For my part, I wonder even a silver one is not too strong a temptation for the devotion of some people who pass this way; and it appears, by the date, that this has been here above three years."

The black knight could not bear the smile with which this was delivered, and grew so warm in the dispute, that it soon ended in a challenge: they both, therefore, turned their horses, and rode back so far as to have sufficient space for their career; then, fixing their spears in their rests, they flew at each other with the greatest fury and impetuosity. Their shock was so rude, and the blow on each side so effectual, that they both fell to the ground much wounded and bruised; and lay there for some time, as in a trance.

A good Druid, who was travelling that way, found them in this condition. The Druids were the physicians of those times, as well as the priests. He had a sovereign balsam about him, which he had composed himself; for he was very skilful in all the plants that grew in the fields or in the forests he staunched their blood, applied his balsam to their wounds, and brought them, as it were, from death to life again. As soon as they were sufficiently recovered, he began to inquire into the occasion of their quarrel. "Why, this man," cried the black knight, "will have it that yonder shield is silver."-" And he will have it," replied the white knight, "that it is gold." And then they told him all the particulars of the affair.

"Ah!" said the Druid with a sigh, "you are both of you, my brethren, in the right, and both of you in the wrong: had either of you given himself time to look at the opposite side of the shield, as well as that which first presented itself to view, all this passion and bloodshed might have been avoided: however, there is a very good lesson to be learned from the evils, that have befallen you on this occasion. Permit me, therefore, to entreat you never to enter into any dispute, for the future, till you have fairly considered both sides of the question."

LESSON XLIX.

The Flight of Xerxes.-MARIA J. JEWSBURY.

I SAW him on the battle-eve,

When like a king he bore him;
Proud, hosts in glittering helm and greave,
And prouder chiefs before him :

The warrior, and the warrior's deeds-
The morrow, and the morrow's meeds,-
No daunting thoughts came o'er him;
He looked around him, and his eye
Defiance flashed to earth and sky.

He looked on ocean; its broad breast
Was covered with his fleet;-

On earth; and saw from east to west,
His bannered millions meet;-

While rock, and glen, and cave, and coast,
Shook with the war-cry of that host,
The thunder of their feet!

He heard the imperial echoes ring,—
He heard, and felt himself a king.

I saw him next alone :-nor camp,
Nor chief, his steps attended;
Nor banner blazed, nor courser's tramp
With war-cries proudly blended.
He stood alone, whom Fortune high
So lately seemed to deify;

He, who with Heaven contended,
Fled like a fugitive and slave!

Behind, the foe;-before,-the wave.

He stood,-fleet, army, treasure,-gone,—

Alone and in despair!

But wave and wind swept ruthless on,

For they were monarchs there;

And Xerxes, in a single bark,

Where late his thousand ships were dark,
Must all their fury dare:-
What a revenge-a trophy, this
For thee, immortal Salamis !

LESSON L.

Pairing Time anticipated.-Cowper.

Ir chanced, upon a winter's day,
But warm, and bright and calm as May,
The birds, conceiving a design
To forestall sweet St. Valentine,
In many an orchard, copse and grove,
Assembled on affairs of love,

And with much twitter and much chatter,
Began to agitate the matter.

At length, a bulfinch, who could boast
More years and wisdom than the most,
Entreated, opening wide his beak,
A moment's liberty to speak;
And, silence publicly enjoined,
Delivered briefly thus his mind :-
"My friends, be cautious how ye treat
The subject upon which we meet;

I fear we shall have winter yet."

A finch, whose tongue knew no control, With golden wing and satin poll,

A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried What marriage means, thus pert replied :— "Methinks the gentleman," quoth she, Opposite in the apple-tree,

66

By his good will, would keep us single

Till yonder heaven and earth shall mingle,

Or (which is likelier to befall)
Till death exterminate us all.
I marry without more ado:-

My dear Dick Redcap, what say you?"

Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling, Turning short round, strutting and sidling, Attested, glad, his approbation

Of an immediate conjugation.
Their sentiments, so well expressed,
Influenced mightily the rest :

All paired, and each pair built a nest.

But, though the birds were thus in haste,

The leaves came on not quite so fast;
And destiny, that sometimes bears
An aspect stern on man's affairs,
Not altogether smiled on theirs.

The wind of late breathed gently forth-
Now shifted east, and east by north;
Bare trees and shrubs but ill, you know,
Could shelter them from rain or snow;
Stepping into their nests, they paddled ;
Themselves were chilled, their eggs were addled:
Soon, every father bird and mother

Grew quarrelsome, and pecked each other,

Parted without the least regret,

Except that they had ever met,

And learned in future to be wiser

Than to neglect a good adviser.

MORAL.

Misses, the tale that I relate

This lesson seems to carry ;

Choose not alone a proper mate,
But proper time to marry.

LESSON LI.

Influence of Christianity in elevating the Character of Females.-J. G. CARTER.

THERE is one topic, intimately connected with the introduction and decline of Christianity, and subsequently with its revival in Europe, which the occasion strongly suggests, and which I cannot forbear briefly to touch upon. I allude to the new and more interesting character assumed by wo man since those events. In the heathen world, and under the Jewish dispensation, she was the slave of man. Chris tianity constituted her his companion. But as our religion gradually lost its power, in the dark ages, she sunk down again to her deep moral degradation.

The age of chivalry, indeed, exalted her to be an object of adoration. But it was a profane adoration, not founded upon the respect due to a being of immortal hopes and destinies as well as man. This high character has been conceded to her at a later period, as she has slowly attained the rank ordained for her by Heaven. Although this change, in the relation of woman to man and to society, is both an evidence and a consequence of an improvement in the human condi tion, yet now her character is a cause operating to produce a still greater improvement. And if there be any one cause, to which we may look with more confidence than to others, for hastening the approach of a more perfect state of society, that cause is the elevated character of woman, as displayed in the full developement of all her moral and intellectual powers.

The influence of the female character, is now felt and acknowledged in all the relations of her life. I speak not now of those distinguished women, who instruct their age through the public press; nor of those, whose devout strains we take upon our lips when we worship; but of a much larger class; of those, whose influence is felt in the relations of neighbor, friend, daughter, wife, mother. Who waits at the couch of the sick, to administer tender charities while life lingers, or to perform the last acts of kindness when death