LAKE SUPERIOR. 3. Pale Silence, 'mid thy hollow caves, 4. Nor can the light canoes, that glide Across thy breast like things of air, Chase from thy lone and level tide, The spell of stillness deepening there. 5. Yet round this waste of wood and wave, 6. The thunder-riven oak, that flings 7. The gnarled and braided boughs, that show 8. The very echoes round this shore Have caught a strange and gibbering tone, 9. Wave of the wilderness, adieu! Adieu, ye rocks, ye wilds, ye woods! And fill these awful solitudes! 10. Thou hast no tale to tell of man,- 69 LESSON XXIV. The Discontented Mole; a Fable. 1. A YOUNG mole having crept out into the sun one day, met with its mother, and began to complain of its lot. "1 have been thinking," said he, "that we lead a very stupid life, burrowing under the ground, and dwelling in perpetual darkness. For my part, I think it would be much better to live aboveboard, and caper about in the sunlight like the squirrels." 2. "It may seem so to you," said the wise old mole, "but beware of forming hasty opinions. It is an old remark, that it takes all sorts of people to make a world. Some creatures live upon the trees; but nature has provided them with claws, which make it easy and safe for them to climb. Some dwell in the water, but they are supplied with fins, which render it easy for them to move about, and with a contrivance by means of which they breathe where other creatures would drown. 3. "Some creatures glide through the air; but they are endowed with wings, without which, it would be vain to attempt to fly. The truth is, that every individual is made to fill some place in the scale of being; and he best seeks his own happiness in following the path which his Creator has marked out for him. 4. "We may wisely seek to better our condition, by making that path as pleasant as possible, but not attempt to pursue one which we are unfitted to follow. You will best consult your interest, by endeavoring to enjoy all that properly belongs to a mole, instead of striving to swim like a fish, climb like a squirrel, or fly like a bird. Contentment is the great blessing of life. You may enjoy this in the quiet security of your sheltered abode; the proudest tenant of the earth, air, or sea, can do no more." 5. The young mole replied; "This may seem very wise to you, but it sounds like nonsense to me. I am determined to burrow in the earth no more, but dash out in style, like other gay people." So saying, he crept upon a little mound for the purpose of looking about, and seeing what course of pleasure he should adopt. While in this situation, he was snapped up by a hawk, who carried him to a tall tree, and devoured him without ceremony. 71 APHORISMS FROM SHAKSPEARE. 6. This fable may teach us the folly of that species of discontent, which would lead us to grasp at pleasures beyond our reach, or to indulge envy toward those who are in the possession of more wealth than we. We should endeavor to fulfil the duties of that situation in which we are placed, and not grumble, that some other lot is not assigned to us. We may lawfully seek to improve our fortunes, but this should be done rather by excelling in that profession which we have chosen, than by endeavoring to shine in one for which we are unfitted. LESSON XXV. Aphorisms from Shakspeare. 1. Truth hath a quiet breast. 2. Take all the swift advantage of the hours. 4. They sell the pasture now to buy the horse. 5. He that is giddy, thinks the world turns round. 6. Suspicion shall be all stuck full of eyes. 7. In delay, there lies no plenty. 8. It is an heretic that makes the fire, Not he which burns in 't. 9. An honest man is able to speak for himself when a knave is not. 10. Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. 13. The bird that hath been limed in a bush, With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush. 14. When a fox hath once got in his nose, He'll soon take means to make the body follow. 15. 'T is but a base, ignoble mind, That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. 19. If money go before, all ways do lie open. 22. Advantage is a better soldier than rashness. And many strokes, though with a little axe, Hew down and fell the hardest-timbered oak. 26. All that glisters is not gold; Gilded tombs do worms infold. 27. Wake not a sleeping wolf. Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. 30. We call a nettle but a nettle; and The faults of fools but folly. 31. Things in motion sooner catch the eye, Than what not stirs. 32. Coronets are stars, 33. They that have the voice of lions, and the act of hares, are they not monsters? 34. A friend should bear his friend's infirmities. 35. Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered. 36. Inconstancy falls off e'er it begins. 37. Nothing can come of nothing. 38. He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer. 39. Men in rage strike those that wish them well. 40. One may smile, and smile, and be a villain. 41. He jests at scars that never felt a wound. 42. Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. 43. Vaulting ambition o'erleaps its sell (i. e. saddle). 44. Delight no less in truth, than life. 45. Bondage is hoarse and may not speak aloud. 46. False face must hide what the false heart doth know. 47. In a false quarrel there is no true valor. 48. 'T is safer to be that which we destroy, Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy. 49.. Merry larks are ploughmen's clocks. 50. The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together. 51. Though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold. THE DEPARTURE OF THE SEASONS. 52. All difficulties are but easy, when they are known. 53. Fashion wears out more apparel than the man. 54. We are born to do benefits. 55. Report is fabulous and false. 56. Truth loves open dealing. 57. There is sense in truth, and truth in virtue. LESSON XXVI. The Departure of the Seasons. 1. THE gay Spring its birds With its young charms has gone, gone, with its leaves,- 2. And Summer, with its dews and showers has gone, Its rainbows glowing on the distant cloud 73 |