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ear, love, hope, and the spirit of prayer, upon the eyes of the men about to shed that innocent blood.

They all stood heart-stricken; and the executioners flung own their muskets "God bless you, upon the green sward. ind, good soldiers, for this!" exclaimed the child, now weeping and sobbing with joy. "Ay, ay, you will be happy o-night, when you lie down to sleep. If you have any little aughters or sisters like me, God will love them for your mercy to us, and nothing, till you return home, will hurt a hair of their heads. Oh! I see now that soldiers are not so cruel as we say!" "Lilias, your grandfather speaks unto you; his last words are-Leave us, leave us; for they are going to out us to death. Soldiers, kill not this little child, or the vaters of the loch will rise up and drown the sons of perlition. Lilias, give us each a kiss, and then go into the house."

The soldiers conversed together for a few minutes, and seemed now like men themselves condemned to die. Shame and remorse, for their coward cruelty, smote them to the core; and they bade them that were still kneeling, to rise up and go their ways: then, forming themselves into regular order, one gave the word of command, and, marching off, hey soon disappeared. The old man, his wife, and little Lilias, continued for some time on their knees in prayer, and hen all three went into the hut; the child between them, and a withered hand of each laid upon its beautiful and its earless head.

LESSON CXXXIX.

Hopes and Fears of Parents.-FRANCIS

THE hopes and fears, that cluster around the relation in which we stand to the young, are among the strongest and nost intense feelings of the heart. By a spontaneous movement of the mind, we connect these objects of affection with he future. We pass rapidly onward, in thought, from what

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what they may become. And the progress, which es out before the imagination, is, in truth, a won. Mark the series of changes from early infancy ed maturity,-from the simple feelings, the cheap e artless plans and purposes, the little joys and ointments of childhood, to the time when each th, as an individual agent, on his own path, and responsibleness,—and you will see how wide and ay be the range of conjecture on this subject.

feeble beginnings of these early days, may come strong frame, who bends himself to his daily task endurance; or the enterprising devotee to busilunges into the midst of the crowded cares of the does his part to keep in ceaseless motion the vast of active life; or the enlightened scholar, who e fields of knowledge, to bring thence his contrihe general treasury of improvement; or the hardy who rides upon the ocean waves, as it were in the is glory, and fearlessly throws himself into come storm; or the statesman, who bears up, with an arm, the weight of a nation's welfare and a hts. Amidst the success and defeat, the honor me, the strengthening of virtue, and the growing of vice, which may find a place between the first -ints of such a progress, how many combinations ation make, in attempting to cast the destiny of

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es and promises of coming time, are interwoven serious and thoughtful affections of parents; and most precious interests of life, are involved in the

And, generally, the vision, which thus floats mind, is a pleasant one. The propensity is to see prospect, to gather around these young germs of fair and bright anticipations. The everlasting which is implanted in every little breast, and which Then systems of worlds shall have been hushed in d when "the host of heaven" shall have faded re prone to believe, will be an ever-increasing f beauty and improvement. We hope, at least, rk lines of guilt will never be traced on the spirit,

at now blooms in innocence and loveliness; that the thirst or knowledge, which now animates the youthful bosom, will ever be displaced by the corrupting and leaden influence of gnorance and sensuality.

Yet how often do these fair promises fail of their accomlishment! how often are these pleasant expectations turned o shame and bitterness! how often does the man prove ithless to the pledge given by the child! The visions we herish with regard to our offspring, may prove as deceitful s the summer clouds, which stretch along the horizon, and hich, we are told, the mariner not unfrequently mistakes, in he distance, for firm and pleasant land. The hopes, that ourished in all their freshness in the school, or at the firede, may be crushed or blasted amidst the struggles and onflicts of manhood. Where expectation was looking for bright development of honorable and useful talent, we ometimes find nothing but the dull level of ordinary attainents. The promise of purity and improvement, which the pening of life gave, is falsified amidst the toils and strivings flater years, reminding us of the fanciful, but beautiful otion entertained by some of the ancient nations, that the ght of the dawn was an uncreated being, which gleamed om the throne of God, and returned thither when the ter estrial sun arose

LESSON CXL.

Scene from Hadad.-HILLHOUSE.

An apartment in ABSALOM's house. NATHAN and TAMAR.

Nathan. THOU'RT left to-day, (would thou wert ever left f some that haunt thee!) therefore am I come o give thee counsel.—Child of sainted Miriam, ear not to look upon me; thou wilt hear The gentle voice of love, not stern monition. ommune with me as with a tender parent, Who cares for all thy wishes, hopes and fears,

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ing thy immortal gem above

ry.

Have I not thus, ever?

ut I would probe the tenderest of thy heart, sease, and give it strength again,

ct no pain.

That means my lord?

know thee pure, and guileless as the dove,rey; and thou art fair, to tempt

-nay, be not alarmed, but speak e. I would ask thee, princess, casing, somewhat of the stranger, who aspires to David's line. Averting her eyes.)

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Nothing that marked him from the rest of men ?

ou shall know why thus I question.

▸ yes, unlike he seems in many things;

ge, eloquence, high thoughts.

'roud thoughts

'st.

I'm but a young and simple maid; he, of all my ears have judged,

f the loftiest, richest mind.

How have I wronged him! deeming him more apt

e designs, and daring deeds,

emplation's solitary flights.

Seer, his far-soaring thoughts ascend the stars,

unseen abyss, pervade, like light,

se, and wing the infinite.

Fixing his eyes upon her.)

s of love, and praise, and gratitude,

le thence must bring to Him, whose mighty hand
ashioned their glories, hung yon golden orbs
midst his wondrous firmament; who bids
"he day-spring know his place, and sheds from all
weet influences; who bars the haughty sea,
inds fast his dreadful hail, but drops the dew
ightly upon his people! How his soul,

eturning from its quest through earth and heaven,
Just glow with holy fervor !-Doth it, maiden?
Tam. Ah, father, father, were it so indeed,
were too happy.

Nath. How!-Expound thy words.

Tam. Though he has trod the confines of the world, nows all its wonders, and almost has pierced

'he secrets of eternity, his heart

melancholy, lone, discordant, save

When love attunes it into happiness.

[e hath not found, alas! the peace which dwells ut with our fathers' God.

Nath. And canst thou love

ne who loves not Jehovah ?

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ly child, thou wouldst not wed an infidel? Tam. (In tears.) O no! O no!

Nath. Why, then, this embassage? Why dotn your sire till urge the king? Why hast thou hearkened it?

Tam. There was a time when I had hopes,-when truth eemed dawning in his mind,-and sometimes, still,

uch heavenly glimpses shine, that my fond heart efuses to forego the hope, at last,

o number him with Israel.

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r thou❜lt delude thy soul to ruin. Say, oth he attend our holy ordinances?

Tam. He promises observance.

Nath. Two full years

ath he abode in Jewry.

Tam. Prophet, think

ow he was nurtured-in the faith of idols.

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