Page images
PDF
EPUB

Life's little world of bliss was newly born;

We knew not, cared not, it was born to die. Flushed with the cool breeze, and the dews of morn, With dancing heart, we gazed on the pure sky, And mocked the passing clouds that dimmed its blue, Like our own sorrows then, as fleeting and as few.

[ocr errors]

3. And manhood felt her sway too;·

on the eye,

Half realized, her early dreams burst bright;
Her promised power of happiness seemed nigh,

Its days of joy, its vigils of delight;

And though at times might lower the thunder-storm,
And the red lightnings threaten, still the air
Was balmy with her breath; and her loved form,
The rainbow of the heart, was hovering there.

"T is in life's noontide she is nearest seen,

Her wreath the summer flower, her robe of summer green.

4. But though less dazzling in her twilight dress,

There's more of heaven's pure beam about her now;
That angel-smile of tranquil loveliness,

Which the heart worships, glowing on her brow,—
That smile shall brighten the dim evening star
That points our destined tomb, nor e'er depart

Till the faint light of life is fled afar,

And hushed the last deep beating of the heart;
The meteor bearer of our parting breath,

A moonbeam in the midnight cloud of death.

QUESTIONS.-1. When is there an evening twilight of the heart? 1. What do we gaze upon with feelings of regret? 1. What is around us, and what is said of her? 1. What is meant by "her angel lay"? 2. What is said of Hope in youth? 2. What is here represented by "the pure sky"? 3. What is said of Hope in manhood? 3. What is here called "the rainbow of the heart"? 4. What is said of Hope in her twilight dress? &c.

24

LESSON LXXXVI. &

2. VER-NAC'U LAR, native.

3. SPECIAL, particular, marked.

5. RET'I-NUE, a train of attendants.

6. BE WILDER-ING, confusing, perplexing.

8. E-QUES'TRI-AN, a horseman.

9. DE-MEAN'OR, behavior, deportment. 11. SA-LOON', a spacious hall.

13. POR-TRAY', to describe or depict.

ERRORS. — Ap-pint'ed for ap-point'ed; real'ums for realms; ac-comp'ned for ac com'pa-ni-ed; uc-ca'sion for oc-ca'sion.

VICTORIA, QUEEN OF ENGLAND.

1. VICTORIA is the daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, who was the fourth son of George III., and brother of George IV. and of William IV.* Her mother was Victoria Maria Louisa, daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg.† Victoria was born on the 24th of May, 1819. Her father died when she was only eight months old.

2. Her mother, possessing a superior mind, was well qualified to oversee her education, and make her an ornament to the throne of England. For the first five years of her life, Victoria was under the training of German teachers, so that English and German were, to her, vernacular tongues.

3. The Duchess of Kent jealously guarded her daughter against the excitement of vanity; and whenever Victoria, in her earlier years, received any special attention, her mother would say: "It is not you, but your future office and rank, which are regarded by the country; and you must so act as never to bring that office and rank into disrepute."

4. Victoria's first presentation at court took place upon her attaining her twelfth year. The drawing-room of her Majesty, Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV., was decorated with a degree of splendor which dazzled the eyes of even

* George III., king of England, reigned from 1760 until 1811, when, on account of his infirmities, he retired from the throne, and the government devolved on his son, George IV., who was not crowned until after the death of his father, which occurred in 1820. George IV. held the throne until his death, in 1830, and was succeeded by his brother, William IV., who died in 1837, when the crown devolved on Victoria. † Saxe-Coburg, (sax'-co'burg,) a Saxen principality in Central Germany,

those who had always lived in the midst of the most gorgeous

courts.

5. Victoria arrived at the palace, in state, accompanied by her mother and a retinue of noble ladies. As she stood, in the graceful simplicity of childhood, by the side of her Majesty on the throne, she was an object of universal interest and admiration.

6. With much self-possession, yet with deep interest, the young princess gazed upon the bewildering scene around her; and she has often remarked, that this scene made the deepest impression upon her youthful imagination.

7. The Duchess of Northumberland * was now appointed her governess; and her education was prosecuted with renewed zeal. She was withdrawn almost entirely from society, that she might devote her whole time to mental and physical culture.

8. Being fond of music, she became an accomplished performer on several instruments; and she also delighted in drawing and sketching scenes from nature. She was accus

tomed to much exercise in the open air, and became a daring equestrian.

9. Her graceful manners, her royal air and demeanor, and the unaffected simplicity of her dress and habits, attracted the attention of all who were permitted to approach her. Every thing was done, which wisdom and wealth could do, to fit her for the station she was destined to fill.

