LESSON 52.

DEFINITIONS.

Al-ex-an'-der, king of Macedonia.
Ma-ce-dó-nia, a kingdom of Europe.
Gób-let, a bowl, a cup, a drinking vessel.
Com'.merce, dealing, intercourse, trade.
Ly'b-i-a, a country in Africa west of Egypt.
Sy'r-í-a, a country in Asia, west of Persia.
Per- sia, a large kingdom in Asia.

Bac-tri-ans, a nation, north of Persia.
In-dia-In'd-ja, the southern part of Asia.

Scyth'-i-ans, a wandering people inhabiting the northern

part of Europe and Asia.

What word is the opposite of vast? Equal? War? Subdue? Growing? Top? Dead? Weak? Beyond? Satiety? Speech of the Scythians to Alexander the Great. QUINTIUS CURTIUS.

1. IF your person were as vast as your desires, the whole world would not contain you. Your right hand would touch the east, and your left the west, at the same time. You grasp at more than you are equal to. From Europe you reach Asia; from Asia you lay hold on Europe. And if you should' conquer all mankind you seem disposed to wage war with woods and snows, with rivers and wild beasts, and subdue nature.

2. But, have you considered the usual course of things? Have you reflected that great trees are many years a growing to their height, but are cut down in an hour? It is foolish to think of the fruit only, without considering the height you have to climb to come at it. Take care, lest, while you strive to reach the top, you fall to the ground, with the branches you have already laid hold on.

3. The Lion, when dead, is devoured by ravens; and rust consumes the hardness of iron. There is nothing

so strong, but it is in danger from what is weak. It will, therefore, be your wisdom to take care how you venture beyond your reach.

4. Besides, what have you to do with the Scythians; or the Scythians with you? We have never invaded Macedonia; why should you attack Scythia? We inhabit vast deserts, and pathless woods, where we do not want to hear the name of Alexander. We are not disposed to submit to slavery, and we have no ambition to make slaves of others.

5. That you may understand the genius of the Scythians, we present you with a yoke of oxen, an arrow, and a goblet. We use these respectively, in our commerce with friends, and with foes. We give to our friends, the corn, which we raise by the labor of our oxen. With the goblet we join in pouring out drink offerings to the gods; and with the arrows, we attack our enemies.

6. You pretend to be the punisher of robbers, and are yourself the greatest robber the world ever saw. You have taken Lybia; you have seized Syria; you are master of Persia; you have subdued the Bactrians; and attacked India. All this will not satisfy you, unless you lay your greedy and insatiable hands upon our flocks and herds.

7. How imprudent is your conduct! you grasp at riches, the possession of which only increases your avarice. You increase your hunger, by that which should produce satiety; so that the more you have, the more you desire.

Child.

LESSON 53.

The Child's Inquiry.

"How big was Alexander, Pa,
That people call him GREAT?
Was he like old Goliah tall-
His spear a hundred weight?

"Was he so large that he could stand
Like some tall steeple high;

And, while his feet were on the ground
His hands could touch the sky?"

Father. "O no, my child; about as large
As I, or uncle James.

'Twas not his stature made him great;
But greatness of his name.

Child. "His name so great? I know 'tis long,
But easy quite to spell,-
And more than half a year ago

I knew it very well."

Father. "I mean, my child, his actions were
So great, he got a name

That every body speaks with praise,
And tells about his fame."

Child. "Well, what great actions did he do?
I want to know it all."

Father. "Why, he it was that conquered Tyre,
And levelled down her wall."

"And thousands of her people slew-
And then to Persia went-
And fire and sword on every side,
Through many a region sent."

"A hundred conquered cities shone
With midnight burnings red-
And strewed o'er many a battle ground,
A thousand soldiers bled."

Child. "Did killing people make him great"
Then why was Abel Young,

Father.

Who killed his neighbor training day,
Put into jail and hung?”

"I never heard them call him great."
"Ah! that was not in war-

And him that kills a single man
His neighbors all abhor."

Child.

"Well, then, if I should kill one man,
I'd kill a hundred more:-

I should be great, and not get hung
Like Abel Young before."

Father. "Not so, my child, 'twill never do:

Child.

The gospel bids be kind.”

"Then they that kill, and they that praise,
The gospel do not mind."

Father. "You know, my child, the Bible says,
That you must always do
To other people, as you wish
To have them do to you."

Child. "But, Pa, did Alexander wish

That some strong men would come.
And burn his house,-and kill him too;
And do as he had done?

"And every body called him great
For killing people so!

Well, now, what right he had to kill,
I should be glad to know.

"If one should burn the buildings here,
And kill the folks within,
Would any body call him great,
For such a wicked thing?"

LESSON 54.

The Child's first Grief.—1

Child.

.-MRS. HEMANS.

1. "O, call my brother back to me,

2.

I cannot play alone;

The summer comes with flower and bee,-
Where is my brother gone?"

The butterfly is glancing bright,

Across the sunbeams track;

3.

I care not now to chase its flight,

O call my brother back!"

"The flowers run wild, -the flowers we sowed Around our garden-tree;

Our vine is drooping with its load

O call him back to me!"

Mother.

4. "He would not hear my voice, my child! He may not come to thee;

4.

6.

7.

1.

2.

The face that once, like spring-time smiled,
On earth no more thou'lt see."

"The rose's brief, bright light of joy,
Such unto him was given;-
Go,-thou must play alone my boy!
Thy brother is in heaven."

Child.

"And has he left his bird and flowers?
And must I call in vain?

And through the long, long summer hours,
Will he not come again?"

"And by the brook, and in the glade,
Are all our wanderings o'er?

Oh! while my brother with me played,
Would I had loved him more!"

LESSON 55.

Death and the Youth,

"Not yet, the flowers are in my path;
The sun is in my sky;-

Not yet, my heart is full of hope,
I cannot bear to die."

"Not yet, I never knew till now,
How precious life could be;-