And prayed that safe and swift might be her way
To the calm world of sunshine, where no grief
Makes the heart heavy and the eyelids red.
Beautiful lay the region of her tribe
Below her;-waters, resting in the embrace
Of the wide forest, and maize-planted glades,
Opening amid the leafy wilderness.

She gazed upon it long, and, at the sight
Of her own village, peeping through the trees,
And her own dwelling, and the cabin roof
Of him she loved with an unlawful love,
And came to die for, a warm gush of tears
Ran from her eyes. But, when the sun grew low,
And the hill-shadows long, she threw herself
From the steep rock, and perished.

There was scooped,

Upon the mountain's southern slope, a grave,
And there they laid her, in the very garb
With which the maiden decked herself for death,
With the same withering wild flowers in her hair
And, o'er the mould that covered her, the tribe
Built up a simple monument, a cone
Of small loose stones.

Thenceforward, all who passed,
Hunter, and dame, and virgin, laid a stone,
In silence, on the pile. It stands there yet.
And Indians, from the distant west, that come
To visit where their fathers' bones are laid,
Yet tell the sorrowful tale, and, to this day,
The mountain, where the hapless maiden died,
Is called the Mountain of the Monument.

LESSON LXXXVII.

Description of the Falls of Niagara.—Caleb Bingham.

1. AMONG the many natural curiosities which this country affords, the cataract of Niagara is infinitely the greatest.

In order to have a tolerable idea of this stupendous fall of water, it will be necessary to conceive that part of the country in which Lake Erie is situated to be elevated above that which contains Lake Ontario about three hundred feet.

2. Figure to yourself the first collection of these waters, at a distance of more than two thousand miles, passing through the Lake of the Woods, and several smaller ones, and at length falling into Lake Superior, which is at least sixteen hundred miles in circumference, and is supplied by more than thirty considerable rivers.

3. This vast body of water passes into Lake Huron, which is eight hundred miles in circumference, where, meeting the waters of Lake Michigan, which is larger than Lake Huron, it continues its course into Lake Erie, which is nearly eight hundred miles in circuit.

4. This immense collection of water then rushes down the Niagara river to the frontier of what may be called the upper country, where, with astonishing grandeur, it is precipitated down a perpendicular precipice of about one hundred and seventy-six feet, which forms the celebrated cataract of Niagara.

5. The Canada shore affords the most satisfactory view of these falls, as the greatest body of water descends upon that side; but the view from the other side is not without its peculiar beauties. That part of the Canada shore which presents a full view of the falls, is called the Table Rock. It is the newest point which may be approached with safety, as it is just upon the margin of the great sheet of falling water.

6. From this spot you have a fair view of the whole falls, rushing with such incredible swiftness over the precipice to the unfathomable abyss beneath, that, when you first fix your eye upon the descending mass, you involuntarily shudder, and retreat as if fearful of being overwhelmed in the vast descent of waters.

7. The current of the Niagara river hegins to grow very strong more than two miles above the falls, so that, in order to cross over in safety, it is necessary to ascend a mile further. The first mile above the falls exhibits one continued scene of foaming billows, dashing and rebounding against hidden and projecting rocks. The descent of the rapids is

probably not less than one hundred feet within the last mile, and the noise and confusion of the water are only surpassed by the fall itself.

8. While at a very great distance, a volume of clouds may be observed hovering over the falls. In a clear day, they appear very high and white, while, on the contrary, in heavy, cloudy weather, they sink lower, and acquire a smoky appearance. These clouds proceed from the vapors arising from the spray caused by the dashing of the waters.

9. As you proceed down the river on the American side, Goat Island, which divides the falls, is seen at no great distance on the left. The river between is full of rocks, and here and there you perceive considerable lodgements of drifted wood, apparently waiting for a rise of the river, in order to launch themselves over the falls.

10. You may approach equally as near the falling sheet on this as on the opposite side of the river, and, by taking a proper station in the morning of a clear day, you will behold beneath your feet a beautiful and variegated rainbow, stretching from shore to shore, and perpetually rolling, as if it intended to confound all its brilliant colors into one confused mass, while each still remains separate and distinct.

