XCV.-THE LIFE AND LIGHT. VISTA, n., a view; a prospect. EVEN (elvn), n., the close of the day. WON'DROUS (wŭn-), a., admirable. Pronounce where'er (a contraction of wher-ev'er) where-air'. THOU art, O God, the life and light Of all this wondrous world we see; When Day, with farewell beam, delays Through golden vistas into Heaven,- When Night, with wings of starry gloom, When youthful Spring around us breathes, XCVI. ALLEN'S CAPTURE OF TICONDEROGA. CENTER OF CENTRE, n., the middle. CAM-PAIGN' (kam-pane'), n., the time Do not say pize for poise (poiz); mornin for ́morn'ing ; fust for first, "Face 1. THE men were at once drawn up in three ranks, and, as the first beams of morning broke upon the mountain peaks, Ethan Allen addressed them thus: "Friends and fellow-soldiers, we must this morning quit our pretensions to valor, or possess ourselves of this fortress; and, inasmuch as it is a desperate attempt, I do not urge it on, contrary to will. You that will undertake it voluntarily, poise your firelock." 2. At the word every firelock was poised. to the right!" cried Allen; and, placing himself at the head of the center file, Arnold keeping emulously at his side, he marched to the gate. It was shut, but the wicket was open. The sentry snapped a fusee at him. The Americans rushed into the fort, darted upon the guards, and raising the Indian war-whoop, such as had not been heard there since the days of Montcalm, formed on the parade in hollow square, to face each of the barracks. 3. One of the sentries, after wounding an officer, and being slightly wounded himself, cried out for quarter, and showed the way to the apartment of the commanding officer. "Come forth instantly, or I will sacrifice the whole garrison," cried Allen, as he reached the door. At this, Delaplace, the commander, came out, half dressed, with some of his clothes in his hand. - 4. "Deliver to me the fort instantly," said Allen. "By what authority?" asked Delaplace." In the name of the great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!" answered Allen. Delaplace began to speak again, but was peremptorily interrupted; and, at sight of Allen's drawn sword near his head, he gave up the garrison, ordering his men to be paraded without arms. 5. Thus was Ticonderoga taken, in the gray of the morning of the tenth of May, 1775. What cost the British nation eight millions sterling, a succession of campaigns, and many lives, was won in ten minutes, by a few undisciplined men, without the loss of life or limb. GEORGE BANCROFT. XCVII.-MAN'S IMMORTALITY. DE-DUCE', v. t., to conclude by reason- | CON-SIST'ENT, a., agreeing. ing. IN-COM-PAT'I-BLE, a., not able to co DE-PEND'Ent, a., relying on. AN-NI HI-LATE, v. t., to destroy ut- exist; inconsistent. terly. Pronounce design, de-sine' or de-zine'. The former mode is preferred. 1. What is to become of man? Is the being who, surveying nature, rec'ognizes, to a certain extent, the great scheme of the universe, but who sees infinitely more which he does not comprehend, and which he ardently desires to know,-is he to perish like a mere brute; all his knowledge useless; all his most earnest wishes ungratified? How are we to reconcile such a fate with the wisdom, the goodness, the impartial justice, so strikingly displayed throughout the world by its Creator? 2. Is it consistent with any one of these attributes, thus to raise hopes in a dependent being, which are never to be realized?-thus to lift, as it were, a corner of the veil,-to show this being a glimpse of the splendor beyond, and after all to annihilate him? With the character and attributes of the benevolent Author of the universe, as deduced from his works, such concep tions are absolutely incompatible. The question then recurs What is to become of man? 3. That he is mortal, like the lower animals, sad experience teaches him; but does he, like them, die entirely? Is there no part of him that, surviving the general wreck, is reserved for a higher destiny? Can that within man which reasons like his immortal Creator, which sees and acknowledges his wisdom, and approves of his designs, be mortal like the rest? Is it probable, nay, is it possible, that what can thus comprehend the operations of an immortal Agent, is not itself immortal? 4. Thus has reasoned man in all ages; and his desires and his feelings, his hopes and his fears, have all conspired with his reason to strengthen the conviction that there is something within him which can not die; that he is destined, in short, for a future state of existence, where his nature will be exalted, and his knowledge per-fect'ed, and where the GREAT DESIGN of his Creator, commenced and left imperfect here below, WILLIAM PROUT. WILL BE COMPLETED. Avoid saying ferce for fierce (feerse); adoo for a-dieu'. Pronounce sovereign, süv'er-in ; open, o'pn ; howe'er, how-air'; even, e'vn ; said, sẽd. THE train from out the castle drew; "Though something I might plain," he said, "Of cold respect to stranger guest, Sent hither by your king's behest, While in Tantallon's towers I staid, But Douglas round him drew his cloak, To each one whom he lists, howe'er Burned Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire, "And, Douglas, more I tell thee here, Here in thy hold, thy vassals near, Angus was one of the titles of Douglas. |