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on the nest without being relieved', at length went forth to seek her recreant matè; but stayed away so long', that the young ones perished for want of the warmth and shelter of the parent bosom.

At a late hour in the evening', word was brought to Dolores that the truant bird had been seen upon the towers of the Generaliffe.* A council of war was forthwith held in the chamber of Tia Antonia. The Generaliffe is a distinct jurisdiction from the Alhambrà, and of course some punctilió, if not jealousy', exists between their custodians. It was determined, thereforé, to send Pepé,‡ the stuttering lad of the gardens', as an ambassador to the administrador',§ requesting that if such fugitive should be found in his dominions', he might be given up as a subject of the Alhambra. Pepe departed', accordingly', on his diplomatic expedition', through the moonlight groves and avenues', but returned in an hour with the afflicting intelligence that no such bird was to be found in the dove-cote of the Generaliffe. The administrador', however', pledged his sovereign word, that if such vagrant should appear theré, even at midnight', he should instantly be arrested and sent back prisoner to his little black-eyed mistress.

Thus stands this melancholy affair', which has occasioned much distress throughout the palace, and has sent the inconsolable Dolores to a sleepless pillow. "Sorrow endureth for a night," says the proverb', "but joy ariseth in the morning." The first object that met my eyes', on leaving my room this morning, was Dolores with the truant pigeon in her hand', and her eyes sparkling with joy. He had appeared at an early hour on the battlements', hovering shyly about from roof' to roof, but at length entered the window, and surrendered himself prisoner. He gained little credit, however, for his return', for the ravenous manner in which he devoured the food set before him', showed that, like the prodigal son', he had been driven home by sheer famine. Dolores upbraided him for his faithless conduct, calling him all manner of vagrant names', though, woman-like', she fondled him at the same time to her bosom', and covered him with kisses. I observed, however', that she had taken care to clip his wings' to prevent all future soarings'; a precaution which I mention for the benefit of all those who have truant wives', or wandering husbands'.

More than one valuable moral might be drawn from the story of Dolores and her pigeon.

*Gen-e-ra-lif-fe.

+ Tee-a. + Pa-pe. § Administrator, or governor.

LESSON LV.

IMPROVEMENT OF TASTE.

I WILL not go so far as to say that the improvement of taste and of virtue is the same; or that they may always be expected to co-exist in an equal degree. More powerful correctives than taste can apply, are necessary for reforming the corrupt propensities which too frequently prevail among mankind. Elegant speculations are sometimes found to float on the surface of the mind', while bad passions possess the interior regions of the heart'. At the same time this cannot but be admitted', that the exercise of taste is', in its native tendency', moral and purifying. From reading the most admired productions of genius', whether in poetry or prosé, almost every one rises with some good impressions left on his mind'; and though these may not always be durable', they are at least to be ranked among the means of disposing the heart to virtue. One thing is certain, and I shall hereafter have occasion to illustrate it more fully', that without possessing the virtuous affections in a strong degree', no man can attain eminence in the sublime parts of eloquence. He must feel what a good' man feels', if he expects greatly to move or interest mankind. They are the ardent sentiments of honor', virtué, magnanimity', and public spirit', that only can kindle that fire of genius', and call up in the mind those high ideas', which attract the admiration of ages; and if this spirit be necessary to produce the most distinguished efforts of eloquence', it must be necessary also to our relishing them with proper taste and feeling.

LESSON LVI.

SPECIMEN OF INDIAN FIGURATIE LANGUAGE.

We are happy in having buried under ground the red axe', that has so often been dyed with the blood of our brethren. Now, in this fort', we inter the axe', and plant the tree of Peace. We plant a tree whose top will reach the sun', and its branches spread abroad', so that it shall be seen afar off. May its growth never be stifled and choked; but may it shade both your country and ours' with its leaves. Let us make fast its roots', and extend them to the uttermost of your colonies. If the French should come to shake this treé, we should know it by the

motion of its roots reaching into our country. May the Great Spirit allow us to rest in tranquillity upon our mats', and never again dig up the axe to cut down the tree of Peace! Let the earth be trod hard over it', where it lies buried. Let a strong stream run under the pit', to wash the evil away out of our sight and remembrance. The fire that had long burned in Albany is extinguished. The bloody bed is washed clean', and the tears are wiped from our eyes. We now renew the covenant chain of friendship. Let it be kept bright and clean as silver', and not suffered to contract any rust. Let not any one pull away his arm from it.

