of the bed, and, at the appointed time, she found herself fully roused by the long rattling sound. She instantly obeyed the call, and felt better all day for her early rising.

3. This continued for several weeks. The alarm-watch faithfully performed its office, and was distinctly heard, so long as it was promptly obeyed. But after a time, the lady grew tired of early rising; and when she was awakened by the noisy monitor, she heeded not its warning voice, but merely opened her eyes, and slept again.

4. In a few days, the watch ceased, to arouse her from her slumber. It spoke just as loudly as ever, but she did not hear it, because she had acquired the habit of disobeying it.

5. Finding that she might just as well be without an alarm-watch, she formed the wise resolution, that, if she ever heard the sound again, she would instantly spring from her bed, and that she never would allow herself to disobey the friendly warning.

If we

6. Just so it is with conscience. obey its dictates, even to the most trifling particulars, we always hear its voice, clear and strong. But if we allow ourselves to do what we have some fears may not be quite right, we shall grow more and more sleepy, until the voice of conscience has no longer any power to waken us.

QUESTIONS.-1. For what purpose did this lady purchase an alarm-watch? 2. Why is it called an alarm

watch? 3. Did this alarm-watch effectually waken her at the appointed time? 4. Did she continue to obey its calls? 5. What was the effect of her disobeying this faithful monitor? 6. Did the alarm-watch continue to speak as loud as ever? 7. What wise resolution did this lady finally adopt? 8. What kind of an alarm-watch do we all have, to tell us what is right and wrong? 9. Do you ever neglect its friendly warning?

LESSON XXVII.

mell and Define-1. Ex' CEL LENT, having great value; very good. 2. BUS' TLING, stirring; moving actively. 3. GRAVE LY, in a solemn manner; soberly; seriously. 4. AP PLI' ED, put to; directed. 5. UN RE STRAIN' ED, not confined ; not controlled. 6. CON DUCT' ED, led; guided. 7. FER TILE, fruitful; productive.

What Rule directs you how to read dialogues?

I SEE! I SEE! I SEE!

1. "WHAT an excellent thing is knowledge!" said a sharp looking, bustling, little man, to one who was much older than himself. "Knowledge is an excellent thing!" repeated he; "my boys know more at six and seven years of age, than I did at twelve.

2. "They can read all sorts of books, and talk on all sorts of subjects. The world is a great deal wiser than it used to be. Every body knows something of every thing now. Do you not think, sir, that knowledge is an excellent thing?"

3. "Why, sir," replied the old man, looking gravely, "that depends entirely upon the use, to which it is applied. It may be either a blessing or a curse. Knowledge is only an

increase of power, and power may be a bad as well as a good thing."

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4. "That is what I can not understand,' said the bustling, little man. "How can

power be a bad thing?"

5. "I will tell you," meekly replied the old man, and thus he went on;-" when the power of a horse is under restraint, the animal is useful in bearing burdens, drawing loads, and carrying his master; but when that power is unrestrained, the horse breaks his bridle, dashes his carriage to pieces, or throws his rider."

"I see! I see!" said the little man.

6. "When the water of a pond is properly conducted by trenches, it renders the fields around fertile; but when it bursts through its banks, it sweeps every thing before it, and destroys the produce of the field."

"I see! I see !" said the little man, "I see!" 7. "When a ship is steered aright, the sail that she hoists, enables her the sooner to get into port; but if steered wrong, the more sail she carries, the farther she will go out of her course."

"I see! I see!" said the little man, "I see clearly!"

8. "Well then," continued the old man, "if you see these things so clearly, I hope you can see, too, that knowledge, to be a good thing, must be rightly applied. God's grace in the heart will render the knowledge of

the head a blessing; but without this, it may prove to us no better than a curse."

"I see! I see! I see!" said the little man, "I see!"

QUESTIONS.-1. What did the bustling, little man think about knowledge? 2. What reply did the old man make to him about knowledge? 3. What examples did the old man take to show that "knowledge might be a bad thing?" 4. What reply did the bustling, little man make to these arguments? 5. Ought we to express our opinion on any subject, before we have fully examined it? 6. Which of these two men do you think was the wiser ? 7. When may knowledge be said to be " an excellent thing?"

Should the voice rise or fall at the end of the 2nd verse? At the end of the 4th verse?

LESSON XXVIII.

Spell and Define-1. GAUD' Y, showy; splendid; gay. 2. STRUT TING, walking with a lofty gait. 3. Ex PO' SED, laid open; uncovered. 4. DE VOID', void; empty; destitute. 5. Vex a' tioN, trouble; disquiet. 6. SIT u a'TION, condition; place; position. 7. IL' LUME, to enlighten; to adorn. 8. PRO TECT' ED, defended from injury. 9. CON TEN' TION, strife; quarrel; controversy. 10. Spr'ED, saw; discovered. 11. DIS DAIN', contempt; scorn. 12. GRA' CES, beauties; excellences. 13. PRA TING, idly

talking.

What Rule teaches you how to read poetry?

THE PEACOCK AND THE OYSTER.-A FABLE.

1. BENEATH a cliff, one summer's day,

A gaudy peacock took his way;

While strutting there with thoughtless pride,

An oyster on the sand he spied.

2. He viewed it long with proud disdain, Then spoke in this insulting strain:

"Sure pity's due thy wretched lot;
Thou look'st like one by heaven forgot;

3. "So here exposed in this sad place,
Devoid of beauty, sense, or grace;
Such a vile, rough hewn thing beside,
How could my graces be denied?"

4. The oyster heard this swell of pride,
Her shell she oped, and thus replied:
"If by your words your sense you rule,
They much bespeak the prating fool.

5. "Perhaps things are as you denote,—
I own the roughness of my coat;

But this to me yields no vexation,
It best befits my situation.

6. "And now with grateful pride I tell,-
A lamp of pearl illumes my shell;
Thus then enlightened, thus protected,
How can I be by heaven neglected?

7. "And here let all contention end,
Learn well this truth, my strutting friend;
No longer thus yourself deceive,

For what they've not the wise ne'er grieve."

QUESTIONS.-1. How did the peacock look upon the oyster ? 2. How did he address the oyster? 3. What reply did the oyster make? 4. Is not the language of the peacock and oyster unbecoming? 5. What does this fable teach you? 6. How should we treat those who are less favored than ourselves? 7. Is it not the mark of a weak mind to boast of our accomplishments? 8. Is it not wrong to murmur and repine at our lot? 9. Should we envy the

condition of others?