Pursuit, and flight, and mad return of wave on wave, and savage struggling, ending in a spouting-up of foam that whitens the black night; incessant change of place, and form, and hue; constancy in nothing but eternal strife: on, on, on they roll, and darker grows the night, and louder howl the winds, and more clamorous and fierce. become the million voices in the sea; when the wild cry goes forth upon the storm, "A SHIP!" 2. Onward she comes, in gallant combat with the elements, her tall masts trembling, and her timbers starting on the strain: onward she comes, now high upon the curling billows, now low down in the hollows of the sea, as hiding for the moment from its fury; and every stormvoice in the air and water cries more loudly yet, "A SHIP!" Still she comes striving on; and, at her boldness and the spreading cry, the angry waves rise up above each other's hoary heads to look; and round about the vessel, far as the mariners on her decks can pierce into the gloom, they press upon her, forcing each other down, and starting up, and rushing forward from afar, in dreadful curiosity. 3. High over her they break, and round her surge and roar, and, giving place to others, moaningly depart, and dash themselves to fragments in their baffled anger: still she comes onward bravely. And though the eager multitude crowd thick and fast upon her all the night, and dawn of day dissevers the untiring train yet bearing down upon the ship in an eternity of troubled water, onward she comes, with dim lights burning in her hull, and people there, asleep, as if no deadly element were peering in at every seam and chink, and no drowned seaman's grave, with but a plank to cover it, were yawning in the unfath omable depths below. 1. LESSON CXL THE SAILOR'S EARLY HOME. REV. S. D. PHELPS. WAY, away, o'er the dashing spray, A My bark spy, delight and free, And the piping gale, through the straining sail, And the stars at night, with luster bright, Shine out o'er the vast expanse ; And the moon from her throne on high looks down On the restless billows' dance. 2. There's a charm in the eye when the waves leap high, And a music in their roar; And the stars, as they shine in their spheres divine, A joy on the spirits pour. But the sea in its might, and the stars with their light, That glance on the crested foam, Can not make me gay; for my thoughts are away In my childhood's early home. 3. And dreams come fast of the blissful past, The ills of life, and the cares and strife Or experience, bought by suffering, taught That each sparkling joy finds its sad alloy, And hope is chilled by fear. 4. In a quiet nook, by a gentle brook, And the purling stream, as it glides in the beam Held their festive play with spirits gay, 5. Those years as they passed have shadows cast And none remain who swelled the train Of joy 'neath the household tree; And I weep as the thought with sadness fraught That the bliss I proved and the friends I loved 6. To the church-yard nigh, where the wild winds sigh, With a low and mournful tone, And the peaceful rest of earth's tranquil breast, There, clustering round, in that hallowed ground, And the last stone reared on that spot endeared 7. Away, far away, o'er the dashing spray, And downward apace o'er my storm-beaten face, As my thoughts wander back from my ocean track 1. LESSON CXII. THE FIREMAN. R. T. CONRAD. HE City slumbers! () O'er its mighty walls Hushed is the hum, and tranquillized the strife. 2. Sweet is the pillowed rest of Beauty now, And slumber smiles upon her tranquil brow; Her bright dreams lead her to the moonlit tide, Her heart's own partner wandering by her side. (p.) 'Tis summer's eve: the soft gales scarcely rouse The low-voiced ripple and the rustling boughs ; And, faint and far, some minstrel's melting tone Breathes to her heart a music like its own. 3. But hark! (") O horror! what a crash is there! What shriek is that which fills the midnight air? (ff.) 'Tis fire! 'TIS FIRE! She wakes to dream no more!" The hot blast rushes through the blazing door! The dun smoke eddies round; and, hark! that cry! 66 Help! HELP!-Will no one aid? I die! I DIE!" =) She seeks the casement: shuddering at its hight, She turns again; the fierce flames mock her flight; Along the crackling stairs they fiercely play, no more, She can But, pale and breathless, sinks upon the floor. 4. Will no one save thee'? Yes'; there yet is one He mounts the stair it wavers 'neath his tread; He seeks the room-flames flashing round his head; He bursts the door; he lifts her prostrate frame, And turns again to brave the raging flame. 5. The Fire-blast smites him with his stifling breath; The stair is passed-the blazing hall is braved! SHE'S SAVED! 6. The hardy seaman pants the storm to brave, |