this summer tree! 1 Cark, a state of anxiety or oppression under care; solitude. 2 Sċoff, mockery; reproach. 3 Věnt, to utter; to pour forth. 4 Mo not' o nous, presenting a tiresome sameness. 5 Boon, a gift; a present. 6 Wight, a being; a person. To suck once more in every breath their little souls ǎway, 6. I'm sadder now-I have had cause; but oh! I'm proud to think I II. 59. SUMMER. THANK heaven ěvèry summer's day of my life that my lot was humbly cast within the hearing of romping brooks, and beneath the shadow of oaks. And from all the tramp and bustle of the world, into which fortune has led me in these latter years of my life, I delight to steal away for days and for weeks together, and bathe my spirit in the freedom of the old woods, and to grow young again lying upon the brook-side, and counting the white clouds that sail along the sky, softly and tranquilly-even as holy memories go stealing over the vault' of life. 5 2. Two days since, I was sweltering in the heat of the city, jostled by the thousand eager workers, and panting under the shadow of the walls. But I have stolen away; and, for two hours of healthful regrowth into the darling past, I have been lying, this blessed summer's morning, upon the grassy bank of a stream that babbled me to sleep in boyhood. Dear old stream! unchanging, unfaltering,-with no harsher notes now than then, never growing old, smiling in your silver rustle, 1 Truant (tro' ant), idle, and shirking duty; loitering. 2 Yōre, of yore, of old time; long since; long ago. 3 William Motherwell, a Scottish poet and journalist, was born in Glasgow, Oct. 13, 1797, and died in that city, Nov. 1, 1835. 4 Vault (vålt), a continued arch or curved covering. 5 Jostled (jos' ld), run against and shaken; caused to totter or move unsteadily; disturbed by crowding. 6 Băb' bled, made a constant murmuring noise; uttered words imperfectly. |