In a dairy, a crow having ventured to go, A fox who lived nigh, to the tree saw her fly, For he knew, if she'd speak, it must fall from her beak, So bowing politely, began. ""Tis a very fine day."—Not a word did crow say. “The wind, I believe ma'am, is south ;— A fine harvest for peas."-He then looked at the cheese; But the crow did not open her mouth. Sly Reynard not tired, her plumage admired, Believe me, I long just to hear your sweet song." The silly crow foolishly tries: She scarce gave a squall, when the cheese she let fall, And the fox ran away with the prize. Young ladies who hear, must the flatterer fear, For though e'er so demure, you may always be sure 2* LESSON V. THE USE OF FLOWERS. A few of the emphatical words in this beautiful little poem, are marked to give the pupil its full expression. It was written by the English Quakeress, MARY HOWITT. God might have bade the earth bring forth The oak-tree and the cedar-tree, Without a flower at all. He might have made enough, enough For every want of ours, For luxury, medicine, and toil, And yet, have made no flowers. The clouds might give abundant rain, Then, wherefore, wherefore were they made, Springing, in valleys green and low, Our outward life requires them not, To comfort man-to whisper hope, LESSON VI. THE BEACON LIGHT. The speaker should commence in a grave tone, brightening and growing more cheerful to the end of the third stanza, when, resuming his solemnity, he must speak the beautiful simile contained in the fourth stanza. A simile is a figure of speech containing a comparison to explain or adorn the sentiment. The author is MISS PARDOE. Darkness was deepening o'er the seas, Then wildly rose the gladdening shout Boldly they put the helm about, And gaily of the tale they told, How hearts had sunk and hopes grown cold When not a star had shone from far, Thus, in the night of nature's gloom, Then, from afar, shines Bethlehem's star, And full in sight, its beacon light Comes streaming o'er the grave. LESSON VII. THE ROMANCE READER. This lively and natural description of we fear the greater part of our young females, is extracted from a longer poem, entitled CURIOSITY, written by CHARLES SPRAGUE of Boston; a poet, of whom it may be said, that he "has written nothing which, dying, he would wish to blot," a charm, which we are proud to think is characteristic of American poetry. Look, now, Its curtain round her polished shoulders spread : Of clanking fetters, low, mysterious groans, She shuts the dear, dear book, that made her weep, LESSON VIII. THE FELON. The philanthropist will see in this piece a sentiment worthy of deep consideration. After the description of the destitute criminal, the pupil must endeavor to use the tones and earnestness becoming the unfortunate being who is supposed to state a case, that, we fear, is but too common. The author was LEWIS, sometimes called Monk Lewis, because he wrote "The Monk," and several other popular romances like those alluded to in the preceding Lesson. Oh! mark his wan and hollow cheeks, And mark his teeth in anguish clinched, The anguish of despair. Know, three days since, his penance o'er, And since three days, no food has passed |