Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there, Hub. Is this your promise? Go to, hold your tongue. Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes: Hub. I can heat it, boy. ! Arth. No, in good sooth, the fire is dead with grief — In undeserved extremes. See else yourself. Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. + And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hubert; That mercy, which fierce fire and iron extend, Hub. Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eyes Arth. Oh, now you look like Hubert! all this while + Hub. Peace: no more: Adieu! Your uncle must not know but you are dead: Arth. Oh heaven! I thank you, Hubert. Hub. Silence: no more. Go closely in with me: SHAKSPEARE. QUESTIONS.-Who was Prince Arthur? Where did he live? Who desired to destroy him? For what purpose? What does Hubert mean by saying, "How now, foolish rheum?" Enumerate the motives by which the Prince induces Hubert to spare him. ARTICULATION. Thrill'd, thrifty, threaded, streets, prospers. The tale thrill'd his heart. The thrifty man prospers. They threaded the narrow streets with scarcely a ray of light. Youths' thoughtlessness heeds not the truths which the experience of age teaches. LESSON XCI. UTTER each SOUND correctly and distinctly.-Ap-pall-ing, not ap-påling: con-victs, not con-vics: weap-'ns, not wee-pons; in-fa-mous, not in-fer-mous: sub-or-di-nate, not sub-or-dun-it: a-gainst, pro. a-genst : at-tempt, not at-temp: in-stant-ly, not in-stunt-ly; ter-min-a-tion, not term'na-tion. 2 Con'-victs, n. persons found guilty of crime. [guards. War'-den, n. a keeper, one who 4. Brig'-ands, n. robbers, those who live by plunder. [colors. 5. Mot'-ley, a. composed of various De-mo'-ni-ac, a. devil-like. 6. Sub-or'-di-nate, a. inferior. Per'-il, n. danger. 8. Rat-an', n. a small cane which grows in India. Par'-ley, n. conversation or conference with an enemy. [for evil. 11. Im-pre-ca'-tions, n. curses, prayers 12. In-dom'-i-ta-ble, a. that can not be subdued or tamed. 16. Quell, v. to subdue, to crush. 7. Ma-rines', n. (pro. ma-reens') soldiers 19. Car'-nage, n. slaughter. that serve on board of ships. De-mean'-or, n. behavior, deportment. 20. Ex'-it, n. passage out of a place. Re-prieve', n. a delay of punishment. REBELLION IN MASSACHUSETTS STATE PRISON. + 1. A MORE impressive exhibition of moral courage, opposed to the wildest ferocity, under the most appalling circumstances, was never seen, than that which was witnessed, by the officers of our State Prison, in the rebellion which occurred about five years since. 2. Three convicts had been sentenced under the rules of the prison to be whipped in the yard, and by some effort of one of the other prisoners, a door had been opened at midday, communicating with the great dining hall, and through the warden's lodge with the street. + 3. The dining hall is long, dark, and damp, from its situation near the surface of the ground; and in this all the prisoners assembled, with clubs, and such tools as they could seize in passing through the workshops. + 4. Knives, hammers, and chisels, with every variety of such weapons, were in the hands of the ferocious spirits, who are drawn away from their encroachments on society, forming a congregation of strength, vileness, and talent, that can hardly be equaled on earth, even among the famed brigands of Italy. 5. Men of all ages and characters, guilty of every variety of +infamous crime, dressed in the motley and peculiar garb of the institution, and displaying the wild and demoniac appearance that always pertains to imprisoned wretches, were gathered together for the single purpose of preventing the punishment which was to be inflicted on the morrow, upon their comrades. + 6. The warden, the surgeon, and some other officers of the prison, were there at the time, and were alarmed at the consequences likely to ensue from the conflict necessary to restore order. They huddled together, and could scarcely be said to consult, as the stoutest among them lost all presence of mind in overwhelming fear. The news rapidly spread through the town, and a subordinate officer, of most mild and kind disposition, hurried to the scene, and came calm and collected into the midst of the officers. The most equable-tempered and the mildest man in the government, was in this hour of peril the firmest. 7. He instantly dispatched a request to Major Wainright, commander of the marines +stationed at the navy yard, for assistance, and declared his purpose to enter into the hall and try the force of firm demeanor and persuasion upon the enraged multitude. 8. All his brethren exclaimed against an attempt so full of hazard but in vain. They offered him arms, a sword and pistols,. but he refused them, and said, that he had no fear, and in case of danger, arms would do him no service: and alone, with only a little ratan, which was his usual walking stick, he advanced into the hall, to hold parley with the selected, congregated, and enraged villains of the whole commonwealth. + 9. He demanded their purpose, in thus coming together with arms, in violation of the prison laws. They replied, that they were determined to obtain the remission of the punishment of their three comrades. He said, it was impossible; the rules of the prison must be obeyed, and they must submit. 