That soothed me last, as you fondly prest For I dreamed a heavenly dream, mamma, And I lived in a land where forms divine And the world I'd give, if the world were mine, Then I mixed with the heavenly throng, mamma; And saw, as I roamed the regions of peace, Do mind when sister Jane, mamma, Oh! you gazed on the sad and lovely wreck, But oh! had you been with me, mamma, died; grave when she For shining with the blest, and adorned like a bride, Sweet sister Jane was there. [Did you mind that poor old man, mamma, Who came so late to our door; And the night was dark, and the tempest loud, And then what a weight of woe, mamma, And think what a heavenward look, mamma, As he told how he went to the baron's strong hold, Well! he was in glory too, mamma, He needed no alms, in the mansion of light, Now sing, for I fain would sleep, mamma, For sound was my slumber, and sweet was my rest, blest, Can love this world no more. LESSON LIV. THE RUBICON. The Rubicon, now called the Rugone, is a small river of Italy, which rises in the Appenines, and runs eastwardly into the Adriatic sea, or Gulf of Venice. The province of Cisalpine Gaul, or Gaul this side of the Alps, was bounded at the south by this stream, and was under the government of Julius Cæsar, a renowned general, who had subjected Transalpine Gaul, (what is now called France,) England and part of Germany to the dominion of Rome. His great success, and the dissentions at Rome, tempted his ambition, and, disregarding the law, he crossed the Rubicon, and after a series of civil wars, put an end to the republic, and was declared Imperator or Emperor, Pontifex Maximus or High Priest, and finally he was by law deified or classed amongst the gods. The embattled host, triumphant from the field Of distant Gaul, and Britain's island shore, To check the pride of Tarquin and the Ten, Ages thereafter, on these western shores Deeper than Mississippi's bed, as ocean wide; Such was the chief of old that quenched the flame Of liberty, to shine Imperator, Pontifex Maximus, immortal god! Made and unmade by mortals like himself!- LESSON LV. EXTRACT FROM A EULOGY ON WASHINGTON. A Eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person, usually of a person deceased. At the death of General Washington innumerable eulogies were pronounced, and probably more than a hundred were printed. The author of the following extract was the REV. J. M. MASON, of New-York. The name of Washington is connected with all that is most brilliant in the history of our country, and in human character, and awakens sensations which agi tate the fervors of youth, and warm the chill bosom of age. Preeminent already in worth, he is summoned to the preeminence of toil and of danger. Followed by her little bands, her prayers and her tears, Washington espouses the quarrel of his country. The Omnipotent, who allots great enjoyment as the meed of great exertion, had ordained that America should be free; but that she should learn to value the blessing by the price of its acquisition. She shall go to a "wealthy place," but her way is "through fire and through water." Many a generous chief must bleed, and many a gallant youth sink, at his side, into the surprised grave; the field must be heaped with slain; the purple torrent must roll, ere the angel of peace descend with his olive. It is here, amid devastation, and horror, and death, that Washington must reap his laurels, and engrave his trophies on the shield of immortality. Shall Delaware and Princeton-shall Monmouth and York-but I may not particularize, far less repeat the tale which babes recite, which poets sing, and fame has published to the listening world. Every scene of his action was a scene of his triumph. Now, he saved the republic by more than Fabian caution; now, he avenged her by more than Carthaginian fierceness. While, at every stroke, her forests and her hills re-echoed her shout; "The sword of the Lord and of Washington!" Whatever ills America had to endure in maintaining her rights, she exulted that she had nothing to fear from her commander-in-chief. That invisible hand which girded him at first, continued to guard and to guide him to the last; nor did he account it a weakness to bend the knee in homage to its supremacy, or in prayer for its direction. This was the armor of Washington; this the salvation of his country. But though Washington is dead, Jehovah lives. God of our fathers! be our God, and the God of our chil |