took so perilous a task as that of whale-fishing, must have been eccentric enthusiasts; and that an undertaking so hazardous could never have originated with the prudent men of the North, but must have been initiated by the Basques, those daring hunters and fishers, who were so well accustomed to their own capricious sea, where they fished the tunny. Here they first saw the huge whales at play, and pursued them, frenzied by the hope of such enormous prey; onward, and still onward, no matter whither, even to the confines of the pole.

10. Here, doubtless, the poor whale fancied it must be safe from its relentless pursuers. But our Basque madcaps followed it even into those frozen regions. Tightening his red belt around his waist, he stealthily and silently approaches the unconscious, sleeping monster, and fearlessly plunges the harpoon into its very vitals. Poor whale! He falls a victim to the selfishness and rapacity of man! Such achievements afford a striking proof of the wonderful powers of the human mind, in holding dominion, not only over the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field, but also over the MIGHTY MONSTERS OF THE DEEP.

LESSON XLII.

1GAL I LEO, GALILEI, a distinguished astronomer, was born at Pisa, in Italy, July 15, 1564; and died Jan. 8, 1642. In 1592, he was appointed professor of mathematics in the University of Padua. Herc he became a convert to the Copernican system of the universe; and, by means of a leaden tube and two spectacle glasses, he obtained a crude telescope of only threefold magnifying power. Subsequently he made two others, one magnifying eight, and the other thirty times. With these he discovered the mountains and cavities in the Moon, the four satellites of Jupiter, and the rings of Saturn. But prejudice and ignorance were combined against him. He was charged with heresy, imprisoned,

and compelled to recant his opinions; but he stamped his foot, and exclaimed, “The earth moves, for all that!"

2 KEPLER, JOHN, a celebrated mathematician and astronomer, was born at Weil, in Wirtemberg, Dec. 21, 1571; and died Nov. 5, 1631. During his life he published thirty-three separate works, among which his "New Astronomy,” and the “Harmonies of the World," are the most remarkable. The latter work contains his celebrated law, that the squares of the periodic times of the planets are as the cubes of their distances; but, from a blunder in his calculations, he rejected it. Having discovered his error, he recognized with transport the absolute truth of a principle, which, for seventeen years, had been the object of his incessant pursuit. He was almost frantic with joy, and exclaimed, — "The die is cast! The book is written to be read, either now or by pos terity, I care not which! It may well wait a century for a reader, as God has waited six thousand years for an observer!"

THE GAME OF LIFE.

J. G. SAXE.

1. HERE'S a game much in fashion, I think it's

THERE'S
called Eucher,

(Though I never have played it for pleasure or lucre,)
In which, when the cards are in certain conditions,
The players appear to have changed their positions,
And one of them cries, in a confident tone,-
"I think I may venture to go it alone!”

2. While watching the game, 'tis a whim of the bard's A moral to draw from the skirmish of cards, And to fancy he sees in the trivial strife

Some excellent hints for the battle of Life;

Where, whether the prize be a ribbon or throne,
The winner is he who 66
can go it alone!"

3. When great Galileo1 proclaimed that the world In a regular orbit was ceaselessly whirled,

And got not a convert for all of his pains,
But only derision, and prison, and chains,

"It moves, for all that!" was his answering tone;
For he knew, like the Earth, he could "go it alone!"

4. When Kepler,2 with intellect piercing afar,

Discovered the laws of each planet and star,

And doctors, who ought to have lauded his name,
Derided his learning, and blackened his fame,

"I can wait," he replied, "till the truth you shall
own;"

For he felt in his heart he could "go it alone!"

5. Alas for the player who idly depends,

In the struggle of life, upon kindred and friends!
Whatever the value of blessings like these,
They can never atone for inglorious ease;
Nor comfort the coward, who finds, with a groan,
That his crutches have left him to "go it alone!"

6. There's something, no doubt, in the hand you may hold; Health, family, culture, wit, beauty, and gold, The fortunate owner may fairly regard

As, each in its way, a most excellent card;

Yet the game may be lost with all these for your own, Unless you've the courage to "go it alone!"

7. In battle or business, whatever the game,
In law or in love, it is ever the same;

In the struggle for power, or the scramble for pelf,
Let this be your motto, "Rely on yourself!"

For, whether the prize be

The victor is he who can

66

a ribbon or throne,

go it alone!"

LESSON XLIII.

KEEP IN STEP.

ANON.

Those who would walk together, must keep in step. OLD PROVERB.

1.

Y, the world keeps moving forward,

Like an army marching by:

Hear you not its heavy footfall

That resoundeth to the sky'?
Some bold spirits bear the banner,
Souls of sweetness chant the song,
Lips of energy and fervor

Make the timid-hearted strong!
Like brave soldiers, we march forward:
If you linger or turn back,

You must look to get a jostling

While you stand upon our track.
KEEP IN STEP!

2. My good neighbor, Master Standstill,
Gazes on it as it goes,

Not quite sure but he is dreaming
In his afternoon's repose.
"Nothing good," he says, "can issue
From this endless moving on;'
Ancient laws and institutions

6

3. Be assured, good Master Standstill,
All-wise Providence designed
Aspiration and progression

For the yearning human mind.
Generations left their blessings
In the relics of their skill;
Generations yet are longing
For a greater glory still.

And the shades of our forefathers
Are not jealous of our deed:
We but follow where they beckon,
We but go where they do lead!
KEEP IN STEP!

4. One detachment of our army
May encamp upon the hill,
While another in the valley

May enjoy "its own sweet will: "
This may answer to one watchword,
That may echo to another;

But in unity and concord,

They discern that each is brother!
Breast to breast they're marching onward
In a good and peaceful way :
You'll be jostled if you hinder,
So don't offer let or stay:
KEEP IN STEP!

LESSON XLIV.

'SHAK'SPEARE, WILLIAM. See note, p. 106.

Ark' wright, SIR RICHARD, was born in Preston in 1732. When thirtyfive years of age, he devoted his attention to the subject of inventions for spinning cotton. Mills for spinning cotton by his machinery