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Flåg, n. a kind of ensign or standard; the ensign or colors of a ship, or of an army; a water-plant; a flat stone: v. to droop, become weak; to lose vigor; to cover with flat stones. Gås, n. an elastic aeriform fluid.

Gazing, par. of Gaze, to look intently and earnestly: n. a look of eagerness or wonder.

Globe, n. a round body, a sphere; a ball; the earth. Håll, n. a large room; entrance of a house; a court of justice; a public room or building.

Hills (hilz), n. plu. of Hill, a small elevation of ground. Holes (hỏlez), n. plu. and pres. t. of Hole, an opening;

a rent; a cavity, a hollow place: v. to dig holes. Iron-fi lings (l'urn fl lingz), n. plu. particles of iron rubbed off with a file.

Light er (l' tur), a. more light, less heavy; brighter, gayer; nimbler; more slight.

Ma jes ti cal ly (mã jês’ tẻ kil lê), ad. with gran deur; with dignity.

Ma te ri als (má tě rẻ âlz), n. plu. of Material, the substance of which any thing is made: a. consisting of matter; important.

Midst, n. the middle: a. being in the middle: ad. in the middle.

Net-work (net' wûrk), n. any work resembling a net, a complication of threads.

Prep a ra tions (`prêp å rå' shûnz), n. plu. of Preparation, the act of preparing, a making ready;

that which is made ready or prepared. [ingly. Pret ti ly (prit' tè lè), ad. neatly, elegantly; pleasProb a bly (prob' å ble), ad. likely, in all likelihood. Pro ceeds (pro sèèdz'), n. plu. rents; product of sales; issue: pres. t. of Proceed, to arise; to go on or forward; to advance; to act; to issue. Pros pect (pros' pêkt), n. a view of something distant; object of view; ground or reason of hope or expectation.

Seams (sèèmz), n. plu. and pres. t. of Seam, the uniting, joining, or suture of two edges or pieces of cloth, &c.; two edges joined: v. to join; to mark; to make a seam.

Seats (sèèts), n. plu. and pres. t. of Seat, a bench; a chair; tribunal; mansion; place: v. to place or be placed on a seat; to settle.

Smooth ly (sm88th lẻ), ad. not roughly, gently, evenly; mildly, calmly.

Spec ta tors (spêk ta' tûrz), n. plu. of Spectator, a looker on, a beholder, an observer.

Stage (staje), n. a raised floor; the floor of a theatre or playhouse; a place of rest; a step.

Step ped (stept), pre. of Step, to move the feet, to walk: n. removal of the foot, a footstep; gait, pace; a degree; advance.

Stripes, n. plu. and pres. t. of Stripe, a line, streak, or variation of color; a blow, a lash: v. to variegate or form with lines or stripes of different

colors. [sulphur. Sul phu ric (sûl fà' rik), a. relating or pertaining to Súr round' éd, pre. of Surround, to encompass, to environ; to enclose.

Swel led (sweld), pre. of Swell, to grow or become larger; to extend: n. extension of bulk, increase. Valvė (vålv), n. a lid or cover; a folding door; any thing that opens over the mouth of a tube or vessel.

Wa ved (wåvd), pre. of Wave, to play loosely; to float; to undulate; to be moved: n. an undulating or moving swell or inequality of water; a billow.

READING LESSON XXXVIII.

The Balloon Ascension.

1. I had the pleasure, yesterday, (said Edward,

in a letter to William,) of seeing a sight which was perfectly new to me; and, as a description of it may very probably be so to you, I shall make it the subject of a letter.

2. It had been announced for some time in our city that a person was to ascend in a balloon from one of the public gardens, some day this week, and preparations were made by the owner for accommodating a number of spectators.

3. But before I proceed, I shall tell you something about the nature of balloons, as my father was so good as to explain it to me before I went to see it.

4. You know that every part above us is filled with air, which is a transparent fluid like water, only a great deal lighter. And as in water every thing lighter than itself will rise up through it, so whatever is lighter than air will rise in it, till it comes to air still lighter than itself. Thus we see smoke ascend through the air till it all disappears. 5. Now, if smoke were cased in a ball of very fine paper, or silk, it would ascend in the air, till the smoke was grown cold, when it would become heavier and fall again; and this, my father says, was the first thought or opinion of the man who invented balloons, who formed a ball of silk, into which fresh smoke was continually carried by a fire of wet straw burning beneath.

6. But the chemists having found a kind of air much lighter than common air, it was thought better to fill the ball, or balloon, with this, as it would not want a fresh supply, or be in danger of taking fire.

7. So the way is, to make a ball or globe of

some fine materials, so large, that when filled with this very light air, the weight of the whole shall be a great deal less than that of an equal bulk of common air; then, it will rise, and carry up with it any additional weight that will still leave it lighter than common air; just as a large cork would rise through water, though a small piece of lead were hung to it; and now you know as much of the matter as I do.

8. My father and I took seats upon a kind of stage, where we saw a very large globe or balloon with gay stripes of different colors, held by several men with cords, while it was filling with air or gas, by means of pipes coming from a number of tubs, in which we were told there were ironfilings and oil of vitrol, (sulphuric acid;) for, this light air proceeds from iron while dissolving in a strong acid.

9. The balloon gradually swelled, as it was filled with this light air or gas, and at last became almost round, and it obliged the men to pull hard by the cords to keep it down.

10. There was hung to it something like a boat, which they called a car, painted prettily, and surrounded with net-work. When all was ready, a man came, and, after taking off his hat to the company, who gave him a cheer, boldly stepped to the car, and sat down.

11. At last, the cords which held the balloon, were cut, and it rose slowly from the midst of the crowd of spectators, all gazing at the wonderful sight. I shall never forget what I felt. Think for a moment of a globe as large as your great hall ascending majestically into the air, with a

man hanging beneath, who waved a kind of flag which he held in his hand, while he was gradually growing less to our view.

[graphic]

A MAN ASCENDING WITH A BALLOON, AND A CROWD OF

SPECTATORS WITNESSING THE ASCENSION.

12. The balloon first rose nearly straight, and then was carried gently by the wind to one side, while it still continued ascending higher and highThe day was fine; but, there were some clouds in the sky, into which the balloon at length entered, and for a time was lost to our sight. We

er.

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