NEW SIXTH READER.

EXERCISES IN ARTICULATION.

THE five following Exercises are intended especially for practice in Articulation, and are commended to the Teacher's attention.

EXERCISE I. THE GROTTO OF ANTIPAROS.

FROM GOLDSMITH.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH was born in Ireland, in 1731. After his graduation at the Dublin University, he went to London, to seek support by his pen; and during the greater part of his life, worked as a mere compiler for the booksellers. His poems of "The Traveler," and "The Deserted Village," established his fame. He died in 1774.

1. Archipelago; (pro. Ark-e-peľ'-a-go), a narrow sea bordering on Greece, and containing many small islands.

2. Levantine; the eastern part of the Mediterranean sea is called the Levant, and a Levantine mariner is a seaman of that region.

1. Of all the subterraneous caverns now known, the grotto of Antiparos is the most remarkable, as well for its extent as for the beauty of its sparry incrustations. This celebrated cavern was first explored by one Magni, an Italian traveler, about one hundred years ago, at Antiparos, an inconsiderable island of the Archipelago.

2. "Having been informed," says he, "by the natives of Paros, that, in the little island of Antiparos, which lies about two miles from the former, a gigantic statue was to be seen at the mouth of a cavern in that place, it was resolved that we (the French consul and himself) should pay it a visit.

3. "In pursuance of this resolution, after we had landed on the island, and walked about four miles through the midst of beautiful plains, and sloping woodlands, we at length came to a little hill, on the side of which yawned a most horrid cavern, which, by its gloom, at first struck us with terror, and almost repressed curiosity. Recovering the first surprise,

however, we entered boldly, and had not proceeded above twenty paces, when the supposed statue of the giant presented itself to view.

4. "We quickly perceived that what the ignorant natives had been terrified at as a giant, was nothing more than a sparry concretion, formed by the water dropping from the roof of the cave, and by degrees hardening into a figure, which their fears had formed into a monster. Incited by this extraordinary appearance, we were induced to proceed still further, in quest of new adventures, in this subterranean abode.

5. "As we proceeded, new wonders offered themselves; the spars formed into trees and shrubs, presented a kind of petrified grove; some white, some green; and all receding in due perspective. They struck us with the more amazement, as we knew them to be mere productions of nature, who, hitherto in solitude, had, in her playful moments, dressed the scene as if for her own amusement.

6. "We had as yet seen but a few of the wonders of the place; and we were introduced only into the portico of this amazing temple. In one corner of this half-illuminated recess, there appeared an opening of about three feet wide, which seemed to lead to a place totally dark, and which one of the natives assured us contained nothing more than a reservoir of water.

7. "Upon this information, we made an experiment, by throwing down some stones, which rumbling along the sides of the descent for some time, the sound seemed at last quashed in a bed of water. In order, however, to be more certain, we sent in a Levantine mariner, who, by the promise of a good reward, ventured, with a flambeau in his hand, into this narrow aperture.

8. "After continuing within it for about a quarter of an hour, he returned, bearing in his hand some beautiful pieces of white spar, which art could neither equal nor imitate. Upon being informed by him that the place was full of these beautiful incrustations, I ventured in with him, about fifty paces, anxiously and cautiously descending, by a steep and dangerous way.

9. "Finding, however, that we came to a precipice which

led into a spacious amphitheater, (if I may so call it,) still deeper than any other part, we returned, and being provided with a ladder, flambeau, and other things to expedite our descent, our whole company, man by man, ventured into the same opening; and, descending one after another, we at last saw ourselves all together in the most magnificent part of the cavern.

10. "Our candles being now all lighted up, and the whole place completely illuminated, never could the eye be presented with a more glittering or a more magnificent scene; the whole roof hung with solid icicles, transparent as glass, yet solid as marble.

11. "The eye could scarcely reach the lofty and noble ceiling; the sides were regularly formed with spars; and the whole presented the idea of a magnificent theater, illuminated with an immense profusion of lights. The floor consisted of solid marble; and, in several places, magnificent columns, thrones, altars, and other objects, appeared, as if nature had designed to mock the curiosities of art.

