a C learning of Elizabeth Carter, the elevated piety of Hannah More, the persuasive sense of Mrs. Barbauld, the elegant memoirs of her accomplished niece, the bewitching fiction of Madame D'Arblay," the vivid, picturesque and terrific imagery of Mrs. Radcliffe, the glowing poetry of Mrs. Hemans,' the matchless wit, the inexhaustible conversations, the fine character painting, the practical instructions of Miss Edgeworth ? LESSON XCVII. FEMALE PIETY. 1. THE gem of all others which enriches the coronet of a lady's character is unaffected piety. Nature may lavish much on her person; the enchantment of the countenance, the grace of her mein, or the strength of her intellect; yet her loveliness is uncrowned, till piety throws around the whole the sweetness and power of her charms. She then becomes unearthly in desires and associations. 2. The spell which bound her affections to the things below is broken, and she mounts on the silent wings of her fancy and hope to the habitation of God, where it is her delight to hold communion with the spirits that have been ransomed from the thraldom of earth, and wreathed with a garland of glory. 3. Her beauty may throw a magical charm over many; princes and conquerors may bow with admiration at the shrine of her love; the sons of science and poetry may embalm her memory in history and song; yet her piety must be her ornament, her pearl. Her name must be written in the "Book of Life," that when the mountains fade away, and every memento of earthly greatness is lost in the general wreck of nature, it may remain and swell the list of that mighty throng, a Elizabeth Car'ter; an English poetess of great learning. b Han'nah More; an English poetess and moralist. c Mrs. Bar'bauld; (A Letitia Aiken) an English poetess and prose writer. d Madame D'Arblay' (inǎ'-dăme' där-bla') Frances Burney; an elegant English prose writer. e Mrs. Rad'cliffe (Ann Ward); an elegant English prose writer. f Mrs. Hemans (Felicia D. Browne); a distinguished English poetess. g Miss Maria Edge worth; a distinguished prose writer, born at Edgeworthtown, Ireland. which have been clothed with the mantle of righteousness, and their voices attuned to the melody of heaven. 4. With such a treasure, every lofty gratification on earth may be purchased; friendships will be doubly sweet, pain and sorrow shall lose their sting, and the character will possess a price "far above riches;" life will be but a pleasant visit to earth, and death the entrance upon a joyful and perpetual home. And when the notes of the last trumpet shall be heard, and sleeping millions awake to judgment, its possessor shall be esented “faultless before the throne of God, with exceeding joy, and a crown of glory that shall never fade away." 5. Such is piety. Like a tender flower, planted in the fertile soil of woman's heart, it grows, expanding its foliage and imparting its fragrance to all around, till transplanted, it is set to bloom in perpetual vigor and unfading beauty in the Paradise of God. Follow this star; it will light you through every labyrinth in the wilderness of life, gild the gloom that will gather around you in a dying hour, and bring you safely over the tempestuous Jordan of death, into the haven of promised and settled rest. LESSON XCVIII. THE ROMAN SOLDIER-DESTRUCTION OF HERCULANEUM. 1. ATHERSTONE. There was a man, A Roman soldier, for some daring deed That trespassed on the laws, in dungeon low But generous, and brave, and kind. In face and gesture. From infancy the child 2. 3. Every sport The father shared and heightened. But at length The captive's lot He felt in all its bitterness;- the walls Of his deep dungeon answered many a sigh [touched And heart-heaved groan. His tale was known, and His father's lingering hours, and brought a balm He was a poisoned arrow in the breast With earliest morn, Of that first day of darkness and amaze, He came. Never to open more! The day, the night, Grew hot at length, and thick; but in his straw His useless terrors. a Darkness produced by volcanic smoke, which preceded the eruption of Mount Vesu vius, when Herculaneum was destroyed, A. D. 79. 4. 1. But he could not sleep. His body burned with feverish heat; his chains Like the sad moanings of November's wind, In the blank midnight. Deepest horror chilled Shot through his veins. Now on his couch he shrunk, As though he heard the battle trumpet sound, A troubled, dreamy sleep. But terrible his agony. He slept at last, Well,— had he slept PART II. Soon the storm 2. Burst forth; the lightnings glanced; the air Shook with the thunders. They awoke; they sprung A moment as in sunshine,- and was dark. Dying away upon the dazzled eye In darkening, quivering tints, as stunning sound Loudly the father called upon his child. No voice replied. Trembling and anxiously He searched their couch of straw; with headlong haste 3. 4. 5. Trod round his stinted limits, and, low bent, Of his accursed fetters, till the blood Seemed bursting from his ears, and from his eyes And, like a desert lion in the snare Raging to break his toils; to and fro bounds. The father saw; And all his fury fled: a dead calm fell That instant on him: speechless, fixed he stood, Silent and pale The father stands: no tear is in his eye: |