LESSON LVII.

PARABLES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT.-Judges ix. 7-20. 7 JOTHAM went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim',* and lifted up his voice and cried', and said to them', Hearken' to mē, ye men of Shechem',† that God may hearken to you. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them'; 9 and they said to the olive-tree', Reign thou over us.

But

the olive-tree said to them', Should I leave my fatness', with which by me they honor God and man', and go to be 10 promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig11 tree, Come thōu and reign over us'. But the fig-tree said

to them', Should I forsake my sweetness', and my good fruit', 12 and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the 13 trees to the vine', Come thōu, and reign over us'. And the

vine said to them', Should I leave my wine^, which cheereth God and mán, and go to be promoted over the trees^? 14 Then said all the trees to the bramblè, Come thōu, and 15 reign over ús. And the bramble said to the trees', If in

trûth ye anoint me king over you, then comè, and put your trust in my shadow': and if not', let fire come out of the 16 bramble', and devour the cedars of Lebanon. Now therefore', if ye have done truly and sincerely in that ye have made Abimelech king', and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal, and his house', and have done to him according to 17 the deserving of his hands'; (for my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you from the 18 hand of Midian'; and ye have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons', seventy persons',

* Gerīzim; second syllable long.

+ Shek-em.

upon one stoné, and have made Abimelech', the son of his maid-servant', king over the men of Shechem', because he 19 is your brother' ;) if ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal', and with his house this day', then rejoicè 20 ye in Abimelech', and let him rejoice also in yoū: but if nôt, let firè come out from Abimelech', and devour the men of Shechem', and the house of Millò; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem', and from the house of Milló, and devour Abimelech

2 Samuel xii. 1-7.

1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him', There were two men in one city`; the one 2 rich', and the other poor. The rich man had very numer3 ous flocks and herds'; but the poor man had nothing save one little ēwē lamb', which he had bought and nourished`; and it grew up together with him^, and with his children`; it did eat of his own meat', and drank of his own cup', and 4 lay in his bosom', and was to him as a daughter. And there came a traveler to the rich man', and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd', to dress for the way-faring man that had come to him'; but took the poor man's lamb', and dressed it for the man that had come to 5 him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man'; and he said to Nathan', As the Lord liveth', the man 6 that hath done this thing shall surely diè: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold', because he did this thing, and 7 because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thōu` <ārt thē mān.

2 Kings xiv. 9-10.

9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah', saying', The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon', saying', Give thy daughter to my son for a wifè: and there passed by a wild beast that 10 was in Lebanon', and trod down the thistle. Thou hast indeed smitten Edom', and thy heart hath lifted thee up'; glory of this, and tarry at homè; for why shouldst thou meddle to thy hurt', that thou shouldst fall', even thou^, and Judah with theé ?

Ezekiel xix. 1-9.

1 Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel', and say,

2 What is thy mother? A lioness`: she lay down among

3 lions', she nourished her whelps among young lions. And she brought up one of her whelps': it became a young lion', and it learned to catch the prey`; it devoured men. 4 The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit', and they brought him with chains to the land of Egypt. 5 Now when she saw that she had waited', and her hope was lost^, then she took another of her whelps', and made him^ 6 a young lion. And he went up and down among the lions`, he became a young lion', and learned to catch the prey', and 7 devoured men. And he knew their desolate palaces', and he laid waste their cities'; and the land was desolaté, and the 8 fulness of it', by the noise of his roaring. Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces', and 9 spread their net over him`: he was taken in their pit. And they put him in custody in chains', and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds^, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.

LESSON LVIII.

JOB REBUKED BY ELIPHAZ.-Job iv.

1 THEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said`; 2 If we essay to commune with thee', wilt thou be grieved? But who can refraîn from speaking?

3 Behold, thou hast instructed many',

And thou hast strengthened the weak hands`. 4 Thy words have upheld him that was falling',

And thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

5 But now it hath come upon thee', and thou faintest`;

It toucheth thee', and thou art troubled'.

6 Is not this thy fear', thy confidence',

Thy hope', and the uprightness of thy ways'?

7 Remember, I pray thee', who ever perished', being innocent' ?

Or where were the righteous cut off"?

8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity',

And sow wickedness', reap the same'.

By the blast of God they perish',

And by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed'.

10 The roaring of the lion', and the voice of the fierce lion',

And the teeth of the young lions', are broken.

11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey^,

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