If the heavens thundered, and the earth rocked, yet, when the storm had passed, how pure was the climate that it cleared! how bright in the brow of the firmament was the planet which it revealed to us! In the production of Washington, it does really appear as if nature was endeavoring to improve upon herself, and that all the virtues of the ancient world were but so many studies preparatory to the patriot of the new.

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Individual instances, no doubt there were, splendid exemplifications of some single quality. Cæsar was merciful, Scipio was continent, Hannibal was patient; but it was reserved for Washington to blend them all in one, and, like the lovely masterpiece of the Grecian artist, to exhibit, in one glow of associated beauty, the pride of every model, and the perfection of every master.

As a general, he marshaled the peasant into a veteran, and supplied by discipline the absence of experience. As a statesman, he enlarged the policy of the cabinet into the most comprehensive system of general advantage; and such was the wisdom of his views, and the philosophy of his counsels, that to the soldier and the statesman, he almost added the character of the sage.

A conqueror, he was untainted with the crime of blood; a revolutionist, he was free from any stain of treason; for aggression commenced the contest, and his country called him to the command. Liberty unsheathed his sword, necessity stained, victory returned it. If he had paused here, history might doubt what station to assign him; whether at the head of her citizens or her soldiers-her heroes or her patriots. But the last glorious act crowned his career, and banishes hesitation. Who, like Washington, after having freed a country, resigned her crown, and retired to a cottage rather than reign in a capitol?

Immortal man! He took from battle its crime, and from conquest its chains. He left to the victorious the glory of his self-denial, and turned upon the vanquished only the retribu

tion of his mercy. Happy, proud American! The lightnings of heaven yielded to your philosophy! The temptations of earth could not seduce your patriotism!

-Charles Phillips

Words: exemplifications-examples; continent-temperate; sagephilosopher; retribution-punishment; seduce destroy.

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ANDRÉ AND HALE

NDRÉ'S story is the one overmastering romance of the Revolution. His youth, grace, and accomplishments won the affections of his guard and the sympathy of the whole army. In all the glittering splendor of the full uniform and ornaments of his rank, in the presence of the whole American army, without the quiver of a muscle or sign of fear, the officers about him weeping, the bands playing the dead march, he walked to execution. To those around he cried: "I call upon you to witness that I die like a brave man," and swung into eternity.

America had a parallel case in Captain Nathan Hale. When no one else would go upon a most important and perilous mission, he volunteered, and was captured by the British. He was ordered to execution the next morning. When asked what he had to say, he replied: "I regret I have but one life to lose for my country."

The dying declarations of André and Hale express the animating spirit of their several armies, and teach why, with all her power, England could not conquer America. "I call upon you to witness that I die like a brave man," said André; and he spoke from British and Hessian surroundings, seeking only glory and pay. "I regret I have but one life to lose for my country," said Hale; and with him and his comrades self was forgotten in that passionate patriotism which pledges fortune. honor, and life to the sacred cause.

-Chauncey M. Depew

THE REVOLUTIONARY RISING

(This stirring poem by Thomas Buchanan Read is founded on fact. The "warrior priest" was John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, a native of Pennsylvania. "He was educated at the University of Halle, from which he ran away, and passed a year as private in the dragoons. Returning to America, 1766, he studied for the Lutheran ministry; was called to Virginia, 1771. Soon after the beginning of the Revolutionary War, he told his congregation that there was a time to preach and a time to fight; and at the close of the services he tore off his gown, showing himself in full uniform, and read from the pulpit his commission as Colonel. He had the drummers strike up for volunteers, and many of his congregation joined his regiment, the 8th Virginia, afterwards noted for its courage and good discipline. He retired at the close of the war with the rank of major-general." -International Cyclopedia)

UT of the North the wild news came,

OUT

Far flashing on its wings of flame,

Swift as the boreal light which flies

At midnight through the startled skies.
And there was tumult in the air,

The fife's shrill note, the drum's loud beat,
And through the wide land everywhere
The answering tread of hurrying feet;
While the first oath of Freedom's gun
Came on the blast from Lexington;
And Concord roused, no longer tame,
Forgot her old baptismal name,
Made bare her patriot arm of power,
And swelled the discord of the hour.

Within its shade of elm and oak

The church of Berkeley Manor stood;
There Sunday found the rural folk,

And some esteemed of gentle blood.

In vain their feet with loitering tread

Passed 'mid the graves where rank is naught;
All could not read the lesson taught

In that republic of the dead.

How sweet the hour of Sabbath talk,

The vale with peace and sunshine full Where all the happy people walk,

Decked in their homespun flax and wool!

Where youth's gay hats with blossoms bloom; And every maid, with simple art,

Wears on her breast, like her own heart,

A bud whose depths are all perfume; While every garment's gentle stir

Is breathing rose and lavender.

The pastor came; his snowy locks
Hallowed his brow of thought and care;
And calmly, as shepherds lead their flocks,
He led into the house of prayer.

Then soon he rose; the prayer was strong;
The psalm was warrior David's song;
The text, a few short words of might,-
"The Lord of hosts shall arm the right!"

He spoke of wrongs too long endured,
Of sacred rights to be secured;
Then from his patriot tongue of flame
The startling words for Freedom came.
The stirring sentences he spake
Compelled the heart to glow or quake,
And, rising on his theme's broad wing,
And grasping in his nervous hand
An imaginary battle brand,

In face of death he dared to fling
Defiance to a tyrant king.

Even as he spoke, his frame, renewed
In eloquence of attitude,

Rose, as it seemed, a shoulder higher;

Then swept his kindling glance of fire
From startled pew to breathless choir;
When suddenly his mantle wide
His hands impatient flung aside,
And, lo! he met their wondering eyes
Complete in all a warrior's guise.

A moment there was awful pause,When Berkeley cried, "Cease, traitor! cease! God's temple is the house of peace!"

The other shouted, "Nay, not so,

When God is with our righteous cause;
His holiest places then are ours,
His temples are our forts and towers,
That frown upon the tyrant foe;
In this, the dawn of Freedom's day,
There is a time to fight and pray!"

And now before the open door

The warrior priest had ordered so-
The enlisting trumpet's sudden roar
Rang through the chapel, o'er and o'er
Its long reverberating blow,

So loud and clear it seemed the ear
Of dusty death must wake and hear.

And there the startling drum and fife
Fired the living with fiercer life;
While overhead, with wild increase,
Forgetting its ancient toll of peace,

The great bell swung as ne'er before:
It seemed as it would never cease;
And every word its ardor flung
From off its jubilant iron tongue
Was, "WAR! WAR! WAR!"