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trait looks down from the ceiling', where he appears crowned by victory'; and thirdly', his Grace stands in a group, where it might be hôped he is crowned by domestic happiness', since he appears with the Duchess', a splendid beauty', though a perfect volcano for temper. I remember being much diverted at old Mrs. -s', the widow', when she pathetically lamented her deceased husband', saying', "We were the happiest couple in the world during forty years'; WHATEVER I SAID WAS LAW!”—and, on much the same terms, his Grace obtained peace at home, if he ever enjoyed any; though his own house was, generally, more scene of warfare than his camp. Perhaps it may be good for military men to be tyrannized over at home, as they must be so willing to go on foreign service'; and probably the Duke often agreed with Solomon', that "it is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop', than with a brawling woman in a wide house." It is a well-known story, that when the Duke once hesitated to take some medicine prescribed for him', her Grace exclaimed, with extreme vehemence', "I'll consent to be hanged if it does not cure you!”upon which Dr. Garth dryly added', " Then don't hesitate a moment longer, my lord'; for it must do good one way or other!"

LESSON CXVI.

CHARACTER OF PURITANISM.

THE benevolence of the early Puritans appears from other examples. Their thoughts were always fixed on posterity. Domestic discipline was highly valued'; but if the law was severe against the undutiful child', it was also severe against the faithless parent. The slave-trade was forbidden under penalty of death. The earliest laws, till 1654, did not permit any man's person to be kept in prison for debt', except when there was an appearance of some estate which the debtor would not produce.-Even the brute creation was not forgotten and cruelty towards animals was a civil offence. The sympathies of the colonists were wide'; a regard for Protestant Germany is as old as emigration'; and, during the thirty years' war', the whole people of New England held fasts, and offered prayers', for the success of their Saxon brethren.

The first years of the residence of Puritans in America, were years of great hardship and affliction'; it is an error to suppose that this short season of distress was not promptly followed by abundance and happiness. The people were full of affections', and the objects of love were around them. They struck root in the soil immediately. They enjoyed religion. They were, from the first, industrious and enterprising', and frugal'; and affluence followed of course. When persecution ceased in England', there were already in New England "thousands who would not change their place for any other in the world';" and they were tempted, in vain, with invitations to the Bahama Isles', to Ireland', to Jamaica', to Trinidad. The purity of morals completes the picture of colonial felicity. "As Ireland will not brook venomous beasts, so will not that land vile livers." One might dwell there "from year to year, and not see a drunkard', or hear an oath', or meet a beggar." The consequence was universal health-one of the chief elements of public happiness. The average duration of life in New England, compared with Europe', was doubled'; and the human race was so vigorous, that of all who were born into the world, more than two in ten', full four in nineteen', attained the age of seventy. Of those who lived beyond ninety, the proportion, as compared with European tables of longevity', was still more remarkable.

I have dwelt the longer on the character of the early Puritans of New England', for they are the parents of one third of the whole white population of the United States. In the first ten or twelve years',—and there was never afterwards any considerable increase from England',-we have seen that there came over twenty-one thousand two hundred persons', or four thousand families. Their descendants are now not far from four millions. Each family has multiplied, on the average, to one thousand souls. To New York and Ohio, where they constitute half the population', they have carried the Puritan system of free schools'; and their example is spreading it through the civilized world.

Historians have loved to eulogize the manners and virtues, the glory and the benefits', of chivalry. Puritanism accomplished for mankind fār more. crime of intolerance', chivalry ness. The knights were brave Puritans from the fear of God'.

If it had the sectarian had the vices of dissolutefrom gallantry of spirit'; the The knights were proud of

loyalty'; the Puritans of liberty. The knights did homage to monarchs, in whose smile they beheld honor', whose rebuke was the wound of disgrace'; the Puritans', disdaining ceremony', would not bow at the name of Jesus', nor bend the knee to the King of kings. Chivalry delighted in outward show', favored pleasure', multiplied amusements', and degraded the human race by an exclusive respect for the privileged classes'; Puritanism bridled the passions', commended the virtues of self-denial', and rescued the name of man' from dishonor. The former valued courtesy'; the latter, justice. The former adorned society by graceful refinements'; the latter founded national grandeur on universal education. The institutions of chivalry were subverted by the gradually increasing weight, and knowledge, and opulence of the industrious classes'; the Puritans, rallying upon those classes, planted in their hearts the undying principles of democratic liberty.

LESSON CXVII.

66 BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN."

Он, deem not they are blest alone

Whose lives a peaceful tenor keep';
The Power who pities man', has shown
A blessing for the eyes that weep.

The light of smiles shall fill again

The lids that overflow with tears';
And weary hours of wo and pain'
Are promises of happier years.

There is a day of sunny rest

For every dark and troubled night';
And grief may bide', an evening guest',
But joy shall come with early light.

And thou, who, o'er thy friend's low bier',
Sheddest the bitter drops like rain',
Hope that a brighter, happier sphere',
Will give him to thy arms again.

Nor let the good man's trust depart,
Though life its common gifts deny`,
Though, with a pierced and broken heart',
And spurned of men', he goes to die.

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For God has marked each sorrowing day',
And numbered every secret tear`,
And heaven's long age of bliss shall pay
For all his children suffer here.

LESSON CXVIII.

HYMN OF THE REAPERS.

OUR Father', to fields that are white',
Rejoicing, the sickle we bear',

In praises our voices unite

To thee', who hast made them thy care.

The seed, that was dropped in the soil,
We left, with a holy belief'
In One, who, beholding the toil',

Would crown it at length with the sheaf.

And ever our faith shall be firm'

In thee, who hast nourished the root';
Whose finger has led up the germ',
And finished the blade and the fruit.

The heads, that are heavy with grain,
Are bowing and asking to fall';
Thy hand is on mountain and plain',
Thou Maker and Giver of all!

Thy blessings shine bright from the hills;
The valleys thy goodness repeat';

And, Lord', 'tis thy bounty that fills'
The arms of the reaper with wheat!

Oh! when, with the sickle in hand',

The angel thy mandate receives', To come to the field with his band'

To bind up, and bear off thy sheaves'

May we be as free from the blight',
As ripe to be taken away',
As full in the ear', to thy sight',

As that which we gather to-day!

Our Father', the heart and the voice'
Flow out', our fresh off'rings to yield
The Reapers'! the Reapers, rejoice',
And send up their songs from the field!

LESSON CXIX.

ALL THAT'S BRIGHT MUST FADE.

Indian Air.

ALL that's bright must fade`;
The brightest' still the fleetest';
All that's sweet was made'

But to be lost when sweetest';

Stars that shine and fall',

The flow'r that drops in springing', These', alas! are types of all'

To which our hearts are clinging.

Who would seek, or prize',
Delights that end in aching'?

Who would trust to ties

That ev'ry hour are breaking'?

Better far to be

In utter darkness lying',

Than be blest with light, and see'
That light forever flying.

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