more wonderful. Probably every body has seen gold-fish in the old conventional1 glass tureen.2 Their life was a series of spirals, and it was a relief to beholders as well as to themselves when they expired at last. Dazzled by the glare of the sunlight through the sides of their glass dwelling, the poor creatures spent their whole existence in trying to find out where they were and how they could get out: no moth near a candle ever suffered more agonizing perplexity than they. To keep them in some appearance of health for a few weeks, it was necessary to change the water frequently: every time this was done the poor little creatures died a thousand deaths -endured such agony as we should feel if we were plunged to the bottom of a river, and held there till we were senseless, every morning before breakfast. 3. It was found a difficult matter to rear, in this way, the hardy gold-fish, while almost every other description of fish would have perished in the glass tureen within a week. And for this simple reason: like all living creatures, fish emit carbonic acid gas; this, in a confined body of water, would soon be in excess, the water would become poisonous, and the fish would die. The only alternative-that of changing the water daily would frequently be fatal to the tender creatures that were compelled to submit to our handling. 4. At length, however-and it was only a few years agothe principle was discovered that, in water as in air, the prime function of plants is to evolve oxygen and to consume carbonic acid gas; in other words, to use for food the noxious vapor emitted by animals, and to supply them, in its stead, with the first necessary of animal life-pure air. 5. Starting with this principle, about the year 1850, a Mr. Warrington, an Englishman, set about breeding fish and mollusks3 in tanks, with the aid of marine plants. He succeeded admirably for a few days; but, after a time, a change came o'er his little worlds. Without apparent reason the water became suddenly impure, and his fish died. Here was a new agency at work. With the aid of the microscope, Mr. Warrington explored his tank for the poison which was evidently latent there. He soon discovered that some of his plants had reached maturity, and, obedient to the law of nature, had died and decayed. The decaying matter was the poison he was in search of. How was this to be counteracted? 6. In Nature's tanks, reflected Mr. Warrington-in seas, rivers, and ponds-plants must die and decay, yet the decay does not destroy animal life. We must see how Nature obviates the evil. The experimentalist hastened to a pond in the vicinity, and explored its bottom with care. He found, as he had anticipated, abundance of decayed vegetable matter; but he likewise found swarms of water-snails doing duty as scavengers, and devouring the putrefying substances before they had time to taint the water. Here was the secret—so beautiful a contrivance that it is said Mr. Warrington, with the emotion of a true man of science, burst into tears when it flashed upon him. 7. He dried his eyes, however, quickly enough, pocketed some snails, and threw a handful of them into his little tank at home. In a single day the water was pure and clear. Fish launched into it throve and gamboled, grew and multiplied; the plants resumed their bright colors, and the snails not only rollicked in an abundance of decaying branches from the plants, but laid a profusion of eggs, on which the fish and mollusks dined sumptuously every day. 8. Thus the aquarium-the drawing-room fish-pond-became a possibility. Mr. Warrington communicated his discoveries to the Royal Society of London; they were taken up by half the scientific men of England, and a series of experiments was begun, to test the relative capacity of the various known kinds of marine plants, fish, and marine creatures of the lowest orders, for living in the limited area of a housetank. Those experiments have been so thorough that books are now published containing the most minute directions for the establishment of aquaria; and it is said that almost every great drawing-room in England is provided with one or more of them. 9. The most common kind of aquarium is the oblong box or the circular vase, like the one represented in the engraving. If all the sides are of glass, that which is nearest the light should be shaded with a curtain, as neither fish nor plants thrive unless the sunlight reaches them from the surface of the water. Nature must always be copied. If you would have fish in your aquarium, a siphon should be used to change the water occasionally, and a syringe to aerates it daily, unless a gentle stream can be made to flow in and out constantly. Perfectly still water is too slow for well-bred fish, although it may do for reptiles. 