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(Enter villagers, shouting.)

Dick, Tom, Jack, how are you, my lads? Here's news for you! Come, stand round, make a ring, and I'll make a bit of a speech to you. (They all get round him.) First of all, I suppose Snacks has told you that I'm your landlord?

Villagers. We are all glad of it.

Rob. So am I; and I'll make you all happy; I'll lower all your rents.

All. Huzza! long live Lord Robin!

Rob. You shan't pay no rent at all!

All. Huzza! huzza! long live Lord Robin! Rob. I'll have no poor people in the parish, for I'll make 'em all rich; I'll have no widows, for I'll marry 'em all. (All shout.) I'll have no orphan children, for I'll father 'em all myself; and if that's not doing as a lord should do, then I say I know nothing about the matter-that's all.

All. Huzza! huzza!

(Enter Snacks.)

Snacks. I have brought your lordship the money. He means to make 'em fly, so I have taken care the guineas shall be all light. (Aside.)

Rob. Now, then, young and old, great and small, little and tall, merry men all, here's among you. (Throws the money: they scramble.) Now you've got your pockets filled, come to the castle, and I'll fill all your mouths for you. (Villagers carry him off, shouting-Snacks follows.)

LESSON XCIV.

A SCENE IN THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS.

We first came to the verge of the precipice, from which the water takes its leap upon a platform that projects with the rock many feet over the chasm. Here we gazed into the dell and the basin into which the stream pours itself from the beetling cliff. But the prospect from this point is far less thrilling than from below; and we accordingly began our descent. Winding round the crags, and following a foot-path between the overhanging trees, we gradually, and with some difficulty, descended so far as to have a fine view of the station which we had just left. The scene here is magnificent beyond description. Far under the blackened canopy of everlasting rock, that shoots above to an alarming extent over the abyss, the eye glances round a vast and regular amphitheatre, which seems to be the wild assembling-place of all the spirits of the storms, so rugged, so deep, so secluded, and yet so threatening does it appear! Down from the midst of the cliff that overarches this wonderful excavation, and dividing in the midst the gloom that seems to settle within it, comes the foaming torrent, splendidly relieved upon the black surface of the enduring walls, and throwing its wreaths of mist along the frowning ceiling. Following the guide that had brought us thus far down the chasm, we passed into the amphitheatre, and, moving under the terrific projection, stood in the centre of this sublime and stu

pendous work ;-the black, iron-bound rocks behind us, and the snowy cataract springing between us and the boiling basin, which still lay under our feet. Here the scene was unparalleled. Here seemed to be the theatre for a people to stand in, and behold the prodigies and fearful wonders of the Almighty, and feel their own insignificance. Here admiration and astonishment come unbidden over the soul, and the most obdurate heart feels that there is something to be grateful for. Indeed, the scene from this spot is so sublime, and so well calculated to impress the feelings with a sense of the power and grandeur of nature, that, apart from all other considerations, it is worthy of long journeying and extreme toil to behold it. Having taken refreshment, we descended to the extreme depth of the ravine, and, with certain heroic ladies, who somehow dared the perils of the path, we gazed from this place upon the sheet of water, falling from a height of more than two hundred and fifty feet. This is a matter of which Niagara would not speak lightly; and there is wanting only a heavy fall of water to make this spot not only magnificent-for that it is now-but terribly sublime. Mountains ascend and overshadow it; crags and precipices project themselves in menacing assemblages all about, as though frowning over a ruin which they are only waiting some fiat to make yet more appalling. Nature has hewed out a resting place for man, where he may linger, and gaze, and admire! Below him she awakens her thunder, and darts her lightning; above him she lifts still loftier summits, and round him she flings her spray and her rainbows!

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LESSON XCV.

TO SENECA LAKE.

On thy fair bosom, silver lake,
The wild swan spreads his snowy sail,
And round his breast the ripples break,
As down he bears before the gale.

On thy fair bosom, waveless stream,
The dipping paddle echoes far,
And flashes in the moonlight gleam,
And bright reflects the polar star.

The waves along thy pebbly shore,

As blows the north wind, heave their foam, And curl around the dashing oar,

As late the boatman hies him home.

How sweet, at set of sun, to view
Thy golden mirror spreading wide,
And see the mist of mantling blue

Float round the distant mountain's side!

At midnight hour, as shines the moon,
A sheet of silver spreads below,
And swift she cuts, at highest noon,
Light clouds, like wreaths of purest snow

On thy fair bosom, silver lake,

O! I could ever sweep the oar, When early birds at morning wake, And evening tells us toil is o'er.

GENERAL AND SPECIAL RULES

FOR

PRONOUNCING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

Deduced from the composition of the words themselves, and in most cases, giving an infallible Rule, by which to determine on what syllable the main accent should fall. This point being settled, the places of the semi-accents cannot be mistaken.

EXPLANATIONS.

For the definition of a prefix and suffix, see pages 113 and 130 of "Town's Speller."

By the root of a word, we mean that part which belongs exclusively to the primitive form, and is not combined with any other word, syllable, or letter; as press.

By a separable prefix, we mean that part which may be taken from the primitive root, and leave a significant English word; as from impress, im may be thus taken.

By an inseparable prefix is meant, such combination of a word, syllable, or letter, with the root, that as an English word, a separation of the parts would destroy the English signification of both; as depute, which, in Latin, is composed of de, and puto, but in English they may not be separated.

The classical scholar will readily distinguish what are prefixes, at sight; and the English scholar, by a little attention to Town's Analysis, can do the same.

Penult, means the last syllable but one.

Antepenult, is the last syllable but two.

Rules for applying suffixes, see page 110 of "Speller." It is believed the following Rules will not only contribute to uniformity in pronunciation, but aid in settling the disputed accent of many words.

I. General Rule.-Words of two syllables, the first of which is a separable, or inseparable prefix, commonly take the accent on the second; as de-báse, procláim; but if the first syllable partakes of the root, the accent generally falls on the first; as úr-gent, tál-ent.

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