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LESSON XXV.

DIRECTION.-The former part of each verse in the following poetry, should be read or spoken in a low tone of voice, denoting majesty and power; the latter part, in a lively, animative style.

THE DAYS OF CREATION.

From the German of KRUMMACHER.

1. (sl.) ALL dead and silent was the earth, In deepest night it lay,

2.

3.

4.

The ETERNAL Spoke Creation's word
And called to being-Day!

(=)

It streamed from on high,

All reddening and bright,
And angels' songs welcomed
The new-born light.

God spake, the murmuring waters fled,-
They left their deep repose;

Wide over-arching heaven's blue vault

The firmanent arose !

Now sparkles above

Heaven's glorious blue,

It sends to the earth

The light and the dew.

God spake,-He bade the waves divide,

The earth uprears her head;

From hill, from rock, the gushing streams
In bubbling torrents spread!

The earth rested quiet,

And poised in the air,

In heaven's blue bosom,
Lay naked and bare.

God spake, the hills and plains put on

Their robe of freshest green;

Dark forests in the valleys wave,

And budding trees are seen!

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The word of his breath,

Clothes forests with leaves,—
The high gift of beauty

The spring-tide receives.

God spake, and on the new dressed earth,
Soft smiles the glowing sun;
Then full of joy he sprung aloft,
His heavenly course to run!
Loud shouted the stars,

As they shone in the sky;
The moon with mild aspect,
Ascended on high.

God spake, the waters teem with life,

The tenants of the floods;

The many-colored winged birds.

Dart quickly through the woods!

High rushes the eagle

On fiery wings,

Low hid in the valley,

The nightingale sings.

God spake,-He looked on earth and heaven

With mild and gracious eye;

In His own image man He made,

And gave him dignity.

He springs from the dust,

The lord of the earth,

The chorus of heaven

Exult at his birth!

And now creation's work was ended,
Man raised his head-he spoke;
The day of rest by God ordained,
The Sabbath morning broke.

1. (。 sl.)“ Lēt thēre bē līght !” proclaimed the Almighty Lōrd. Astonished Chaos heard the potent word;

2.

3.

Through all its realms the kindling ether runs,
And the mass starts into a million suns.
Earths, round each sun, in quick explosions burst,
And second planets issue from the first;
Bend as they journey with projectile force,
In bright ellipses their reluctant course.
Orbs wheel in orbs; round centers-centers roll,
And form, self-balanced, one revolving whole.
(。 sl.) Onward they move amid their bright abode,
Space without bounds,-the bosom of their GOD.
Roll on, ye stars! exult in youthful prime,—
Mark with bright curves the print less steps of Time ;
Near and more near your beamy cars approach,
And lessening orbs on lessening orbs encroach;
Flowers of the sky! ye, too, to age must yield,
Frail as your silken sisters of the field!

Star after star from heaven's high arch shall rush,
Suns sink on suns, and systems-systems crush;
Headlong, extinct, to one dark center fall,
And death, and night, and chaos, mingle all!
Till o'er the wreck, emerging from the storm,
Immortal nature lifts her changeful form,
Mounts from her funeral pyre on wings of flame,
And soars and shines, another and the same.

DARWIN.

LESSON XXVI.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.-EXCELSIOR is a Latin term which signifies more lofty, HIGHER. It is adopted as the motto of the State of New York.

THE EDUCATIONAL POLICY OF NEW YORK.

HORACE MANN.

1. VAST as are the interests of the Empire State,—with a population, approaching to that of the whole United Colonies, at the time they achieved their independence, and a valuation, probably exceeding that of the whole country during the Rev

olutionary struggle;-with a soil fertile in vegetable, and stored with mineral productions;-with a splendid system of internal improvements, yielding its millions of direct revenue to the State, yet, indirectly, a hundred fold more valuable to the citizens from the means which it furnishes for universal competence and comfort;--with an extent of territory, almost equal to that of England;-occupying a central and commanding position, by which it is open to the ocean on one side, and connected on all others with immense regions, filled with industrious and populous communities, so that a great part of the commerce of this western world, passes through its gates, and pays its tribute;-yet in the midst of these vast and varied interests, its true interest-the EDUCATION OF ITS PEOPLE -transcends them all.

2. For to what purpose, is there a combination of all these constituents of greatness, which make it truly an Empire State;-of what avail is its territorial extent, measured, as it is, by degrees of latitude and longitude upon the earth's surface;—why are its great thoroughfares and cities piled and heaped high with accumulated riches;-to what end does every inflowing tide pour wealth upon its shores;-if, amidst all these elements of worldly power, the mind of man have not an over-mastering power, if the intellect and morals do not rise above them, and predominate, and establish a supremacy over them, and convert them from gratifications of appetite, passions, and pride, into instruments of mental and spiritual well-being?

3. To devote worldly and material resources to intellectual and moral improvement; to change corporeal riches into mental treasures, is to transmute the dull, cold, perishable things of earth and time into celestial and immortal capacities;-as, by the mysterious processes of nature, the dark mold of the valley is turned into flowers and fruits. "EXCELSIOR" is the beautiful motto which that great State has chosen. Let her wisely fulfill that noble idea, by striving, through the means of an enlarged and thorough education of her people, to rise higher and HIGHER in the endless scale of GOOD.

LESSON XXVII.

NOTE. The following beautiful poem is considered one of the gems of the English language. Its symbolical meaning will be at once perceived. Under the disguise of an Alpine traveler, it represents the incentives, the struggles, and the fate of genius. It depicts with vivid power, the youthful and ardent aspirant in his progress up the dangerous and dizzy hights of fame, leaving behind him all the honors and riches of the world, and intent only on the object of his pursuit far onward and upward.

EXCELSIOR, OR THE YOUTHFUL ASPIRANT.
H. W. LONGFELLOW.

1. THE shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth who bore, 'mid snow and ice,
A banner with this strange device,—
EXCELSIOR!

2. His brow was sad; his eyes beneath
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,
And like a silver clarion rung

The accents, of that unknown tongue,—
EXCELSIOR!

3. In happy homes, he saw the light
Of household fires gleam warm and bright;
Above, the spectral glaciers shone,
And from his lips escaped a groan,-
EXCELSIOR!

4. " Try not the Pass!" the old man said,
"Dark lowers the tempest overhead!
The roaring torrent's deep and wide!"
And loud that clarion voice replied,-
EXCELSIOR!

5. "Beware the pine-tree's withered branch!
Beware the awful avalanche!"

This was the peasant's last good night,
A voice replied, far up the hight,-
EXCELSIOR!

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