connected with it two bells, which gave him notice, by their ringing, when the rod was electrified. This was the origin of the metallic conductors now in general use.

17. "To know that lightning and the electrical fluid are the same, is a great step in natural philosophy; though we still remain ignorant of the causes of many of the appearances which accompany thunder-storms.

18. "Now, my dear Alfred, try to explain the manner in which the claps of thunder, that usually accompany the flashes of lightning, are occasioned."

19. "The air rushes together in a moment, to fill the space made by the passage of the electric matter, I suppose, father," said Alfred.

20. "Yes; and thunder is the report and the echoes of the report between the clouds and the earth.

21. "A number of entertaining and useful experiments may be made by means of a machine constructed for the purpose, and called the electrical machine," said Mr. A.; “but I think we have said almost enough upon the subject at present.

22. "From what a variety of sources may we derive improvement! A simple stick of sealing-wax may prove the origin of many ingenious inquiries, and of much novel information.

23. "Seize every opportunity, then, of adding to your store of useful knowledge; let nothing pass unnoticed; let no opportunity be neglected. Lord Bacon has justly told us that knowledge is power.

24. "Fanny has written her letter; now let me write mine."

25. Presently, father, presently; my curiosity is not half

NOTES. -a "The electrical machine is composed of a glass cylinder or plate, which revolves, and by rubbing against a cushion, causes the electric fluid to collect on the glass. b Lord Bacon (Francis); a distinguished moral philosopher and statesman, born in London, 1561.

satisfied. I want to know a great deal more about this curious electric fluid. In the first place, I do not quite understand what you mean by metallic conductors."

26. "The use of metallic conductors is to secure buildings from the dreadful effects which lightning sometimes produces," said Mr. A. "This is done by fixing a pointed iron rod, higher than any part of the building, and joining to the lower end of it a wire, which must communicate with the earth, or rather the nearest water.

27. " This rod the lightning will seize upon sooner than any part of the building; it will, therefore, descend along it, and then along the annexed wire, until it reaches the earth or water, when it will be dispersed without doing any harm."

28. "I am glad, very glad, that I understand the cause of the wonderful phenomenon of thunder and lightning, father; you have the art of explaining, and of making everything appear plain and easy. I think there are few things more awful and wonderful than thunder and lightning."

29. "Few," said Mr. A., "more calculated to raise serious reflections; when we hear the thunder's tremendous roar, and see the lightning's vivid flash, we are naturally filled with wonder and awe; but instead of shrinking with terror when gathering tempests cloud the vaulted skies, we should rely with full confidence upon that Almighty Power by whose fiat their course is directed."

QUESTIONS. 2. What are some of the reasons to prove that lightning and electricity are the same? 5. How did Dr. Franklin contrive to draw lightning down from the heavens? 5. Who was Dr. Franklin? 9. How was Dr. Franklin's kite made? 13. How did he prevent the electrical fluid from passing below the key? 15. How did he demonstrate that lightning and electricity are the same? 19. What is the cause of thunder? 21. Of what is the electrical machine composed? 28 Describe the metallic conductors. 29. Upon what power should we rely in times of danger? What sentences in the fourth verse are contrasted, and what inflections do they take?

1. Wan'der-ed, rambled.

2. Boon, a gift, a benefit.

LESSON X.

Spell and Define.

3. Do-mains', dominions, territories. 4. Car'ol-ed, sung, warbled.

4. Cho'rus, the verses of a song in which the company join the singer.

5. Ge'ni-us, a good or evil spirit.

7. Boast'ed, bragged, vaunted.
8. Soothe, to quiet, to calm.
9. Dis-pense', to deal out.

9. Pen'i-tence, sorrow, contrition.
10. Gris'ly, frightful, horrible.
10. Shade, a ghost, an apparition.
10. Re-lax'ed, loosened.

