That only serves to make us grieve -That only serves to make us grieve Definitions.-1. Ae'rie, very high or lofty. 3. Con çēit', an illfounded or odd notion produced by continued thinking on a subject. This use of the word was common in England in Coleridge's time, but it is seldom employed by the best writers of to-day. 72. COMPENSATION. He RALPH WALDO EMERSON (1803-1882) was born in Massachusetts. was descended from a family noted for its strong religious tendencies. He entered the ministry, but resigned after three years of service, and in 1834 settled in Concord, near Boston, which was his home till his death. Most of his work was first given to the public in the form of lectures, which were subsequently revised for the press. They include English Traits, Letters and Social Aims, Representative Men, etc. Matthew Arnold has said that Emerson's essays are "the most important work done in prose" in the nineteenth century; while his poems, though lacking technical skill, embody a natural melody which disdains conventional methods and forms. Emerson will long be remembered as one of the first of American intellects. I. ALL infractions of love and equity in our social relations are speedily punished. They are punished by fear. Whilst I stand in simple relations to my fellow-man, I have no displeasure in meeting him. We meet as water meets water, or as two currents of air mix with perfect diffusion and interpenetration of nature. But as soon as there is any departure from simplicity, and attempt at halfness, or good for me that is not good for him, my neighbor feels the wrong; he shrinks from me as far as I have shrunk from him; his eyes no longer seek mine; there is war between us; there is hate in him and fear in me. 2. Experienced men of the world know very well that it is best to pay scot and lot as they go along, and that a man often pays dear for a small frugality. The borrower runs in his own debt. Has a man gained any thing who has received a hundred favors and rendered none? Has he gained by borrowing, through indolence or cunning, his neighbor's wares, or horses, or money? 3. There arises on the deed the instant acknowledgment of benefit on the one part, and of debt on the other; that is, of superiority and inferiority. The transaction remains in. the memory of himself and his neighbor; and every new transaction alters, according to its nature, their relation to each other. He may soon come to see that he had better have broken his own bones than to have ridden in his neighbor's coach, and that "the highest price he can pay for a thing is to ask for it." 4. A wise man will extend this lesson to all parts of life, and know that it is always the part of prudence to face every claimant, and pay every just demand on your time, your talents, or your heart. Always pay; for, first or last, you must pay your entire debt. Persons and events may stand for a time between you and justice, but it is only a postponement. You must pay at last your own debt. you are wise, you will dread a prosperity which only loads you with more. If 5. Benefit is the end of nature. But for every benefit which you receive, a tax is levied. He is great who confers the most benefits. He is base-and that is the one base thing in the universe-to receive favors and render none. In the order of nature we can not render benefits to those from whom we receive them, or only seldom. But the bene fit we receive must be rendered again, line for line, deed for deed, cent for cent, to somebody. Beware of too much good staying in your hand. Pay it away quickly in some sort. 6. Labor is watched over by the same pitiless law. Cheapest, say the prudent, is the dearest labor. What we buy in a broom, a mat, a wagon, a knife, is some application of good sense to a common want. It is best to pay in your land a skillful gardener, or to buy good-sense applied to gardening; in your sailor, good-sense applied to navigation; in the house, good-sense applied to cooking, sewing, serving; in your agent, good-sense applied to accounts and affairs. So do you multiply your presence, or spread yourself throughout your estate. 7. But because of the dual constitution of things, in labor as in life, there can be no cheating. The thief steals from himself. The swindler swindles himself. For the real price of labor is knowledge and virtue, whereof wealth and credit are signs. These signs, like paper money, may be counterfeited or stolen, but that which they represent, namely, knowledge and virtue, can not be counterfeited or stolen. These ends of labor can not be answered but by real exertions of the mind, and in obedience to pure motives. cheat, the defaulter, the gambler, can not extort the benefit, can not extort the knowledge of material and moral nature which his honest care and pains yield to the operative. The law of nature is, Do the thing, and you shall have the power; but they who do not the thing have not the power. The Definitions.-I. In frăe'tion, in this connection, a breach or violation of a law of conduct. The best use of the word is in the violation of public rights, infringement referring particularly to social laws. In ter pen e tra'tion, to enter or be received between other substances. 7. Dū'al, from a Latin word meaning two; hence, double, twofold; any thing divided into two. Coun'ter feit, to imitate without right, and with the desire to defraud for a supposed personal good. 73. HYMN TO THE OCEAN. JOHN AUGUSTUS SHEA (1802-1845) was born in Ireland. He emigrated to America in 1827, and immediately commenced a career as a contributor to the magazines and reviews, and was for some years correspondent for several Eastern newspapers. He wrote a few poems, a tragedy, and some romances, which show some evidences of power; but he died before giving to the world any thing of lasting value. I. LIKENESS of heaven! Agent of power! Shipwrecks thy dower! From valley and sea, Are buried in thee! 2. What are the riches Of Mexico's mines To the wealth that far down In the deep waters shines! With one heave of thy breast. 3. Yes, thou art almighty, Unweakened, unwasted, Twin brother of Time! As the stars first beheld thee, Still chainless art thou! 4. But hold! when thy surges Is drawn back like a scroll; 74. THE PILGRIMS. EDWARD EVERETT (1794-1865), clergyman, man of letters, editor, professor, and politician, was born in Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard in 1811, and three years later was ordained as pastor of one of the Boston churches. From 1825 to 1860 Mr. Everett was engaged in political life, as Representative, Senator, Governor of Massachusetts, Minister to England, and Secretary of State, and in 1860 he was one of the candidates for Vicepresident. He was also editor of the North American Review for many years, and was president of his alma mater from 1846 to 1849. Everett is a wonderful example of what the scholar may become in American politics. He managed the duties of his various offices with rare tact and judgment, and brought to Congress "a degree of learning and ability and eloquence such as few equaled and none surpassed." 1. FROM the dark portals of the Star Chamber,1 and in the stern text of the acts of uniformity, the Pilgrims received a commission more efficient than any that ever bore the royal seal. Their banishment to Holland was fortunate; the decline of their little company in the strange land was fortunate; the difficulties which they experienced in getting the royal consent to banish themselves to this wilderness, were fortunate; all the tears and heart-breakings of that ever-memorable parting at Delfthaven2 had the happiest influence on the rising destinies of New England. |