10. While at the palace at Kensington,† Victoria often had her Cousin Albert, from Germany, for a playmate. He was a handsome and noble-hearted boy. They loved each other as relatives, and soon after far better. That cousin is now her husband, and has the title of Prince.

11. The day on which Victoria was eighteen years of age. was ushered in with merry peals of congratulation. The pal

* North-um′ber-land, one of the most northern counties of England.

↑ Ken'sing-ton, one of the suburban towns of London, and the seat of a royal palace.

ace of St. James had never witnessed scenes of greater magnificence. The highest dignitaries of the land, and embassadors and representatives of foreign courts, thronged its richly decorated saloons to pay their respects to her who was to he the future queen of Great Britain.

12. These scenes of rejoicing had scarcely terminated, when Victoria was called again from retirement to take possession of the throne, made vacant by the death of her uncle, William IV., who died on the 20th of June, 1837.

13. We next see Victoria, in the drawing-room of the palace of her ancestors, the universally recognized Queen of Great Britain. Her youth and beauty, and the loveliness of her disposition, made her the idol of all hearts. Neither pen nor pencil can portray the enthusiasm of the scene.

14. Soon after this it became necessary for the young queen to prorogue the Parliament of her realms. As she entered the House of Lords, silence, the most profound, pervaded those vast halls; and multitudes, breathless with anxiety, listened to catch the first word that should fall from her lips.

15. That silvery voice was clearly and distinctly heard as she pronounced the speech of prorogation†; and her self-possession and graceful modesty on that occasion deepened the impressions already made upon the hearts of her faithful and devoted subjects.

16. Soon following this, her coronation, attended with great splendor, took place. A short time afterward, she assembled her counselors, and announced her intention to ally herself in marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg. The nation approved the match; and the marriage rites were soon after solemnized.

Pal'ace of St. James, the town residence of the English kings; hence the English Cabinet is called the Cabinet of St. James.

↑ Pro-ro-ga'tion, an official act, by which the king or sovereign of England terminates the session of Parliament until, by proper authority, its members are summoned to reassemble. It differs from adjournment. Parliament may adjourn from day to day, or for a longer time, by its own vote; but it can be prorogued only by authority of the king.

17. With exemplary fidelity, Victoria discharges the duties of a wife and mother, and richly does she deserve that high esteem and affection which she everywhere receives from her loyal subjects. Seldom has a throne been occupied by one more conscientious and meritorious than Victoria, Queen of Great Britain.

QUESTIONS.-1. Who is Victoria? What is said in the note? What, and where, is Saxe-Coburg? 1. When was Victoria born? 2. What is said of her mother? 3. What did her mother guard her against? 4. When was she presented at court? 5,6. Describe her appearance on that occasion. 7. Who was her governess? What is Northumberland? 8, 9. What is here said of Victoria? 10. Who was her playmate? What is Kensington? 11. What occurred when she was eighteen? 11. What is said of the palace of St. James? What, in the note? 12. When did William IV. die? 13-15. What is here said of Victoria? What is said of prorogation? 16. What, of her coronation? 17. What, of her as a mother and queen?

LESSON LXXXVII. 7

2. EN'SIGN, a national flag.
2. GUEST, a stranger entertained.
3. AU'SPI-CES, patronage, protection.
5. CHAM'PI-ON, a bold defender.

6. FRA-TER'NI-TY, brotherhood.

7. CAB'I-NET, a government council.

8. EXILE, banishment from one's country. 10. PREC'E-DENT, preceding example.

ERRORS. Sen'it for sen'ate; finely for fi'nal-ly; con'griss for con'gress.

WELCOME TO KOSSUTH.*- SUMNER.

1. I CAN not disguise from myself, that the resolution in honor of Louis Kossuth, now pending before the Senate, when finally passed, will be an act of no small significance in the history of our country.

2. Far away from our shores, on foreign waters, the Hungarian† chief first came under the protection of our national

* Kos'suth', (Louis,) a distinguished Hungarian patriot and exile. He was brought to this country, by one of our government vessels, in 1851, and was received as the guest of the nation:- The speech, from which this lesson is an extract, was delivered by the Hon. Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, in the Senate of the United States, December 10th, 1851, on the resolution to give Louis Kossuth a cordial welcome to the capital and to the country.

† Hun-ga'ri-an, a native of Hungary, a country in the southeastern part of Europe and forming a large part of the Austrian empire.

FF

« PreviousContinue »