10. Having provided yourself with the aquarium, strew the bottom with clean sand and fine pebbles to the depth of some three inches; then build your rock-work. As trees were created before the creatures which bask in their shade, so you must plant your marine vegetation before you people your miniature ocean. Having therefore poured in your water, which should be as fresh as possible from its source, and not on any account boiled, introduce your plants, taking care that each is not only perfect as to its root, but is also supplied with some portion of its maternal mould or rock. 11. It is believed that most marine plants, and all the seaweeds, will thrive in the salt-water aquaria. Zoophytes, or animal plants, must find a place there; and among these, those wonderful creatures, the star-fish, which possess the power of cutting themselves up into joints, and dissolving into six or eight perfect creatures of their own species. Mollusks3 and crustaceans 10 must be added, to act the part of scavengers and street inspectors. Among the mollusks are several species of whelk, which are found useful as window-washers, that is, in keeping the glass sides of the tank clear and bright. As to fish, we may select, from a great variety, the flounders (when young), the sticklebacks, the mullets, the gobies and blennies, the porgee, the pipe-fish, and many others. The sticklebacks-which build nests, and behave themselves in so unfishlike a manner generally—are great favorites. 12. Thus far of salt-water ponds. But aquaria may be filled with fresh water, and supplied with fresh-water plants and animals on precisely the same principles. Here snails and muscles are a necessity, to consume the decaying vegetation; and there is no limit to the fish which may be introduced, among which we would mention gold and silver fish, perch, carp, pike, trout, eels, and minnows. It is recommended, however, that the pike be small of his kind, or the other fish will unaccountably disappear. Newts and lizards may also be introduced. They are very pretty indeed, as they disport themselves in a bright aquarium, or sun themselves on the rocky island which you have built for their benefit. Let every family which can, and every school, have its aquarium. It will afford amusement and instruction to all. 1 CON-VEN'-TION-AL, customary. 3 MOL-LUSKS', animals whose bodies are soft 4 LA-TENT, not visible; hidden. SCAV'-EN-GERS, street-cleaners. 6 RŎL'-LICKED, moved about in a frolicsome manner. 7 SI-PHON, see page 347. 8 A'-ER-ATE, to purify by admitting the air. 9 Zō'-O-PHYTE, an animal plant, like the sponge and coral 10 CRUS-TA-CE-AN (-shean), animals like lobsters, crabs, etc. (See Seventh Reader.) LESSON I.-THE GLORY OF THE IMAGINATION. 1. THE shepherd-lad, that in the sunshine carves, The silent hours'; and who to that report That shines for him', and shines for all mankind.' 2. Experience daily fixing his regards On Nature's wants, he knows how few' they are', For manifold privations'; he refers His notions to this standard'; on this rock 3. Imagination-not permitted here To waste her powers, as in the worldling's mind, And trivial ostentation'-is left free That, while it binds', invigorates and supports.' His eye distinguishes', his soul creates.-WORDSWORTH. LES. II.-SHYLOCK: A SCENE OF CONTENDING PASSIONS. 1. THE following is taken from Shakspeare's play of the Merchant of Venice. The daughter of Shylock, a rich and covetous Jew, had eloped with Lorenzo and gone to Genoa, taking with her some of her father's costly jewels; and Tubal, the agent of the Jew, has just returned from a fruitless search after the runaways. The absence of his daughter distresses the Jew, but the loss of his jewels still more; yet his grief is repeatedly assuaged and changed to the highest exultation, as Tubal mentions the misfortunes which had befallen the merchant Antonio, to whom the Jew had lent money on a bond, and to whom he owes a mortal grudge. The contending passions of the Jew are admirably portrayed here, and the same should be truthfully expressed in the reading. Shylock. How now', Tubal', what news from Genoa'? Hast thou found my daughter'? Tubal. I often came where I did hear of her, but can not find her. Shy. Why there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now: two thousand ducats in that; and other precious, precious jewels.—I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! No news of them' ?-Why, so;—and I know not what's spent in the search. Why thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much', and so much to find the thief'; and no satisfaction', no revenge'; nor no ill luck stirring but what lights o' my' shoulders; no sighs' but o' my' breathing; no tears' but o' my' shedding.a Tub. Yes, other men have ill luck too: Antonio, as I heard in GenoaShy. What, what, what'? ill luck, ill luck' ?b Tub. Hath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis. Shy. I thank God, I thank God!-Is it true'? is it true' ?b • This is spoken in a tone of sobbing grief. Spoken rapidly. Shylock catches, with eager joy, at the news of Antonio's ill luck. |