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LESSON SEVENTY-NINTH.

The Evergreens.

When summer's sunny hues adorn
Sky, forest, hill, and meadow,
The foliage of the evergreens,
In contrast, seems a shadow.

But when the tints of autumn have
Their sober reign asserted,

The landscape that cold shadow shows,
Into a light converted.

Thus thoughts that frown upon our mirth,

Will smile upon our sorrow,

And many dark fears of to-day,
May be bright hopes to-morrow.

LESSON EIGHTIETH.

Robert Bruce.

In 1306, Bruce, having taken shelter in the isle of Arran, sent a person in his confidence into Carrick, to learn how his vassals in that territory stood affected to the cause of their ancient lord. He enjoined the messenger, if he saw that the dispositions of the people were favorable, to make a signal, at a day appointed, by lighting a fire on an eminence above the castle of Turnberry. The messenger found the English in possession of Carrick, Percy, with a numerous garrison, at Turnberry, the country dispirited and in thraldom; none to espouse the party of Bruce, and many whose inclinations were hostile.

From the first dawn of the day appointed for the

signal, Bruce stood with his eyes fixed on the coast of Carrick; noon had already past, when he perceived a fire on the eminence above Turnberry; he flew to the boat and hastened over; night surprised him and his associates, while they were yet on the sea. Conducting themselves by the fire, they reached the shore. The messenger met them, and reported, that there was no hope of aid. "Traitor!" cried Bruce, why did you make the signal?" "I made no signal," cried he; "but observing a fire on the eminence, I feared that it might deceive you, and I hastened hither to warn you from the coast.'

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Bruce hesitated amidst the dangers that encompassed him, what to avoid, or what to encounter. At length, obeying the dictates of valor and despair, he resolved to persevere in his enterprise. He attacked the English, carelessly cantoned in the neighborhood. of Turnberry, put them to the sword, and pillaged their quarters. Percy from the castle heard the uproar; yet durst not issue forth against an unknown enemy. Bruce with his followers, not exceeding three hundred in number, remained for some days near Turnberry; but succors having arrived from the neighboring garrisons, he was obliged to seek shelter in the mountainous parts of Carrick.

Some years after this, however, Bruce stormed the castle, though at the expense of the destruction of the building. It was a favorite policy with Bruce, to destroy the castles which he took. He saw that the English, by means of forts judiciously placed, had maintained themselves in Scotland, with little aid from their sovereign. He wished to prevent such a misfortune from occurring for the future; and, perhaps, he apprehended, that when the country came to be settled in peace, the possession of fortified castles might render his own barons no less formidable to the crown than the English garrisons had been to the nation.

LESSON EIGHTY-FIRST.

The Tempest Stilled.

Fear was within the tossing bark,
When stormy winds grew loud;
And waves came rolling high and dark,
And the tall mast was bowed.

And men stood breathless in their dread,
And baffled in their skill;

But One was there, who rose and said
To the wild sea, "Be still!"

And the wind ceased-it ceased!-that word
Passed through the gloomy sky;

The troubled billows knew their Lord,
And sank beneath his eye.

And slumber settled on the deep,
And silence on the blast,

As when the righteous fall asleep,
When death's fierce throes are past.

Thou that didst rule the angry hour,
And tame the tempest's mood,
Oh! send thy spirit forth in power,
O'er our dark souls to brood!

Thou that didst bow the billow's pride,
Thy mandates to fulfil,

Speak, speak to passion's raging tide,
Speak, and say, "Peace, be still."

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LESSON EIGHTY-SECOND.

Severity of Discipline.

Frederick the Great was one of the most rigid disciplinarians that ever commanded an army; and, although he was not deficient in humanity, yet, in order to preserve strict subordination in his he somearmy, times acted with a degree of severity that would appear to others cruel. When he was once persuaded of what he conceived to be the necessity of any measure, and he had formed his plan, he stifled in his soul every emotion of tenderness which might interfere in its execution. Of this severity, the following are two striking instances.

A common soldier, of the battalion of guards, was so familiar with the king, that he had the liberty of entering his chamber without being announced. He often used this liberty in asking money of Frederick, which he generally spent in the alehouse. Whenever the king refused what he asked for, saying he had no money, the soldier would reply, "Fritz, look into thy leather purse, and you will there find some few ducats remaining."

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This soldier being one day on guard, had a dispute with his officer, and presented his bayonet, as if he intended to stab him. The officer caused him to be arrested, and the matter was reported to the king, who ordered him to be tried for the offence. council of war condemned him to die, and the sentence being brought to the king, he signed it without saying a word. Every one supposed he would receive the king's mercy; and the criminal was himself so much convinced of it, that he made no preparations for death, and, even to the very moment of his execution, he supposed that they meant only to punish him by fear. However, he was deceived, and executed.

In the first war of Silesia, the king being desirous of making, in the night time, some alterations in his

camp, ordered that, under pain of death, neither fire nor candle should be burning in the tents after a certain hour. He went round the camp himself, to see that his orders were obeyed; and, as he passed by Capt. Zietern's camp, he perceived a light. He entered, and found the captain sealing a letter, which he had just finished writing to his wife, whom he tenderly loved. "What are you doing there?" said the king; "do you not know the orders?" Zietern threw himself at his feet, and begged mercy; but he neither could, nor attempted to deny his fault. "Sit down," said the king to him, "and add a few words I shall dictate." The officer obeyed, and the king dictated, "To-morrow I shall perish on a scaffold." Zietern wrote it, and he was executed the next day.

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Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,
The bridal of the earth and sky,

Sweet dews shall weep thy fall to-night,
For thou must die.

Sweet rose, whose hue, angry and brave,
Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye,

Thy root is ever in its grave,

And thou must die.

Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses,
A box where sweets compacted lie;
My music shows you have your closes,

And all must die.

Only a sweet and virtuous soul,

Like seasoned timber never gives,

But when the whole world turns to coal,

Then chiefly lives.

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