the sharp, clear line of the western horizon; the light breeze dies ȧway, and the âir becomes stifling, even under the shadow of my withered boughs in the chamber window. 7. The white-capped clouds roll up nearer and nearer to the sun, and the creamy måsses below grow dark in their seams. The mutterings, that came faintly before, now spread into wide volumes of rolling sound, that echo again and again from the eastward heights. I hear in the deep intervals the men shouting to their teams in the meadows; and great companies of startled swallows are dashing in all directions around the gray roofs of the barn. 8. The clouds have now well-nigh reached the sun, which seems to shine the fiercer for its coming eclipse. The whole west, as I look from the sources of the brook to its lazy drifts under the swamps that lie to the south, is hung with ȧ cûrtain of darkness; and, like swift-working golden ropes that lift it toward the zenith,1 long chains of lightning flash through it, and the growling thunder seems like the rumble of the pulleys. 9. I thrust ȧway my ȧzālēȧ boughs, and fling back the shattered blinds, as the sun and the clouds meet; and my room darkens with the coming shadows. For an instant the edges of the thick, creamy masses of cloud are gilded by the shrouded sun, and show gorgeous scallops 2 of gold that toss upon the hem of the storm. 3 But the blazonry fades as the clouds mount, and the brightening lines of the lightning dart up from the lower skirts, and heave the billowy måsses into the middle heaven. 10. The workmen are urging their oxen fåst ȧcross the meadow; and the loiterers come straggling åfter, with rakes upon their shoulders. The air freshens, and blows now from the face of the coming clouds. I see the great elms in the plain, swaying their tops, even before the storm-breeze has reached me; and a bit of rīpened grain, upon å swell of the meadow, waves and tosses like a billowy sea. 11. Presently I hear the rush of the wind, and the cherry and 1 Ze'nith, that point of the heavens directly overhead'. 2 Scallop (skŏl'lup), à recess or cûrving of the edge of any thing, into parts of circles; å kind of sea shell-fish. 3 Blaʼzon ry, showy display; ex hibition of coats of arms. peâr-trees rustle through all their leaves, and my paper is whisked away by the intruding blåst. Thêre is à quiet of a moment, in which the wind, even, seems weary and faint; and nothing finds utterance save one hōarse tree-tōad, doling out his lugubrious1 notes. 12. Now comes å blinding flash from the clouds; and a quick, sharp clang clatters through the heavens, and bellows loud and long among the hills. Then-like great grief spending its pent agony in tears-come the big drops of rain, pattering on the lawn, and on the leaves, and most musically of all upon the roof åbove me; not now with the light fall of the spring shower, but with strong steppings, like the first proud tread of youth. I III. MITCHELL.? 60. THANK GOD FOR SUMMER. LOVED the Winter once with all my soul, And longed for snow-storms, hail and mantled skies; And sang their praises in as gãy a trōll 3 As troubadours have pōured to Beauty's eyes. 2. I deemed the hard, black frost å pleasant thing, For logs blazed high, and horses' hoofs rung out; To eat the bread my young hand flung about. 3. But I have walked into the world since then, And seen the bitter work that cold can doWhere the grim Ice King levels babes and men With bloodless spear that pierces through and through. 4. I know now, there are those who sink and lie Upon å stōne bed at the dead of night; I know the rooflèss and unfed must die, When even lips at Plenty's feast tûrn white. 5. And now whene'er I hear the cuckoo's song In budding woods, I bless the joyous comer; 1 Lu gū'bri oŭs, mournful; indicating sorrow. 2 Donald G. Mitchell, an Amĕrican author, was born in Norwich, Conn., in April, 1822. His numerous works have been well received. His style is quiet, pure, and effective. 3 Trōll, å song, the parts of which are sung in succession; à catch; a round. THANK GOD FOR SUMMER. While my heart runs à cadence in å throng 197 Of hopeful notes, that say-"Thank God for summer!" 6. I've learnt that sunshine bringèth more than flowers, And fruits, and forèst leaves to cheer the earth; For I have seen sad spirits, like dark bowers, Light up beneath it with a grateful mirth. 