For, once escaped, back to our cell
No human art can us compel."

QUESTIONS.-1. What is a riddle? 2. What is said of riddles? 2. Who made the first riddle of which we have any account? 2. On what occasion was it made? 4. What was it? 4, 5. From what circumstance did he make it? 5. Did the young men find it out of themselves? Where can you find a full account of tis? 7. What is the next riddle in the piece? 8. What is its answer? Repeat the riddle in verse. What is its answer?

LESSON LIII..

1. Whirl'pool, water moving in a circle. 3. Rings, outer circles.

4. As-so'ciate, to join in company.

4. Ed'dy, circular motion of water.

4. Im'mi-nent, impending, threatening.
7. Dis-re-gard'ing, slighting, neglecting.
8. De-grad'ing, lowering in esteem.
9. A-ban'don, to forsake entirely.

ERRORS. - Cur'runt for cur'rent; dan'ger-ous for dān'ger-ous; swal'ler-ed for swal'low-ed; jov'yal for jo'vi-al.

THE GREAT WHIRLPOOL.

1. OFF the coast of Norway, in Europe, is a mighty whirlpool, of which all our young friends, who have studied geography, have heard. It is so large, and its current is so strong, that if a boat should once get within its whirl, it would be driven round and round, and finally sucked down into its awful abyss.

2. It would be a fearful thing to be in a ship drawn into such a whirlpool. We are glad you are not in such a ship; and yet there are places quite as dangerous; and it may be that you have already entered some of them.

3. When we see a youth in the habit of walking the streets with a cigar in his mouth, and his cap on one side of his head, and two or three boys of about the same age, with him, we think that he is in one of the outer rings of the whirlpool; and, if he does not make

a strong effort to break away from such an influence, he will surely be swallowed up.

4. When we see a youth in the habit of going to places where rum and brandy are sold and drank, and loving to associate with those who become jovial over the wine-cup, we can not but think that he is already in the whirling eddy, and in imminent danger of being destroyed.

5. When we see a young man frequenting bowlingsaloons, the card-table, and billiard-rooms, he seems to us to be near the center of the vortex itself, and just ready to be drawn down.

6. When we see a youth more fond of light, trifling books than of those which will instruct while they please, we think he is whirling, and perhaps will be drawn in.

7. And when we see a youth fond of going to the theater, and not fond of going to church,- disregarding the Sabbath, and using vulgar and profane language, we think he is far gone in the rapid whirl, and will almost certainly be swallowed up.

8. If any of our young friends have acquired any of these degrading practices, we hope they will abandon them immediately, while they are able to escape. Let them struggle as for their lives; let them break away from these slavish habits, and save themselves from disgrace and ruin.

QUESTIONS.1. What is off the coast of Norway? 1. Describe it. 2. What would be a fearful thing? 3. What bad habit is mentioned here? 4. What is said of a youth who has the habits spoken of in this paragraph? 5. What of a young man frequenting bowling saloons? &c. 6. What of a youth fond of light, trifling books? 7. What of a youth going to the theater? &c. 8. What advice is here given?

LESSON LIV.

1. Su-pe-ri-or'i-ty, higher rank.

1. Mu'tu-al-ly, between themselves. 4. Fore'sight, a seeing beforehand.

4. Pro-vi'sion, supply for use.

6. Mer-i-to'ri ous, deserving reward. 6. In-gen'ious, skillful to contrive.

ERRORS - Voylant for vi'o-lent; wunst for once; pint for point; gret for great; judg'munt for judgment.

1. A VIOLENT dispute once arose between the Bee and the Ant, each claiming superiority for prudence and industry; and, as neither of them would give up the point, they mutually agreed to refer the decision of this great question to the decree of Apollo,* who was fortunately at hand, tending the cattle of Admetus. †

2. Accordingly, approaching the judge, each made out his title to a preference, with all the eloquence of which a bee or an ant had ever been master.

3. Both having ended, Apollo gave judgment as follows: "I consider you both as most excellent examples of industry and prudence.

4. "You," said he, addressing the Ant, "by your care, and your foresight, and your labor, make for yourself an ample provision in time of need. Thus independent, you never tax the labors of others for help.

5. "But recollect, at the same time, that it is yourself alone that you benefit; for no other creature ever shares any part of your hoarded treasures.

* A-pollo, the son of Jupiter and Latona, and one of the great divinities of the ancient Greeks. It is said that he protected the flocks and herds, and, at the same time, acted in various other capacities.

† Ad-me'tus, the son of Pheres, and King of Phere in Thessaly, a country of ancient Greece.

6. "Whereas the Bee produces, by his meritorious and ingenious exertions, that which becomes a blessing to the world; therefore I must give my judgment in favor of the Bee."

QUESTIONS.-1. What dispute arose between the bee and ant? 1. What did each claim? 1. To whom did they refer the matter? 1. Who was Apollo? 1. Who was Aumetus? 3. What did he consider both? 4, 5. What did he say to the ant? 6. What, of the bee? 6. In whose favor did he decide? Do you think it a just decision? Why?

ERRORS. Rid'in for rid'ing; task for täsk; mas'ter for mäs'ter; geides for guides.

THE HAPPY FARMER.

1. SAW ye the farmer at his plow,

As you were riding by?

Or wearied 'neath his noonday toil,
When summer suns were high?
And thought you that his lot was hard?
And did you thank your God,

That you and yours were not condemned,
Thus like a slave to plod?

2. Come, see him at his harvest-home,
When garden, field, and tree,
Conspire with flowing stores to fill
His barn and granary.

His healthful children gayly sport
Amid the new-mown hay,

Or proudly aid, with vigorous arm,
His task, as best they may.

3. The dog partakes his master's joy,
And guards the loaded wain;
The feathery people clap their wings,
And lead their youngling train.
Perchance the hoary grandsire's eye
The glowing scene surveys;
He breathes a blessing on his race,
Or guides their evening praise.

4. The Harvest-Giver is their friend,
The Maker of the soil;

And Earth, the mother, gives them bread,
And cheers their patient toil.

Come, join them round their wintry hearth,
Their heart-felt pleasures see;
And you can better judge how blest
The farmer's life may be.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is implied in the questions in this stanza? 2. What is said of the farmer's harvest-home? 2. What, of his children? 4. Who is their friend? 4. What invitation is here given? What pauses and marks in the first stanza? What do they denote? How should the questions of that stanza be read? Why?

LESSON LVI.

1. Ap-pre-hen'sion, perception.
1. In-sa'tia-ble, not easily satisfied.
1. Ac-qui-si"tion, the act of gaining.

2. Oc-cu-pa'tion, business, calling.
3. Mean'while, intervening time.
9. Re-flect', to consider.

ERRORS.- - Ben for been; oc-cur-pa'tion for oc-cu-pa'tion; vir'tu for vir'tue [vurt'yu]; could de for could he.

CLEANTHES.

1. CLEANTHES, a young Athenian,* had, from his childhood, been slow of apprehension, and was also

A-the'ni-an, a native or inhabitant of Athens, the chief city of Attica in ancient Greece.