11. You may advance so near to the cataract on either side as to wash your hands in the falling water, but in a few minutes you will be wet to the skin. This is owing to the abundance of vapor which is continually falling; and this constant humidity has covered the rocks below the fails with a luxuriant growth of grass, sometimes of extraordinary length.

12. The river is about a mile wide at the falls. Goat Island, which divides the falls, contains about twenty acres of land, and is situated nearest the American side. A pas sage to this island was accidentally discovered several years ago, and many were sufficiently adventurous to visit it. Through the exertions of a distinguished individual, who resides near the spot, the difficulties are now removed, and a passage to the island, or a descent to the bottom of the falls is easily performed.

13. The falls are daily making inroads on this island, as well as on the banks and general foundation of the river. There is a tradition of another small island, near that just

mentioned, and it is entitled to some credit, as eight or ten large rocks, lying very near the edge of the falls, are still perceptible, and are probably the last fragments of the little island alluded to.

14. From the greater body of water passing off on the Canada side, the rocks, or foundation of the falls, are subject to greater inroads than on the other part. It is even conjectured, from the appearance of the river below the falls, that they were once several miles lower down, but, as their situation has not materially altered since they were first discovered by Europeans, so great a change could not have taken place unless caused by some tremendous convulsion of nature.

15. The falls, when seen from Goat Island, have the ap pearance of an irregular horse-shoe, with one side of the curve longer than the other, the longest being on the American side. Two miles below the falls is a very singular whirlpool, caused by an abrupt turn of the river, which, from the depression of its centre, has the appearance of water in a huge tunnel.

16. Trees of one hundred feet in length, with a great part of their branches, are here frequently seen spinning round, until by constant friction, or coming in contact with each other, they are at length broken to pieces. Sometimes they are drawn under, and disappear a few minutes, and then show themselves again, and resume their former cir cular motion; while at other times they disappear alto gether.

17. Immediately below the falls are several small eddies, where there is excellent fishing; but the difficulty of ascending and descending is too great to compensate an ordinary sportsman. Along the shore are found many curious pieces of timber, deposited by the higher wa ter, as it were for samples of the forms and varieties which are continually ground in the great water works of Niagara.

18. Various accounts have been given of the height of the great pitch, but the only instance of actual measurement which we have known, is recorded in a manuscrip. Tour to the Falls of Niagara, in the year 1806. The author provided himself with a line, which was lowered from the edge of Table rock, and held perpendicularly by a per

son below.

The line, which, after all allowance for shrinking, measured 176 feet, has since been deposited in the collection of a literary institution.

1

LESSON LXXXVIII.

The Joys of Repentance.-RELIGIOUS MAGAZINE.

1. "WHICH is the most delightful emotion?" said an in structer of the deaf and dumb to his pupils, after teaching them the names of our various feelings.

2. The pupils turned instinctively to their slates, to write an answer; and one with a smiling countenance wrote Joy.

3. It would seem as if none could write any thing else; but another with a look of more thoughtfulness, put down Hope. A third with a beaming countenance wrote Grati tude. A fourth wrote Love, and other feelings still, claimed the superiority on other minds.

4. One, turned back with a countenance full of peace, and yet a tearful eye, and the teacher was surprised to find upon her slate "Repentance is the most de ightful emotion."

5. He turned to her with marks of wonder, in which her companions doubtless participated, and asked "Why?" "Oh," said she in the expressive language of looks and gestures, which marks these mutes-"it is so delightful to be humbled before God!"

6. She had been one of Nature's lofty spirits, whose very aspect seemed to demand the deference of those around her, and who had strong claims to it. She had recently become "as a little child," under the influence of the gospel, and pride had not only yielded with sweet submission to the will of God, but had bowed without a murmur to the reproaches, and almost persecutions of companions who hated the light when thus reflected from the countenance, and conduct, and conversation of one like themselves.

7. She had been utterly ignorant of moral obligation. She had learned the evil of sin, and at the same moment, the ample provision for its forgiveness-and the humbling melt. ing of the soul, in penitential love, and gratitude, and joy surpassed, in her view, all that the whole circle of emotions could furnish.