12. "Our voices, upon speaking or singing, were redoubled, to an astonishing loudness; and upon the firing of a gun, the noise and reverberations were almost deafening. In the midst of this grand amphitheater rose a concretion of about fifteen feet high, that, in some measure, resembled an altar; from which, taking the hint, we caused mass to be celebrated there. The beautiful columns that shot up around the altar appeared like candlesticks; and many other natural objects represented the customary ornaments of this rite.

13. "Below even this spacious grotto, there seemed another cavern; down which I ventured with my former mariner, and descended about fifty paces, by means of a rope. I at last arrived at a small spot of level ground, where the bottom appeared different from that of the amphitheater, being composed of soft clay, yielding to the pressure, and in which I thrust a stick to the depth of six feet.

14. "In this, however, as above, numbers of the most beautiful crystals were formed; one of which, particularly, resembled a table. Upon our egress from this amazing cavern, we perceived a Greek inscription upon a rock at the mouth, but so obliterated by time that we could not read it distinctly.

It seems to import that one Antipater, in the time of Alexander, had come hither; but whether he penetrated into the depths of the cavern, he does not see fit to inform us." This account of so beautiful and striking a scene may serve to give us some idea of the subterraneous wonders of nature.

EXERCISE II. THE THUNDER STORM.

FROM THOMSON.

JAMES THOMSON was born in Scotland, in 1700. His fame rests chiefly on the poem of "The Seasons," which will ever be popular through its vivid descriptions of natural scenery. He died at Kew, in 1748.

1. As from the face of heaven the shatter'd* clouds

Tumultuous rove, the interminable sky

Sublimer swells, and o'er the world expands

A purer azure.

2. Through the lighten'd* air

A higher luster and a clearer calm,
Diffusive, tremble; while, as if in sign
Of danger past, a glittering robe of joy,
Set off abundant by the yellow ray,
Invests the fields; and nature smiles revived.

3. "T is beauty all, and grateful song around,
Join'd to the low of kine, and numerous bleat
Of flocks thick-nibbling through the clover'd vale;
And shall the hymn be marr'd by thankless Man,
Most favor'd! who with voice articulate
Should lead the chorus of this lower world?

4.

Shall man, so soon forgetful of the Hand
That hush'd the thunder, and serenes the sky,
Extinguish'd feel that spark the tempest waked,
That sense of power, exceeding far his own,
Ere yet his feeble heart has lost its fears?

TO TEACHERS.-As the final letters-ED-are rarely pronounced as a distinct syllable, and since the learner has become perfectly familiar with the orthographical form of words in the first five books of this series, it has been thought best, in THIS and the High School Reader, to introduce the apostrophe in place of E, in the lessons in verse, when, by so doing, the word will admit of no mispronunciation; thus familiarizing the pupil with the application of the apostrophe, so extensively used by the best writers of poetry.

D'ISRAELI is an English writer, who first distinguished himself as an author, but has, for several years, devoted himself to politics. He has been a member of the English ministry and of Parliament.

1. * * * THEY looked round on every side, and hope gave way before the scene of desolation. Immense branches were shivered from the largest trees; small ones were entirely stripped of their leaves; the long grass was bowed to the earth; the waters were whirled in eddies out of the little rivulets; birds, leaving their nests to seek shelter in the crevices of the rocks, unable to stem the driving air, flapped their wings and fell upon the earth; the frightened animals of the plain, almost suffocated by the impetuosity of the wind, sought safety, and found destruction; some of the largest trees were torn up by the roots; the sluices of the mountains were filled, and innumerable torrents rushed down the before empty gullies. The heavens now open, and

the lightning and thunder contend with the horrors of the wind.

2. In a moment, all was again hushed. Dead silence succeeded the bellow of the thunder, the roar of the wind, the rush of the waters, the moaning of the beasts, the screaming of the birds! Nothing was heard save the plash of the agitated lake, as it beat up against the black rocks which girt it in.

3. Again, greater darkness enveloped the trembling earth. Anon, the heavens were rent with lightning, which nothing could have quenched but the descending deluge. Cataracts poured down from the lowering firmanent. For an instant, the horses dashed madly forward; beast and rider blinded and stifled by the gushing rain, and gasping for breath. Shelter was nowhere. The quivering beasts reared, and snorted, and sank upon their knees, dismounting their riders.

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4. He had scarcely spoken, when there burst forth a terrific noise, they knew not what; a rush, they could not understand; a vibration which shook them on their horses. Every terror sank before the roar of the cataract. It seemed that the