back and seemed glad to see us, when we made our appear ance. 28. "I might have come back before,' said he, ‘but I thought we could work better in the dark.' He then dismounted, and directed us, without delay, to mount the horse, while he would walk by its side. For a long time we refused to suffer him, as aged as he was, to encounter such fatigue; but we were really worn out, and at last consented. We went on all that night, the old man keeping up our spirits by his conversation. It was day-break before he showed any intention of making a permanent halt; but as the morning grew red in the sky, he urged us forward till we stopped under the windows of a solitary farm-house, with its large buildings, not neat as they are in New England, but still indicating thrift and industry in its possessor. 29. "He went to what appeared to be a bedroom window, where he knocked with some caution. Forthwith a nightcapped3 head made its appearance, and at once declared its native land by the exclamation, Law9 me, what brings you home this time o' night?' But the question was answered by a request that she would rise and open the door. It proved to be the old gentleman's help-mate. She immediately commenced preparations for breakfast, without troubling herself much about the character of her husband's guests; he condescended, however, to make some little explanation. 30. "When the breakfast was over, which, however, was a work of time, we were invited to spend all that day in rest, after our long and painful journey. In the evening we met again in the huge kitchen, which was the gathering place of the family, who were amused with some feigned account of our character, and the object of our visit. When the mixed collection had retired, leaving us with the old man and his wife, we gave him a full account of our adventures, and were happy to find, from his unconcern as to politics, that we were in a place of security. 31. "He told us there was much confusion in the town, on account of our escape, and that a reward was offered for our detection; while at the same time detachments of soldiers were sent in pursuit. He himself was strictly examined, and he said he did not feel quite easy in his mind,' on account of some deception which he had been obliged to use. 'However,' said he, 'I did not do evil that good may come. I did the good first, and the evil followed.' We proposed to leave him that night, but he would by no means consent to this, and insisted on our remaining with him some time, as he said, 'to pick up our crumbs.' 32. "On the third night we took leave of our Samaritan host, with the deepest emotions of gratitude for his kindness. I always looked on the bright side of human nature; but I never received an impression in its favor so decided and literally reviving, as from the conduct of this humble man. I never saw him nor heard of him again. On parting, he kindly gave us directions to a place where we could take passage for Falmouth, now Portland. We succeeded in reaching it without difficulty, and though we had no money, his recommendation gained us a place in the vessel. I felt relieved when once more upon the waters, and standing gallantly out to sea. 33. "With what different feelings had I traversed the same ocean-roads before !4 Then my heart died within me, as I stood on the battlements of the floating castle that bore me through the waves; every moment increased the distance between me and my home and country; which grew dearer to me in the hour of our mutual distress; now, as our little whaleboat bounded over the waves, I felt joyous, bold, and triumphant. I thought then there were moments in a life of changes, which atone for the heaviness of many of its hours. 34. "From Falmouth, we went home on foot. Before I reached my native village, my companion left me. His society had become endeared to me by our partnership in misfortune; and I parted with him in much sorrow. He has ceased, long ago, from the number of the living, but I hope to meet him again. I entered my native village in a clear summer's afternoon; the air was calm, the sky was clear, and there was stillness like that of the sabbath, through the whole of the place. I remembered hearing the distant bell, and knew that they were assembled for the lecture which preceded the communion service, according to the custom of our fathers. 35. "I went to my father's door and entered it softly. My mother was sitting in her usual place by the fireside, though there were green boughsd instead of fagots in the chimney before her. When she saw me, she gave a wild look, grew deadly pale, and making an ineffectual effort to speak to me, fainted away. With much difficulty I restored her; but it was long before I could make her understand, that the supposed apparition was, in truth, her son, whom she had so long mourned for as dead. 36. " My little brother had also caught a glimpse of me; and, as might naturally be supposed, was exceedingly alarmed. In his fright, he ran to the meeting-house to give the alarm. When he reached that place, the service had ended, and the congregation were just coming from the doors. Breathless with fear, he gave them his tidings. Having related what he had seen, the whole assembly bent their way towards my father's house; and such was their impatience to arrive at the spot, that minister and deacons, old men and matrons, young men and maidens, quickened their steps to a run. 37. "Never was there such a confusion in our village. The young were eloquent in their amazement, and the old put on their spectacles to see the strange being who had thus returned from the dead. I told my story over and over again. As often as I concluded it, new detachments arrived, who insisted on hearing all the particulars in their turn. The house was crowded with visiters till far in the night, when the minister dismissed them, after calling on my parents to unite with him in returning thanks to God, for this son which was dead' and is alive again, which was lost and is found.' a § 11. 7. b § 43. 2. c § 14. 1. d § 44. 17. e § h Difference between minu'te and min'ute 11. 4. g § 11. 8. § 43. 6. 5. and 2. 1. n § 46. o § 44. 11. P § 57. q§ 45. r § 12. 2. 43. 6. t§ 43. 2 § 44. 8 § 43. 10: No. 1. What did these boys ask of their father? Describe the inside of the cottage. Where did the old man say his father lived? Into what did the young men of the village form themselves? What were these bands more properly called? How did the old man feel when he heard the signal gun? How was he encouraged? Describe the colonel. Why did the British wish to go to Concord? What did they see in Lexington? What orders were given? What was the result? Where did he go after his powder was gone? What can you say of the young man whom he found? What is the substance of verse 11th? What did he next do? What is the substance of verse 13th? What injury was done by the firing of the enemy? When did the Americans fire? What was the effect? How many times did they try? Why did the Americans leave the fort? How came the old man to be taken? What did his parents do? Where was he carried? Describe the hospital. What can you say of the young man? Where was he carried? Describe the prison. How long did they stay there? How and when did they escape? How did they prevent the sentinel from giving the alarm? How many were retaken? Where did the old man and his companion go? What is the substance of verse 23d? Of verse 24th? Whom did they see on the road? What effect did their stay have upon this man? What is the substance of verse 27th 28th 29th? What were the family amused with? Substance of verse 31st? 32d? What were the old man's reflections? At what time of day did he enter his native town? What did the bell ring for? How did he enter his father's house? What was the effect upon his mother? Give the substance of verse 36th. The conclusion. No. 2. Occasionally, returning, preparation, unusually, darkness, comparison, profoundly, avenger, conflagration, confusion, harmlessly, apparent, suspicious, collection, exclamation, triumphant, returned, dismissed, association, conference, arrival, display. No. 3. Ourn for ours, ketch for catch, ile for I will, shet for shut, danger for dain-ger. No. 7. In and inn, rest and wrest, seas, sees, and seize, here and hear, wait and weight, heard and herd, fowl and foul. No. 8. § 3. 12. 13. § 4. § 5. No. 9. Arm-chair, themselves, meeting-house, breastwork, foretelling, overthrow, any thing, breakfast. No. 12. All the words in the first verse. LESSON X. THE CALM AT SEA. 1. Downa dropt the breeze, the sailsb dropt down, 'Twas sad as sad could be ; And we did speak only to breakb 5. The very deep did rot :e That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs 6. About, about, in reel and rout 7. And some in dreams assured were 8. And every tongue, through utter drought," We could not speak, no more than iff 9. There passed a weary time. Each throat Was parched, and glazed each eye.t 10. 11. A weary time! a weary time la How glazed each weary eye, When looking westward, I beheld At first it seemed a little speck, It moved and moved, and took at last A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! 12. With throats unslaked, with black lips baked,t We could nor laugh nor wail; Through utter drouth all dumb we stood ;k |