10. At the hint of submission, they drew a little nearer together, prepared their weapons for service, and, as they were dimly seen in the further end of the hall, by those who observed, from the gratings that opened up to the day, a more appalling sight can not be conceived, nor one of more moral grandeur, than that of the single man, standing within their grasp, and exposed to be torn limb from limb instantly, if a word or look should add to the already intense excitement. + 11. That excitement, too, was of a most dangerous kind. It broke not forth in noise and imprecations, but was seen only in the dark looks and the strained nerves, that showed a deep determination. The officer expostulated. He reminded them of the hopelessness of escape; that the town was alarmed, and that the government of the prison would submit to nothing but unconditional surrender. He said, that all those who would go quietly away, should be forgiven for this offense; but, that if every prisoner was killed in the contest, power enough would be obtained to enforce the regulations of the prison. 12. They replied, that they expected that some would be killed, that death would be better than such imprisonment, and with that look and tone, which bespeaks an indomitable purpose, they declared, that not a man should leave the hall alive, till the flogging was remitted. At this period of the discussion, their evil passions seemed to be more inflamed, and one or two offered to destroy the officer, who still stood firmer, and with a more temperate pulse, than did his friends, who saw from above, but could not + avert the danger that threatened him. 13. Just at this moment, and in about fifteen minutes from the commencement of the tumult, the officer saw the feet of the marines, whose presence alone he relied on for succor, filing by the small upper lights. Without any apparent anxiety, he had repeatedly turned his attention to their approach, and now he knew that it was his only time to escape, before a conflict for life became, as was expected, one of the most dark and dreadful in the world. 14. He stepped slowly backward, still urging them to depart, before the officers were driven to use the last resort of firearms. When within three or four feet of the door, it was opened, and closed instantly again, as he sprang through, and was thus unexpectedly restored to his friends. 15. Major Wainright was requested to order his men to fire down upon the convicts through the little windows, first with powder and then with ball, till they were willing to retreat; but he took a wiser as well as a bolder course, relying upon the effect which firm determination would have upon men so + critically situated. He ordered the door to be again opened, and marched in at the head of twenty or thirty men, who filed through the passage, and formed at the end of the hall, opposite to the crowd of criminals huddled together at the other. 16. He stated that he was empowered to quell the rebellion, that he wished to avoid shedding blood, but that he should not quit that hall alive, till every convict had returned to his duty. They seemed balancing the strength of the two parties; and replied, that some of them were ready to die, and only waited for an attack to see which was the most powerful, swearing that they would fight to the last, unless the punishment was remitted, for they would not submit to any such punishment in the prison. Major Wainright ordered his marines to load their pieces, and, that they might not be suspected of trifling, each man was made to hold up to view the bullet which he afterward put in his gun. 17. This only caused a growl of determination, and no one blenched, or seemed disposed to shrink from the foremost exposure. They knew that their number would enable them to bear down and destroy the handful of marines, after the first discharge, and before their pieces could be reloaded. Again, they were ordered to retire; but they answered with more ferocity than ever. The marines were ordered to take their aim so as to be sure and kill as many as possible. Their guns were presented, but not a prisoner stirred, except to grasp more firmly his weapon. 18. Still desirous to avoid such a tremendous slaughter, as must have followed the discharge of a single gun, Major Wainright advanced a step or two, and spoke even more firmly than before, urging them to depart. Again, and while looking directly into the muzzles of the guns, which they had seen loaded with ball, they declared their intention "to fight it out." This intrepid officer then took out his watch, and told his men to hold their pieces aimed at the convicts, but not to fire till they had orders; then, turning to the prisoners, he said, "You must leave this hall; I give you three minutes to decide; if at the end of that time, a man remains, he shall be shot dead." 19. No situation of greater interest than this, can be conceived. At one end of the hall, a fearful multitude of the most desperate and powerful men in existence, waiting for the assault; at the other, a little band of disciplined men, waiting with arms presented, and ready, upon the least motion or sign, to begin the carnage; |