7. Thē āgèd limbs that quiver in their tåsk Of dragging life on, when the north winds gōad, In the straight beams that warm their churchyard road. 9. The moping idiot seemèth less distraught 2 And läugh, and clutch the blades, as though he thought 10. Ah! dearly now I hail the nightingale, And greet the bee-the merry-going hummer ; And when the lilies peep so sweet and pale, I kiss their cheeks, and say—" Thank God for summer!" 11. Feet that limp, blue and bleeding, as they go For dainty cresses in December's dawn, 12. The tired pilgrim, who would shrink with dread Of hopeless pity shadowing my brow, To think how naked flesh must feel your fang. 1 Pĭt'tance, an allowance of food, given incharity; any small allowance. 2 Dis traught', distracted; per. plexed. 14. My eyes watch now to see the elms unfold, Painted and spangled, as her herald mummer "The poor will suffer less! THANK GOD FOR Summer!" ELIZA COOK. 5 SECTION XVII. I. 61. THE WISDOM OF ALEXANDER. TH PART FIRST. HE bannered hosts of Macedon 6 stood arrayed in splendid might. Crowning the hills, and filling the valleys, far and wide extended the millions in arms, who waited on the word of the young Alexan'der—the most superb array of human power which sceptered ambition ever evoked to do its bidding. 2. That army was to sweep nations off the earth, and make ȧ continent its camp; following the voice of one whose sword 1 Cǎl'low, naked; unfledged; des- Journal," à popular weekly publititute of feathers. 2 Nook (nok), a narrow place between bodies; a corner; a recess; a retired place. Flō'ra, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring. 4 Mum'mer, one who makes diversion in disguise; å masker; a clown. 5 Eliza Cook, an English authoress, was born in London åbout 1818. A collection of her poems was first published in 1840. For several years she was editress of "Eliza Cook's cation. She has contributed much, both in prose and verse, to different periodicals. 6 Mǎc'e don, an ancient country of S. E. Europe, N. of Greece. 7 Alexander the Great, son of Philip, king of Macedon, was born in the autumn, B. c. 356. He made so many conquests that he was styled the Conqueror of the World. He died in May or June, B.C. 323. 8 E vōked', called out; summoned forth. THE WISDOM OF ALEXANDER. 199 was the index to glory, whose command was the synonym1 of triumph. It now stood expectant, for the king yet lingered. 3. While his war-horse fretted at the gate, and myriads 2 thus in silence waited his appearance, Alexander took his way to the apartment of his mother. The sole ligaments which bound him to virtue and to feeling was the love of that mother; and the tie was as strong as it was tender. 4. In mute dejection, they embraced; and Alexander, as he gazed upon that affectionate face, which had never been tûrned to him but in tĕndernèss and yearning love, seemed to ask, "Shall I ever again behold that sweet smile?" The anxiety of his mother's countenance denoted the same sad curiosity; and without å word, but with the self-same feeling in their hearts, they went out together to seek the Ŏraeleş 5 in the temple of Philip, to learn their fate. 5. Alone, in unuttered sympathy, the two ascended the steps of the sacred temple, and approached the shrine. A priest stood behind the altar. The blue smoke of the incense eûrled upward in front, and the book of oracles was before him. 6. “Where shall my grave be digged ?" said the king; and the priest opened the book and read, "Where the soil is of iron, and the sky of gold, thêre shall the grave of the monarch of men be digged." 7. To the utmost limit, Asia had become the possession of the Macedonian. Fatigued with conquest, and anxious to seek ȧ country where the difficulty of victory should enhance its value, the hero was returning to Europe. A few days would have brought him to the capital of his kingdom, when he fell suddenly ill. He was lifted from his horse, and one of his generals, ness of spirits caused by misfortune or grief. 1 Syn'o ným, one of two or mōre words in the same language which are the precise equivalents of each other, or which have věry nearly the same meaning. 2 Myr' i ad, the number of ten thousand-sometimes used for any very large number. 3 Lig'a ment, any thing that ties or unites one thing or part to another; å bond. 5 Oracle (ŏr'a kl), the answer of å god, or some person said to be a god, among the heathen, to an inqui'ry made in regard to some future event; the god who gave theē answer, or the place where it was given; the Sacred Scriptures; a wise person. 6 Asia (a'shĭ å). 'Enhance (en håns'), raise to å 4 Dejection (de jěk' shun), low- higher point; advance; increase. |