brilliancy, in the deep blue atmosphere; and now, muttering peals of thunder were faintly heard, rolling behind the mountains. The river, hitherto still and glassy, reflecting pictures of the sky and land, now showed a dark ripple at a distance, as the breeze came creeping up it. The fish-hawks wheeled and screamed, and sought their nests on the high, dry trees; the crows flew clamorously to the crevices of the rocks; and all nature seemed conscious of the approaching thunder-gust.

4. The clouds now rolled in volumes over the mountaintops, their summits still bright and snowy, but the lower parts of an inky blackness. The rain began to patter down, in broad and scattered drops; the wind freshened, and curled up the waves; at length it seemed as if the bellying clouds were torn open by the mountain-tops, and complete torrents of rain came rattling down. The lightning leaped from cloud to cloud, and streamed quivering against the rocks, splitting and rending the stoutest forest-trees. The thunder burst in tremendous explosions; the peals were echoed from mountain to mountain; they crashed upon Dunderberg, and rolled up the long defile of the highlands, each headland making a new echo, until old Bull-Hill seemed to bellow back the storm.

5. For a time, the scudding rack and mist, and the sheeted rain, almost hid the landscape from sight. There was a fearful gloom, illuminated still more fearfully by the streams of lightning which glittered among the rain-drops. Never had I beheld such an absolute warring of the elements; it seemed as if the storm was tearing and rending its way through the mountain defile, and had brought all the artillery of heaven into action.

"What does the rainbow's beauteous arch declare?
That Justice still cries strike, and Mercy, spare."

1. All nature lay in sleep; no zephyrs stirred
Its sweet repose. The trees were motionless;
E'en the fair flow'ret hung its beauteous head,
And gently closed its varied-colored leaves.
The waters, like a mighty mirror, lay
Extended wide; scarcely a ruffle stirred
Their glossy surface; and the sun's bright ray
Pierced their transparent bosom, clear and bright.

2. The scene was changed; the elements awoke, Grown strong by their late slumber, and burst forth In all the wildness of their common nature.

The winds spread forth their pinions, and rushed on,
Laying fair nature's gifts in sadness low.
The slender saplings bowed their graceful heads,
And yielded to the blast. The giant oak,

The pride of this our land, emblem of strength,
Of grandeur, and of might, low, blighted lay,
Remnant of what it once had been.

3. The heavens rolled sternly on, in frowning forms, Throwing their darkened shadows far below, Upon the groaning and deep-heaving earth.

The sea roused up, and lashed with whitening foam

The rocky shores, reflecting far and wide

The lightning's vivid flash; while here and there,

The hills and vales sent back, in echoes wild,

4.

5.

The thunder's roar. The heavens poured streaming down,
In torrents wild, their waters o'er the earth.

The storm had past. All nature shone
In bright, redoubled splendor. Earth, air, and ocean,
Refreshed by heaven's delightful showers, breathed forth
His wisdom, strength, and love, in sweetest strains;
The bird sung sweetly from the chestnut's bough,
Sparkling with dewy gems, and the sweet flow'ret
Breathed its rich perfume on the air around.
The heavens spread forth their canopy of blue,
And the bright sun cast forth its healing rays,
O'er hill, and plain, and sea.

But above all,

Surpassing all, in splendor and in grace,

The Bow of God, the emblem of his love,

Stretched o'er the blue, ethereal dome of heaven,

Its streaks of varied light; in modesty,

In beauty, in rich magnificence, it lay,

Bright emblem of that glorious, matchless love

To us, poor sinful mortals of the dust,

Which none but God can tell, none but God give.

LESSON LXV.

SUPPOSED SPEECH OF JOHN ADAMS IN FAVOR OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. WEBSTER.

1. It is true, indeed, that in the beginning we aimed not at independence. But there's a divinity which shapes our ends. The injustice of England has driven us to arms; and, blinded to her own interest, for our good, she has obstinately persisted, till independence is now within our grasp. We have but to

reach forth to it, and it is ours. Why then, should we defer the declaration? Is any man so weak, as now to hope for a reconciliation with England? Do we mean to submit to the measures of parliament,- Boston port-bill and all? I know we do not mean to submit. We never shall submit.

2. The war, then, must go on. We must fight it through. And if the war must go on, why put off longer the declaration of independence? That measure will strengthen us. It will give us character abroad. The nations will then treat with us, which they never can do, while we acknowledge ourselves subjects in arms against our sovereign. Nay, I maintain that England herself, will sooner treat for peace with us, on the footing of independence, than consent, by repealing her acts, to acknowledge that her whole conduct toward us, has been a course of injustice and oppression.

3. Sir, the declaration will inspire the people with increased courage. Instead of a long and bloody war for restoration of priviliges, for redress of grievances, for chartered immunities held under a British king,-set before them the glorious object of entire independence, and it will breathe into them anew the breath of life.

4. Read this declaration at the head of the army; every sword will be drawn from its scabbard, and the solemn vow uttered to maintain it, or perish on the bed of honor. Publish it from the pulpit; religion will approve it, and the love of religious liberty will cling round it, resolved to stand with it, or fall with it.

5. Send it to the public halls; proclaim it there; let them hear it, who heard the first roar of the enemy's cannon; let them see it, who saw their brothers and their sons fall on the field of Bunker Hill,a and in the streets of Lexington and Conoord, and the very walls will cry out in its support.

Bunker Hill, Lexington, and Concord, places in Massachusetts, where fighting had already commenced.

6. Sir, before God, I believe the hour is come. My judgment approves this measure, and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope, in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the declaration. It is my living sentiment, and, by the blessing of God, it shall be my dying sentiment; -independence now, and independence forever.

LESSON LXVI.

ELOQUENCE.- CASS.

1. What country ever offered a nobler theater for the display of eloquence than our own? From the primary assemblies of the people, where power is conferred, and may be retained, to the national legislature, where its highest attributes are deposited and exercised, all feel and acknowledge its influence.

2. The master spirits of our father-land, they who guided the councils of England in her career of prosperity and glory, whose eloquence was the admiration of their contemporaries, as it will be of posterity, were deeply imbued with classical learning. They drank at the fountain and not at the stream, and they led captive the public opinion of the empire, and asserted their dominion in the senate, and the cabinet.

3. Nor have we been wanting in contribution to the general stock of eloquence. In our legislative assemblies, at the bar, and in the pulpit, many examples are before us, not less cheering in the rewards they offer, than in the renown which follows them. And, if our lamps are lighted at the altar of ancient and modern learning, we may hope that a sacred fire will be kept burning, to shed its influence upon our institutions, and the duration of the Republic.