fection. The inventive head, and the skillful, executing hand, thus become general, national, characteristic, among us. 8. I am perfectly aware that some people, in this country as well as others, despise labor, and especially manual labor, as ungenteel. There are people in these United States who scoff at New England for making the general practice of thrifty, productive industry among her people a point of education. 9. "The gentleman," say these refined persons, "must not work." It is not easy to cite a higher example of a gentleman, in thought, feeling, and manner, than St. Paul,* and he was a tent-maker. King Alfredt was a gentleman; and he could turn his hand to servile labor. Daniel 10. But let me refer to New England examples. Webster was a gentleman; and he began with the scythe and the plow. Abbott Lawrence § was a gentleman; and he served through every grade an apprenticeship to his profession. Timothy Dwight || was a gentleman, and was trained to the positive labors of the farm. Franklin, ¶ the printer; Sherman,** the shoemaker; Ellsworth,†† the teamster, all were gentlemen, and of that high order which regards truth, honor, manliness, as its essential basis. 11. Nothing, in my view, is more despicable, nothing more *St. Paul. See Acts of the Apostles, chap. xviii. ver. 1-3. ↑ King Alfred. See note, page 81. Dan'iel Web'ster. See note, page 119. § Ab'bott Law'rence, a distinguished merchant of Boston, Mass., who, in connection with his brother Amos, accumulated a large fortune by manufactures and trade. He was a member of Congress for several years, and Minister to England from 1849 to 1851. He died in 1855, aged 62. Tim'o-thy Dwight, a distinguished divine, and for several years President of Yale College. He was born in Northampton, Mass., May 14, 1752; and he died Jan. 11, 1817, in the 65th year of his age. Franklin. See note, page 68. ** Rog'er Sher'man was born in Newton, Mass., April 19, 1721. He was a member of the first Congress, in 1774, from Connecticut, and was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He died in 1793, aged 72. †† Oli-ver Ells'worth, one of the most distinguished of the Revolutionary patriots of America, of her statesmen, and of her lawyers. He was born at Windsor, Ct., April 29, 1745; and he died in the 63d year of his age. calculated to diffuse and cherish a debasing effeminacy of body and soul, than the doctrine that labor is degrading. Where such ideas prevail, rottenness lies at the foundation of society. 12. But to go back to my theme. If you ask me why it is that this important institution of whittling is indigenous among us, I reply that, in the first place, our country is full of a great variety of woods, suited to carpentry, many of them easily wrought, and thus inviting boyhood to try its hands upon them. 13. In the next place, labor is dear, and therefore even children are led to supply themselves with toys, or perchance, to furnish some of the simpler articles of use to the household. 14. This dearness of labor, moreover, furnishes a powerful stimulant to the production of labor-saving machines, and hence it is, through all these causes co-operating, — that steam navigation, the electric telegraph, the steam-reaper, &c., &c. are American inventions. 15. And the aptitude of the citizens of this country, especially those of New England, for mechanical invention, has enabled them at the World's Fair, whether it be held in London, or Paris, or the United States, to gain a greater proportion of prizes for useful inventions than any other people. Such are some of the results of whittling! QUESTIONS. -1. How do foreigners and sketchers of American manners regard whittling? 2-5. What does the writer say of his own experience in regard to this subject? 5, 6. What is the reason why we surpass other nations in the excellence of our tools of all kinds? 7. What is said in this paragraph? 8. How do some people regard labor? 9, 10. What examples of gentlemen are here mentioned? What is said of each ? Who was St. Paul? Abbott Lawrence? Timothy Dwight? Roger Sherman? Oliver Ellsworth? 11. What is said of the doctrine that labor is degrading? 12, 13. Why is whittling indigenous among us? 14. What is the effect of dear labor in this country? What is the character of this piece? Point out the examples connected by or, and tell how they should be read. See Rule 2, and its exception, pages 70 and 71 1. ART, practical skill. LESSON LI. 51 1. RA'DI-ANCE, brilliancy, splendor. 1. SER'APH, an angel of the highest order. 2. THIS'TLE, a prickly plant. 2. GLAD'DEN-ED, was made glad. ERRORS. 3. UP-HEAV'ED, reared up, built. 3. TEEM'ING, abounding in. 4. QUIV'ERS, trembles. 4. RE-NOWN'ED, having great fame. Frum for from; roth for wräth; track'liss for track'less; tase for taste pi'zn for poi'son; rel'um for realm. ODE ON ART. SPRAGUE. 1. WHEN, from the sacred garden driven, And crossed the wanderer's sunless path. "The curse a blessing shall be found." 2. She led him through the trackless wild, And Nature gladdened as she gazed. And point their spires of faith to heaven. 3. He rends the oak, and bids it ride To guard the shores its beauty graced; He bids the mortal poison heal, And leaps triumphant o'er the grave. 4. In fields of air, he writes his name, And treads the chambers of the sky; He moves in greatness and in grace; Links realm to realm, and race to race. QUESTIONS.-1. What is meant by "the sacred garden"? 1. Who crossed the wanderer's path? 1. What was the name of the angel? 1. What did she say? 2. What did she do? 3. What does man do by the aid of art? 4. What do the first four lines of this stanza mean? 4. What does man's power do? LESSON LII. 1. TRANS'PORT, rapturous joy. 1. OB-LIV'I-OUS, causing forgetfulness. 2. PIN'IONS, Wings. 3. SIGHT'LESS, wanting sight. 4. SHROUD'ING, concealing. 5. SPELL, a charm. 6. BAY, a laurel-wreath. 7. E-THE RE-AL, consisting of spirit. ERRORS.-For-git'ful for for-get'ful; air'ly for early; und for and; al'wuz for al'ways; sight'liss for sight'less. 1. HE sleeps, forgetful of his once bright fame; 2. And yet not all forgotten sleeps he there; There are who still remember how he bore Upward his daring pinions, till the air Seemed living with the crown of light he wore; Nor can nor will forget. * Lau'rel. See note, page 213. 8. He sleeps; and yet, around the sightless eye 4. He will not sleep for ever, but will rise Fresh to more daring labors; now, even now, 5. Yes, he will break his sleep; the spell is gone! Keen as the famished eagle darts her wing! 6. He rushes forth to conquer! Shall they take – They who with feebler pace still kept their way When he forgot the contest shall they take, Now he renews the race, the victor's bay? Still let them strive; when he collects his might, 7. The spirit can not always sleep in dust, Whose essence is ethereal; they may try What is QUESTIONS. — 1. What is here represented as sleeping? What is Genius? said of the laurel? 2. What of Genius being forgotten? 3. Where is the spirit strug gling? 4-6. What will Genius do when he awakes? 6. What is meant by "the victor's bay"? 7. What is said of the spirit of Genius? - With what pitch, move. Dient. and quality of voice should this lesson be read? |