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rush, and roar of the pent-up noise, and the rest with admiration, yea, astonishment, that the schoolmaster "could speak so,"d

30. He ceased-it was all as still as if every other voice had died of envy. He bowed-there was then a general breathing, as if the vocals were just coming to life again. He sat down on a chair placed on the stage, then there was one general buzz, above which arose, here and there, a living and loud voice.

31. Above this, soon arose the exaltation of the orator's favorite march; for he deemed it proper that his own performance should be separated from those of his pupils by some length and loftiness of music. Now the exhibition commenced in good earnest. The dramatists dressed in costumes according to the character to be sustained, as far as all the old and odd dresses that could be mustered up, would enable them to do so.

32. The district, and indeed the town, had been ransacked for revolutionary coats and cocked-up hats, and other grandfatherly and grand-motherly attire. The people present were quite as much amused with the spectacle, as with the speaking. To see the old fashions on the young folks, and to see the young folks personating characters so entirely opposite to their own; for instance, the slim, pale-faced youth, by the aid of stuffing, looking and acting the fat old wine-bibber; the blooming girl of seventeen, putting on the cap, the kerchief, and the character of seventy-five, &c.,e all this was ludicrously strange.

33. A very refined taste might have observed other things that were strangely ludicrous in the elocution and gesticulation of these disciples of Mr. Spoutsound, but most of the company present were so fortunate as to perceive no bad taste to mar their enjoyment.

34. The little boy of five spoke the little piece

"You'd scarce expect one of my age," &c.

I recollect another line of the piece, which has become singularly verified in the history of the lad. It is this—

"Tall oaks from little acorns grow."

Now this acorn of eloquence, which sprouted forth so vigorously on this occasion, has at length grown into a mighty ak

of oratory on his native hills. He has flourished in a fourth of July oration before his fellow.townsmen.

35. Memorus Wordwell, who at this time was eleven years old, yelped forth the aforementioned speech of Pitt. In the part replying to the taunt that the author of the speech was a young man, Memorus "beat all." Next to the master himself, he excited the greatest admiration, and particularly in his father and mother.a

36. But this chapter must be ended, so we will skip to the end of this famous exhibition. At a quarter past ten the curtain dropped for the last time—that is, the bed blankets were pulled down and put into the sleighsf of their owners, to be carried home to be spread over the dreamers of acts, instead of being hung before the actors of dreams. The little boys and girls did not get to bed till eleven o'clock that night, nor all of them to sleep till twelve.

37. They were never more the pupils of Mr. Spoutsound he soon migrated to one of the states beyond the Alleghany there he studied law not more than a year certainly and was admitted to the bar it is rumored that he soon spoke himself into the legislature and as soon spoke himself out again whether he will speak himself into Congress is a matter of exceeding doubt.

38. I have nothing more to add respecting the speaking master, or the speaking, excepting that one shrewd old man was heard to say, on leaving the school-house, exhibition night, "A great cry, but little wool."

a Inflection. b What figure of speech? c Why a semicolon? d Why "" used here? e Meaning of &c.? f Sound of vowel?

No. 1. What period of the author's education? What was the name of the teacher? His size? For what was he remarkable? What of his strength? What was he particularly gifted in? Where had he been? What did he consider the principal qualification of an orator? Why did he consider speaking of importance? What did he introduce here? From what books were these pieces obtained? Which were considered the best? What was the first, the second, and the third requisite in speaking? What is their speaking compared to? What of their diligence? What did Mr. S. propose? Its effect? What is said of their industry in preparation? Who instructed in forensic eloquence? Who attended the examination? How was it considered when compared with the exhibition? Describe the stage. What is said of the crowded school-house? Where was the music? Describe the performance of Mr. S. What of Memorus? What became of Mr. S.? What did the old man say?

No. 2. Education, insignificant, tuneful, bitterness, remarkable, loudness,

memorable, declamation, consequence, eloquence, glorious, sympathy, impression, occasional, continuous, extracts, introduced, infinite, dialogue, confusion, occasion, exhibition.

No. 4. Contents' and con'tent, present' and pres'ent, per'fect and perfect'.

No. 6. Punctuate verse thirty-seventh.

No. 7. Our and hour, piece and peace, rote and wrote, know and no, might and mite, straight and strait, forth and fourth.

No. 10. Mention the subjects, predicates, and objects, with the respective modifiers of each, in the second verse.

No. 12. Spell and define all the words in the second verse.

LESSON XXXIV.

HONESTY.

1. "I am going to buy some marbles,a Sam ;b will you go with me!" said Robert Ellis to the boy who occupied the desk next his, as they left the school-room together.d

2. The two boys were soon standing at Mr. Moore's counter,a discussing with great animation the merits and prices of the marbles offered for their inspection.d The important selection was at length made, and the marbles paide for.

