general name for that class of compositions, as Fables, Apologues, Parables, and Myths, in which there is a double meaning, one literal and the other figurative; the literal being designed merely to give a more clear and impressive view of that which is figurative.

SHAK' SPEARE, WILLIAM, was born in Stratford on the Avon, England,

April, 1564; and died 1616. He is accounted, by all, the greatest dramatic writer of any age. He has been styled the Poet of Nature, the poet who holds up to his readers the mirror of manners and of life. Ho' MER, the great Grecian poet, flourished about nine hundred years be fore the Christian era. He is supposed to have been a strolling bard, poor and blind. His chief works are the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey." The Iliad is a poem descriptive of the siege of Troy, in Asia Minor; and the Odyssey describes the wanderings of Ulysses on his return from Troy to his own kingdom in the Island of Ithaca.

1.

THE THREE SISTERS.

AN ALLEGORY,1

ADAM Virtue and Miss Genius,

MADAM

With their sister, Reputation,

Traveled once through foreign countries,
On a tour of observation.

2. Ere they started, Genius hinted

That, by some unlucky blunder,

While they journeyed through the kingdoms,
They might chance to get asunder ;

3. “And,” she said, "it seems but prudent,
Should we break our pleasant tether,
Some device should be suggested
That may bring us three together.

4. "As for me, if, from my sisters,

I should chance to prove a roamer,
Seek me at the tomb of Shakspeare,2
Or before the shrine of Homer." 3

5. Virtue said, "If I am missing,
And
you deem me worth the trouble,
Seek me in the courts of monarchs,

Or the dwellings of the noble.

6. "If, among the high and mighty,
You shall fail to find me present,
You may meet with better fortune
In the cottage of the peasant."

7. "Ah!" said Reputation, sighing,
"It is easy of discerning,
Each of you may freely wander
With a prospect of returning!

8. "But, I pray you, guard me closely ;
For, despite your best endeavor,
you miss me for a moment,

If

1 MIL' TON, JOHN, one of the great poets of England, was born in London, Dec. 9, 1608, and died Nov. 8, 1675. His life was pure and spiritual. His sympathies and best efforts were freely given to all the noblest interests of humanity. He hated every form of oppression, was the eloquent advocate of the freedom of the press, and the bold champion of human rights. When fifty-six years of age, he became totally blind. He now sat down in poverty, affliction, and obscurity, to work out the immortality which had been the object of his earliest aspirations. His latter years were employed in the compositions of "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained."

'How' ARD, JOHN, a celebrated English philanthropist, was born 1726, and died 1790, from a malignant fever caught in visiting a sufferer. He did much to reform the prisons and hospitals of Europe.

'HARVEY, WILLIAM, a celebrated physician, was born in England, 1578,

and died 1657. He was the discoverer of the circulation of the blood, of which he published an account in 1628.

'MARL' BOROUGH, JOHN CHURCHILL, afterwards the Duke of Marlbor

ough, was the greatest general England ever produced before the Duke of Wellington, and one of the greatest of modern Europe. He was born at Ashton, July 5, 1650, and died Aug. 6, 1722.

'WEL' Ling Ton, Arthur WELLESLEY, Duke of Wellington, was born in Ireland, May 1, 1769, and died 1852. He is regarded as the greatest English general. He won the battle of Waterloo against Napoleon in 1815.

1.

DESERVE IT!

ANON.

E'ER droop your head upon your hand,

NEE

And wail the bitter times;

The self-same bell

That tolls a knell

Can ring out merry chimes.
And we have still the elements
That made up fame of old;
The wealth to prize
Within us lies,

And not in senseless gold.
Yes; there exists a certain plan,
If you will but observe it,
That opes success to any man;
The secret is deserve it!

2. What use to stand by Fortune's hill
And idly sigh and mope?

Its sides are rough,

And steep enough,

'Tis true; but if you hope

To battle 'gainst impediments
That rudely stop your way,
Go boldly to't;

Strike at the root:

You'll surely gain the day.
Prate not about new-fangled plans,
Mine's best, if you'll observe it:
I say success is any man's

If he will but deserve it!

3. Homer and Milton1 reign supreme With Shakspeare — worthy band; And Howard's2 name,

And Harvey's' claim,

Are sung throughout the land;
And Marlborough and Wellington
Illustrious stand in fight;
And Newton gleams

Think not your efforts mocked:
If Fortune's smile so faintly beam
That you can scarce preserve it,
Remember, there is One above,
Who knows that you deserve it!

66

LESSON XXV.

THE BRIDAL WINE-CUP.

"PLEDGE with wine

LEDGE with wine-pledge with wine!" cried the young and thoughtless Harvey.

wine!" ran through the bridal party.

"Pledge with

The beautiful bride grew pale. She pressed her hands together, and the leaves of her bridal wreath trembled on her brow; her breath came quicker, and her heart beat wilder.

"Yes, Marion, lay aside your scruples for this once," said the judge, in a low tone, "the company expect it. Do not so seriously infringe upon the rules of etiquette:* in your own home do as you please; but in mine, for this once, please me."

2. Every eye was turned toward the bridal pair. Marion's principles were well known. Harvey had been a convivialist; but of late his friends noticed the change in his manners, and the difference in his habits.

Pouring a brimming cup, they held it with tempting smiles toward Marion. She was very pale, though now more composed. Smiling, she accepted the crystal tempter, and raised it to her lips. But scarcely had she done so,

*Pronounced Et i ket'.