To prayer, to prayer! - for the morning breaks; The light of gladness, and life, and love. To prayer! for the glorious sun is gone, Το prayer! for the day that God has blessed There are smiles and tears in the mother's eyes, Let it gush forth in words of fervent prayer; There are smiles and tears in that gathering band, Kneel down by the dying sinner's side, Kneel down at the couch of departing faith, He has bidden adieu to his earthly friends; For his last thoughts are God's, his last words prayer. The voice of prayer at the sable bier! A voice to sustain, to soothe, and to cheer. The voice of prayer in the world of bliss! Awake, awake, and gird up thy strength Whom the powers of nature unceasingly praise, EXERCISE LIII. THE FALL OF NIAGARA. J. G. C. Brainard. 66 [Sublimity, extending to awe, is the chief characteristic of this piece. The reading is marked by deep “ orotund," suppressed by the slightly "aspirated" effect of awe, bordering on fear. The "movement” is "extremely slow;" and the pauses correspond in length. The full, sonorous effect of the blank verse, should be freely given, in the utterance.] THE thoughts are strange that crowd into my brain, As if God poured thee from his "hollow hand," And spake in that loud voice, which seemed to him Who dwelt in Patmos for his Saviour's sake, And notch His centuries in the eternal rock! Deep calleth unto deep! And what are we, a light wave, That breaks, and whispers of its Maker's might! EXERCISE LIV. FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. Washington Irving. This extract forms an example of easy, fluent, and graceful narration, intermingled with description and sentiment. It requires, in reading, "pure tone," in the "moderate" form which belongs to "serious" and "animated" style. The utterance is on the "middle pitch,” — the "movement," ""moderate."] IT has been well observed of Ferdinand and Isabella, that they lived together, not like man and wife, whose estates are in common, under the orders of the husband, but like two monarchs, strictly allied. They had separate claims to sovereignty, in virtue of their separate kingdoms, and held separate councils. Yet they were so happily united by common views, common interests, and a great deference for each other, that this double administration never prevented a unity of purpose and action. All acts of sovereignty were executed in both their names; all public writings subscribed with both their signatures; their likenesses were stamped together on the public coin; and the royal seal displayed the united arms of Castile and Arragon. Ferdinand possessed a clear and comprehensive genius, and great penetration. He was equable in temper, indefati gable in business, a great observer of men, and is extolled by Spanish writers as unparalleled in the science of the cabinet. It has been maintained by writers of other nations, however, and apparently with reason, that he was bigoted in religion, and craving rather than magnanimous in his ambition; that he made war less like a paladin than a prince, less for glory than for mere dominion; and that his policy was cold, selfish, and artful. He was called the wise and prudent in Spain; in Italy, the pious; in France and England, the ambitious and perfidious. Contemporary writers have been enthusiastic in their descriptions of Isabella; but time has sanctioned their eulogies. She was of the middle size, and well formed; with a fair complexion, auburn hair, and clear blue eyes. There was a mingled gravity and sweetness in her countenance, and a singular modesty in her mien, gracing, as it did, great firmness of purpose and earnestness of spirit. Though strongly attached to her husband, and studious of his fame, yet she always maintained her distinct rights as an allied prince. She exceeded him in beauty, personal dignity, acuteness of genius, and grandeur of soul. Combining the active, the resolute qualities of man, with the softer charities of woman, she mingled in the warlike councils of her husband, and being inspired with a truer idea of glory, infused a more loftyand generous temper into his subtle and calculating policy. It is in the civil history of their reign, however, that the character of Isabella shines most illustrious. Her fostering and maternal care was continually directed to reform the laws, and heal the ills engendered by a long course of civil wars. She assembled round her the ablest men in literature and science, and directed herself by their counsels in encouraging literature and the arts. She promoted the distribution of honours and rewards for the promulgation of knowledge, fostered the recently invented art of printing; and, through her patronage, Salamanca rose to that eminence which it assumed among the learned institutions of the age. Such was the noble woman who was destined to acquire immortal renown by her spirited patronage of the discovery of the new world. [The style of this piece requires the manner of "lively” and “gay” conversation, interspersed with occasional “serious" expression, and, sometimes, with graphic "humour." To give these changes of feeling with full natural effect, is the chief object to be kept in view, in reading. When the description borders on the satirical style, a peculiar pungency is required in the emphasis; and the 66 slide," or "simple inflection," passes into the "wave,” or “double inflection." A pompous "median" swell, also, is sometimes thrown in, to give efficacy to descriptive tone, in burlesque passages.] lub MR. MILSTEAD, who, to the most sincere piety united a cultivated mind, a benevolent heart, and a cheerful and liberal disposition, had been recently appointed to a church in one of the small towns of a certain Atlantic section of the Union, that shall be nameless. His wife was a young and beautiful woman, whose character harmonized in every respect with his own. As they had no children, and were good managers, Mr. Milstead soon found that his salary would not only afford them all they wanted, but that it would leave them something to give away. They became very popular with the congrega- They had not been long established in Tamerton, when |