1. BIND the oak leaves round his head;
He has shown himself a man;
Bravely charging,' he fell dead,
Fighting foremost in the van.

2. Cheering with a mighty cheer,
On he led the patriot3 band;
Now he lies upon his bier,

4

Cold and stately, still and grand.

3. Calmly gather round him now,
All ye soldiers, and be dumb;
Cast one look upon his brow,

As you hear the muffled drum.

4 Then, with solemn feet and slow,
Mourning for his early doom,
With your folded banners go,
Lay the hero in his tomb.

I CHARGING. Attacking.
? VAN. The front of an army.
PATRIOT. Loving he's country.
BIER, Carriage fo ne dead

6 MUFFLED. Having something wound round so as to render the sound low or solemn.

6 DOOм. Destined state, death, fate.

In-ter-pöşed'

I hatch'et

wounds

We'he-mençe

c-com'pa-nied 15ū-ni-vër'sal

1. DURING the war in America, a band of Indians attacked a small body of British troops, and defeated them. As the Indians had greatly the advantage in swiftness of foot, and were eager in the pursuit, very few of the British escaped; and those who fell into their hands were treated with a crucity of which there are not many examples, even in Indian warfare.

2. Two of the Indians came up to a young officer, and attacked him with great fury. As they were armed with battle-axes, he had no hope of escape; but just at this crisis' another Indian came up, who was advanced in years, and was armed with a bow and

arrows.

3. The old man instantly drew his bow; but after having taken his aim at the officer, he suddenly dropped the point of his arrow, and interposed between him and his pursuers, who were about to cut him in pieces. They retired with respect. The old man then took the officer by the hand, soothed him into confidence, and, having conducted him into his hut, treated him with a kindness that did honor to his professions.

4. He made him less a slave than a companion, taught him the language of the country, and instructed

him in the rude arts that are practised by the Indians. They lived together in the most perfect harmony3; and the youngfficer, in the treatment he met with, found nothing to regret.

5. In the mean time, the spring returned, and the Indians again took the field. The old man, who was still vigorous, and able to bear the fatigues of war, set out with them, and was accompanied by his prisoner. They marched above two hundred leagues across the forest, and came at length to a plain where the British forces were encamped."

5

6. The old man showed his prisoner the tents at a distance. "There," said he, "are thy countrymen ; there is the enemy, who wait to give us battle. Remember that I have saved thy life; that I have taught thee to conduct a canoe, to arm thyself with a bow and arrows, and to surprise the beaver in the forest.

7. “What wast thou when I first took thee to my hut? Thy hands were those of an infant; they could neither procure thee sustenance nor safety. Thy soul was in utter darkness; thou wast ignorant of every thing. Thou owest all things to me. Wilt thou, then, go over to thy nation, and take up the hatchet against us?" The officer replied, that he would rather lose his own life than take that of his deliverer.

8. The Indian, bending down his head, and covering his face with both his hands, stood some time silent. Then, looking earnestly at his prisoner, he said in a voice that was at once softened by grief and tenderness, "Hast thou a father? My father," said the young

66

man, "was alive when I left my country."

66 Alas!

said the Indian, "how wretched must he be!"

9. He paused a moment, and then added, "Dost thou know that I have been a father? I am a father no more. I saw my son fall in battle. He fought at my side. I saw him expire. He was covered with wounds when he fell dead at my feet."

10. He pronounced these words with the utmost vehemence. His body shook with a universal tremor.

8

He

was almost stifled with sighs which he would not suffer to escape him. There was a keen restlessness in his eye, but no tears flowed to his relief.

11. At length he became calm by degrees; and turn. ing towards the east, where the sun had just risen, "Dost thou see," said he to the young officer, "the beauty of that sky which sparkles with prevailing day? and hast thou pleasure in the sight?" "Yes," replied the young officer, "I have pleasure in the beauty of so fine a sky." "I have none," said the Indian; and his tears then found their way.

12. A few minutes after, he showed the young man a magnolia1o in full bloom. "Dost thou see that beautiful tree?" said he; "and dost thou look upon it with pleasure? ” "Yes," replied the officer, "I look with pleasure upon that beautiful tree." "I have no longer any pleasure in looking upon it,” said the Indian hastily; and then immediately added, "Go, return to thy father, that he may still have pleasure when he sees the sun rise in the morning, and the trees blossom in the spring."

1 CRISIS. Decisive time.

2 INTERPOSED. Came between.

8 HARMONY.

Accord, agreement. ACCOMPANIED. Attended as a companion.

LEAGUE. Distance of three miles. • ENCAMPED. Placed in a camp.

7 SUSTENANCE. That which supports life, food, provisions.

8 VEHEMENCE. Great force, violent ardor.

9 PREVAILING. Having force or effect. 10 MAGNOLIA. A beautiful tree having large, sweet-smelling flowers.

6

Pretty crystals of snow:

And now they seem all in a fluiry.

Like children at play,

They are running away,

And now they come back in a hurry.