LESSON XXII.

EARLY RISING.

1. WHATEVER may be the quantity of sleep required, early rising is essential to health, and promotes longevity.1 Almost all men who have distinguished themselves in science, literature, and the arts, have been early risers. The industrious, the active-minded, the enthusiasts2 in pursuit of knowledge or gain, are up betimes at their respective occupations, while the sluggard wastes the most beautiful period of his life in pernicious slumber.

2. Homer, Virgil, and Horace, are all represented as early risers: the same was the case with Paley, Priestley, and Buffon; the last of whom ordered his servant to awaken him every morning, and compel him to get up by force if he evinced any reluctance; for which service he was rewarded with a crown each day, which recompense he forfeited if he did not oblige his master to get out of bed before the clock struck six.

3. Bishops Jewel and Burnet rose every morning at four o'clock. Sir Thomas More did the same thing. Napoleon was an early riser; so were Frederick the Great, Charles the Twelfth, and Washington. Sir Walter Scott, during the greater part of his life, rose by five o'clock; and his literary work was accomplished chiefly before breakfast. Franklin and nearly all the great men of the American Revolution were early risers; so were Daniel Webster and John Quincy Adams. That early rising tends to prolong life appears to be clearly proved. One of the most eminent judges of England-Lord Mansfield-was at the pains of collecting some curious evidence on this subject. When he presided in his judicial capacity over the court, he questioned every old person who appeared at the bar respecting his habits; and all agreed on one point-that of being early risers.-Anonymous. "Falsely luxurious, 3 will not man awake,

4.

And, springing from the bed of sloth, enjoy
The cool, the fragrant, and the silent hour,

5

6.

7.

To meditation due and sacred song?-
Wildered and tossing through distempered dreams,
Who would in such a gloomy state remain
Longer than nature craves, when every Muse
And every blooming pleasure wait without,
To bless the wildly-devious" morning walk?"
"Rise with the lark and with the lark to bed.
Give to repose the solemn hour she claims;
And from the forehead of the morning steal
The sweet occasion.

"O! there is a charm
That morning has, that gives the brow of age
A smack of youth, and makes the lip of youth
Breathe perfumes exquisite. Expect it not,
Ye who till noon upon a down-bed lie,
Indulging feverish sleep; or, wakeful, dream
Of happiness no mortal heart has felt,
But in the regions of romance'.

"Ye fair,

Like you it must be wooed, or never won;
And, being lost, it is in vain ye ask
For milk of roses and Olympian dew.
Cosmetic art no tincture can afford
The faded features to restore: no chain,
Be it of gold, and strong as adamant,
Can fetter beauty to the fair one's will."

THOMSON.

HURDIS.

14 WIL'-DER-ED, puzzled; losing one's way. 5 DE'-VI-OUS, rambling; roving.

1 LON-GEV'-I-TY, long life. EN-THU'-SIASTS, persons of ardent zeal. 3 LUX-U'-RI-OUS, indulging to excess in the 6 Cos-MET-I¤, promoting beauty; a wash to gratification of any appetite.

improve beauty.

LESSON XXIII.

THE OLD COTTAGE CLOCK.

CHARLES SWAIN.

1. O, THE old, old clock, of the household stock','
Was the brightest thing and neatest';
The hands', though old', had a touch2 of gold`,
And its chime3 rang still the sweetest'.

'Twas a monitor, too, though its words were few';
Yet they lived, though nations altered';
And its voice, still strong, warned old and young',
When the voice of friendship faltered'.5

"Tick, tick," it said-" quick, quick, to bed';
For ten I've given warning';

Up, up, and go, or else, you know',

You'll never rise soon in the morning'."

2. A friendly voice was that old, old clock',
As it stood in the corner smiling,

And blessed the time with a merry chime,
The wintry hours beguiling';6

But a cross old voice was that tiresome clock
As it called at daybreak boldly',

When the dawn looked gray o'er the misty way,
And the early air blew coldly':

"Tick, tick," it said—“quick, out of bed;

For five I've given warning';

You'll never have health, you'll never get wealth,

Unless you're up soon in the morning."

1 "HOUSEHOLD STOCK," household goods or 4 MON'-I-TOR, One who gives warning or adfurniture.

2 TOUCH, appearance (shining like gold). CHIME, the sound made by striking.

vice.

5 FAL'-TER-ED, failed; hesitated.

6 BE-GUIL'-ING, causing to pass pleasantly.

LESSON XXIV.

HEALTH PROVERBS.

A HAPPY heart makes a blooming visage.

A good life keeps off wrinkles.

A penny-worth of mirth is worth a pound of sorrow.

A

merry heart doeth good like a medicine.-SOLOMON. If we subdue not our passions, they will subdue us. Passion is a fever that leaves us weaker than it finds us. Where reason rules, appetite obeys.

He that wants health wants every thing.

Sickness is felt, but health not at all.

Diseases are the interest paid for pleasure.

The follies of youth are food for repentance in old age.
Eat little at dinner, and less at supper.

After dinner sit a while, after supper walk a mile.

He that riseth early may walk, but he that riseth late must trot all day.

1. BIRDS are prominently distinguished from the mammalia1 by their general form and feathery covering, and by producing their young from eggs. In form and structure they are wisely adapted to the element3 in which they move.

2. The head of the bird is pointed, so as easily to cleave the air; the body expands gently, and has wings which serve as movable weights to balance it, and as oars to propel it forward; and it diminishes by a spreading tail that helps to

keep it buoyant,5 and, at the same time, serves as a rudder to direct its course.

3. The great bones of the limbs, and many of those of the body, are hollow receptacles of air, communicating with the lungs. In various parts of the body are also bladder-like cavities which can be swollen out with warm air, so as to give the bird additional size, and enable it to float in its native element with greater ease. The quills and feathers, by their peculiar form and structure, unite the greatest possible degrees of lightness and strength.

4. The various classes of birds are also formed with special reference to the various modes in which they are to gain their subsistence. Thus birds of prey, like the carnivorous mammalia, are distinguished by their size, strength, and remarkable length of sight. The other classes of land birds, and also the two divisions of water birds, are all equally well adapted to the various modes of life marked out for them by the great Creator.

5. This principle of adaptation-of means designed for some particular end-is seen especially in the feet, or claws, and beaks of birds. In how marked a manner do the powerful talons of the eagles, hawks, and owls, differ from the tiny feet of the perching swallow and the wren; and the long, stilt-like legs of the ostrich, designed for running, from the webbed feet of the swimming ducks, geese, and pelicans.

6. The beaks of birds differ perhaps still more widely. In birds of prey the beak is like a carving or dissecting knife;

FEET OF BIRDS.-1. Claw of Golden Eagle. 2. Eagle Owl. 3. Poultry bird. 4. Rock Ptarmigan. 5. Perching bird. 6. Climbing bird, Woodpecker. 7. Grebe. 8. Plover. 9. Phalarope. 10. Duck. 11. Ibis.