ERRORS.-2. Yit for yet; 3. a-reound' for a-round'; 6. arn'swer for an'swer 6. for tin for fortune; 7. bor'rer-ed for borrow-ed; 10. happi-niss for hap'pi-ness

NOTE.

HAPPINESS.

R. HEBER.

1. ONE morning in the month of May,"
I wandered o'er the hill;

Though nature all around was gay,
My heart was heavy still.

2. Can God, thought I, the just, the great,
These meaner creatures bless,

And yet deny to man's estate
The boon of happiness?

3. Tell me, ye woods, ye smiling plains,
Ye blessed birds around,

In which of nature's wide domains
Can bliss for man be found?

4. The birds wild caroled over head,
The breeze around me blew,
And nature's awful chorus said,
No bliss for man she knew.

& May; the fifth month of the year, so called, according to some writers in honor of the goddess Maia.

5. I questioned Love, whose early ray
So rosy bright appears,

And heard the timid genius say

His light was dimmed by tears.

6. I questioned Friendship; Friendship sighed,
And thus her answer gave:—
The few whom fortune never tried
Were withered in the grave!

7. I asked if Vice could bliss bestow;
Vice boasted loud and well,

But fading from her withered brow,
The borrowed roses fell.

8. I sought of Feeling, if her skill
Could soothe the wounded breast;
And found her mourning, faint and still,
For others' woes distressed!

9. I questioned Virtue; Virtue sighed,
No boon could she dispense;

Nor Virtue was her name, she cried,
But humble Penitence.

10. I questioned Death; the grisly shade
Relaxed his brow severe;

And "I am happiness," he said,

"If Virtue guides thee there."

QUESTIONS. What is the subject of the piece you have been reading? 1. Why is May so called? 10. Where is happiness to be found? Point out the substitutes In the first four verses of this piece, and tell me what elements they represent.

6. Re-vealed, made known by God. 7. A-muse'ment, diversion, pastime. 9. Cred'u-lous, easy to believe. 2 Pre-dic'tions, prophecies. 15. Whims, fancies, conceits.

26. Ful-fill'ment, completion, accomplish

ment.

25. Un-gen'er-ous, not liberal, unkind. 25. Rec-re-a'tion, amusement.

26. Fortune-tell-er, a soothsayer.

30. Brib'ed, hired to do wrong.

19. In-clin-a'tions, leanings of the mind.
19. Sac'ri-fice, to surrender, to destroy.
24. Dis-con-tent'ed, uneasy, dissatisfied. 41. A'mi-a-ble, kind, lovely.

32. Rev-e-la'tion, a communication of
truth by God.

ERRORS.-1. For'tins for for-tunes; 3. keerds for cards; 8. bleve for be-lieve'; 15. spile for spoil; 19. sacri-fis for sac'ri-fice; 21. a-gaynst' for a-gainst' ; 24. mis'er-ble for mis'er-a-ble; 25. wid'er for wid'ow; 26. ac'too-al-ly for act'u-al-ly; 28. thou'sans for thou'sands; 29. cer'tn-ly for certainly.

FORTUNE-TELLING.

1. Julia. COME, girls, let us go and have our fortunes told.

2. Eveline. Oh! I should like it much; where shall we go? 3. Sarah. Let us go to old Jane Merrill's. They say she can read the future as we do the past, by hands, tea-cups, or cards. Come, Mary Ann.

4. Mary Ann. Excuse me, girls, if I do not go I do not think it is right to have our fortunes told. 5. Julia. Not right! why not?

with you.

6. Mary Ann. Because, if it had been best for us to know the future, I think God would have revealed it to us.

7. Sarah. O, but you know this is only for amusement. 8. Eveline. Of course we shall not believe a word she says. 9. Mary Ann. If it is only for amusement, I think we can find others far more rational and innocent. But depend upon

it, girls, you would not wish to go, if there were not in your minds a little of credulous feeling.

10. Julia. Well, I am sure I am not credulous.

11. Mary Ann. Do not be offended, Julia; I only meant