16. THE MONTHS. JOHN RUSKIN (1819-18-) was born in London. In his first work, Modern Painters, which he published shortly after his graduation from college, he advocated a complete revolution in modern art. It was received with enthusiasm by some critics, and with great hostility by others. From the time of the appearance of this book, in 1843, he was constantly engaged in writing and lecturing until 1886, when his health failed, and he is now living in retirement. His numerous works show an astonishing command of the English language, and are widely read. 1. FROM your high dwellings in the realms of snow Whose waves shall stand in silent ice no more; 2. Bow down your heads, ye flowers in gentle guise, Before the dewy rain that April sheds, Whose sun shines through her clouds with quick surprise, And wreathe ye round the rosy month that flies Till July's sun upon the mountains rise Triumphant, and the wan and weary moon 3. Rejoice! ye fields, rejoice! and wave with gold, When August round her precious gifts is flinging; Lo! the crushed wain is slowly homeward rolled: If the Spring blossoms have not blushed in vain: In rattling showers dark November's rain, Till keen December's snows close up the year again. When used in connection Definitions.—I. Īre, anger, wrath. with a person, ire not so strong a word as anger; is more explosive and less reasoning, with less cause for complaint or offense. 2. Guişe, external appearance. 3. Jõe'und, merry, sportive. NOTE.-I. Sirius, the brightest star in the heavens, called the DogIt is the nearest of the fixed stars. star. 17. IMPRESSMENT OF AMERICAN SEAMEN.. HENRY CLAY (1771-1852), one of the greatest of American orators, was born in Virginia. He removed to Lexington, Kentucky, in 1797, and entered upon the practice of law, but soon drifted into politics. For fifty years he was one of the central figures in American history, holding some of the highest offices in the gift of the government. He was several times nominated for the Presidency. His Speeches will long be interesting as the relics of a magnificent and dazzling personality, and for the light they shed upon the history of parties." The following is from his speech on the War of 1812. Clay was Speaker of the House at this time, but took a leading part in the debates in addition to his other duties. I. IT is in vain to assert the inviolability of the obligation of allegiance. It is in vain to set up the plea of necessity, and to allege that she can not exist without the impressment of her seamen. The naked truth is, she comes, by her press-gangs, on board of our vessels, seizes our native as ALT. V.-5. well as naturalized seamen, and drags them into her service. It is the case, then, of the assertion of an erroneous principle, and of a practice not conformable to the asserted principle-a principle which, if it were theoretically right, must be forever practically wrong—a practice which can obtain countenance from no principle whatever, and to submit to which, on our part, would betray the most abject degradation. 2. We are told by gentlemen in the opposition that government has not done all that was incumbent on it to do, to avoid just cause of complaint on the part of Great Britain; that in particular the certificates of protection, authorized by the act of 1796, are fraudulently used. Sir, government has done too much in granting those paper protections. can never think of them without being shocked. What do they imply? That Great Britain has a right to seize all who are not provided with them. From their very nature they must be liable to abuse on both sides. 3. If Great Britain desires a mark by which she can know her own subjects, let her give them an ear-mark. The colors that float from the mast-head should be the credentials of our seamen. There is no safety to us, and the gentlemen have shown it, but in the rule that all who sail under the flag (not being enemies), are protected by the flag. It is impossible that this country should ever abandon the gallant tars who have won for us such splendid trophies. 4. Let me suppose that the genius of Columbia should visit one of them in his oppressor's prison, and attempt to reconcile him to his forlorn and wretched condition. She would say to him, in the language of gentlemen on the other side, "Great Britain intends you no harm; she did not mean to impress you, but one of her own subjects; having taken you by mistake, I will remonstrate, and try to prevail upon her, by peaceable means, to release you; but I can not, my son, fight for you." I 5. If he did not consider this mere mockery, the poor tar would address her judgment and say, "You owe me, my country, protection; I owe you, in return, obedience. am no British subject; I am a native of old Massachusetts, where lived my aged father, my wife, my children. I have faithfully discharged my duty. Will you refuse to do yours?" I will not imagine the dreadful catastrophe to which he would be driven by an abandonment of him to his oppressor. It will not be, it can not be, that his country will refuse him protection. 6. An honorable peace is attainable only by an efficient war. My plan would be to call out the ample resources of the country, give them a judicious direction, prosecute the war with the utmost vigor, strike wherever we can reach the enemy, at sea or on land, and negotiate the terms of peace at Quebec or at Halifax. We are told that England is a proud and lofty nation, which, disdaining to wait for danger, meets it half way. Haughty as she is, we triumphed over her once, and if we do not listen to the counsels of timidity and despair, we shall again prevail. In such a cause, with the aid of Providence, we must come out crowned with success; but if we fail, let us fail like men, lash ourselves to our gallant tars, and expire together in one common struggle. Definitions.—1. In vĩ o la bìlity, sacredness. Alle'ġiançe, the duty which one owes to a government or state. It is the recognition of the binding relationship toward a superior. Erroneous, wrong, unjust. 2. In eŭm ́bent, imposed; lying or resting upon as a duty. 3. Trophies, those things preserved as memorials of victory. 4. Re mon'strate, to present strong reasons against an act. Remonstrance is an appeal to the case in point, and indirectly to the person's sense of its injustice. We remonstrate when we set forth in the strongest terms the danger of continuing in the present 6. Haugh'ty, bold, overproud. course. 18. BANISHMENT OF CATALINE.1 REV. GEORGE CROLY (1780-1860) was born in Ireland, and received his education at Trinity College, Dublin. Dr. Croly was for many years rector of St. Stephen's in London, where his varied learning and intense zeal, combined with a fair share of literary gifts, made him noted as a preacher. He was a voluminous writer in many fields of literature. His best works are The Angel of the World, Cataline, and Salathiel, a romance. In his later works Dr. Croly attained his highest intellectual flights; but he was rarely tender and affectionate, and his cold and stately style repels readers of the present day. Cicero.2 OUR long dispute must close. Of this rebellion. Lucius Cataline Has been commanded to attend the Senate. [Cataline enters.] Here I repeat the charge, to gods and men, Under his roof, with mystic rites, and oaths Cataline. Conscript fathers! I do not rise to waste the night in words; |