3. " I gave you a ten cent piece," said Robert, to the shopman, as he looked at his change, "and you have given me back four cents."

4. "Was it ten cents?" said the man, looking at it again.e "I thought it was twelve and a half."

5. As he said this he swept the two cents which Robert handed back to him into the drawer, and the two boys left the shop.

6. "That's an honest little fellow,” said a man who satc behind the counter, reading the newspaper,—" a very honest little fellow; who is he?"

7. Robert's companion, however, expressed a different opinion. As soon as they left the shop, he called out—“ why, Robert, what a fool you were, to tell that man you only gave him ten cents."

8. Robert stared; "why, you would not have had me cheat him, would you?" said he.

9. "Cheat! no, but you did not cheate him; he cheated himself."

10. "Don't you think it would have been cheating if I had

taken four cents when he only owed me two? I don't see what you call cheating, if that is not."

11. "I don't see why you should trouble yourself to correct his mistakes. If he chooses to be so careless, it is his own look out."

12. They had by this time joined the groupe of boys who were playing marbles on the meeting-house steps, and the conversation was dropped ; but Robert did not forget it. He was a boy of good sense and sound principles, and Samuel's arguments did not convince him.d Samuel was a new acquaintance. His father and mother had lately movede into the village, and as Samuel was very lively and entertaining, he soon became a favorite among the boys.

13. Robert had liked him as well as others, but now his confidence in him sensibly diminished. The new doctrinee he had advanced this evening, appearedd to Robert nothing less than downright dishonesty, and he began to look upon his new friend somewhat suspiciously. Unwilling, however, to think ill of him, he endeavored to persuade himself that it was only his odd way of talking, and when he took his seat in school the next morning, he felt almost as cordially towards him as

ever.

14. “I have not done my sums,' ,"f said Samuel, in recess; "I couldn't do them last night, and I have not time now ;what shall I do ?"

15. "Do as many of them as you can," replied Robert, "and perhaps Mr. French will excuse your not doing the rest."

16. "That plan won't do," replied Samuel. "I tried it yesterday; but I'll tell you what will. If you will only do part of them while I do the rest, we shall get them all done in time, and then I can copy them off."

17. "Oh! that would be cheating," cried Robert, "I can't do that; I shouldn't think you'd want to have me, Sam."

18. "Cheating!g you are always talking about cheating. Pray, what cheating is there in that?"

19. "Why, wouldn't it be deceiving Mr. French, to make him think you had done all ?"

20. "Well, don't stand here preaching,"f interrupted Samuel; "I might have finished half of them while we have been talking. Say at once, yes or no?"

21. "No," said Robert, firmly.

22. Samuel walked off in high indignation, and Robert, too,

was not a little angry. After school he did not join Samuel as usual, but walked home alone. His thoughts were still occupied with Samuel's conduct, and he felt more unhappy than he had done before for a long time. Finally he concluded to tell his father the whole affair, and ask him if he did not think it would have been dishonest for him to perform another person's task, for the purpose of deceiving his teacher.

23. "But then, I was angry with Sam,"f thought he, “when he told all the boys that I was cross, and father will say that was very wrong. But I know it was wrong myself, and I will tell him the whole, if I tell any." This resolution taken, he again felt easy, and in the evening he related to his father the circumstances we have mentioned.

24. "I am glad, Robert," said Mr. Ellis, "that you have told me all this: I should be sorry to have you led away by a bad boy, or puzzled by his arguments. You see, in the first instance, that it is no less dishonesty to retain what does not belong to you when given to you by mistake, than to take it yourself.

25. "I am glad that you had principle enough to refuse to do Samuel's sums, for you were right in thinking it dishonest to abuse Mr. French's confidence in this way. Some people think, Robert, that those only ought to be called dishonest,m who deceive others in regard to property; but it is the same spirit which leads a boy to present the compositions and sums of another to his teacher as his own, which would lead him to pass a five cent piece for a six cent piece."

26. "So I thought, father, only I did not know exactly how to say it; but I ought to tell you that I did wrong too, for I was angry when Sam told me not to stand preaching to him and I can't help feeling a little angry now, when I think of it." 27. "And why should you feel angry with him, Robert? Do never do wrong?" you

28. "Yes, father, but not like Sam."

29. "Think, my son, of all the wrong feelings and actions which you have indulged to-day, and which are all known to your heavenly Father; and do you find such a wide difference between your sins and Samuel's ?"

30. Robert said nothing; and after a pause, his father continued, "I do not wish you to make a friend of Samuel, because I think from what I hear, that his influence will be a

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