Not as the conqueror comes,

They, the true-hearted, came

Not with the roll of the stirring drums,
And the trumpet that sings of fame;
Not as the flying come,

In silence and in fear;

They shook the depths of the desert's gloom
With their hymns of lofty cheer.

Amidst the storm they sang;

And the stars heard, and the sea!

And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang

To the anthem of the free.

The ocean eagle soared

From his nest by the white wave's foam ; And the rocking pines of the forest roared,This was their welcome home!

There were men with hoary hair
Amidst that pilgrim band;-
Why had they come to wither there,
Away from their childhood's land?

There was woman's fearless eye,
Lit by her deep love's truth;
There was manhood's brow serenely high,
And the fiery heart of youth.

What sought they thus afar?
Bright jewels of the mine?

The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?

They sought a faith's pure shrine.

Ay, call it holy ground,

Where first their brave feet trod !

They have left unstained what there they found, Freedom to worship God!

QUESTIONS:-1. Can you tell anything about the pilgrim fathers? 2. Who were they? 3. What place did they leave? 4. What was the cause of their leaving? 5. To what place did they go? 6. Where did they land? 7. When was that? 8. What is the meaning of a rock-bound coast? 9. What is meant by a band of exiles? 10. Where is the "wild New England shore"? 11. Did they go to conquer? 12. How do conquerors go forth? 13. Did they go like those who flee their country for fear? 14. What signs of faith and hope did they show? 15. Faith and hope in whom? 16. What is meant by the "sounding aisles of the dim woods"? 17. On their arrival, what is it said was their "welcome home"? 18. What is the meaning of "welcome home"? 19. Describe the men and women of that "pilgrim band"? 20. Why a pilgrim band"? 21. What were they seeking in that far-off land? 22. What were they not wanting? 23. What great blessing did that noble band of pilgrims leave to posterity? 24. What is meant by posterity?

66

Do animals reason? I have no doubt that they do. They have memory, certainly. They can be instructed up to a certain point.

What is called the "cunning of the fox" is nothing but his quick sagacity. A multitude of stories— even enough to make quite a volume-could be gathered, illustrating the sagacity of the elephant, the horse, the dog, and other animals. Even the ass, which many consider so stupid, "knoweth his master's crib." A fox has been known-so the story goes to carry off a young pig. In the course of his way back to the woods he had to cross a deep creek, setting up from the sea. He could easily jump over himself. But could he jump over it with the pig in his mouth? That was the question to be settled. He went off a little way, and came back with a pine knot, a piece of a broken limb, in his mouth. It was just about as heavy as his pig. "Now," says he, "if I can jump across this creek with the knot in my mouth, I can also do it with the pig, as they are nearly of equal weight."

In a moment he gave the leap, and over he went. He then laid down his knot, jumped back again, seized his pig, and stood a moment as if weighing and comparing the two. He hesitated only for a moment, when, with a great and sudden spring, he cleared the distance, landing on the other side, pig and all. Was this not reasoning? Could the wisest man have reasoned any better?

A child was playing in a farm-yard when a horse just unyoked came at a smart trot across the yard to the stable. The boys and girls gathered round

the doorway saw the child's danger, but could not rescue it; the horse saw it too, and, instead of trampling it to death, as every one expected he would, the noble creature in a moment stood stock still, with his great foot actually raised over the child, until it had rolled itself away from him, he then trotted on to his stable without having hurt a hair of the little creature's head.

A dog had been accused of killing sheep. He and his master were very fond of each other. It was a long time before the owner could be made to believe the ill report about his favourite. At last he was convinced that poor Rover was guilty. As he could not bear to kill him himself, he came into the room one morning and said: "Peter, after breakfast you may take the dog off and shoot him. See that you kill him." The dog was in the room, and heard it. In an instant he darted out of the room, and was off in a straight line. No calling or shouting could cause him to turn his head, he never returned.

Many months after this, his master saw poor Rover standing on a bank at the roadside. His heart yearned towards his old friend, and he spoke to him very kindly.

But Rover's heart was hardened. He gave one growl, snapped his teeth at his old master, and again scampered off at the top of his speed. His master never saw him again. Unforgiving Rover! Thy memory was good, and thine anger lasting.

"STAY, lady, stay, for mercy's sake,
And hear a helpless orphan's tale;
Ah! sure my look must pity wake,
'Tis want that makes my cheek so pale.
Yet I was once a mother's pride,

And my brave father's hope and joy;
But in the Nile's proud fight he died,
And I am now an orphan boy.

"Poor foolish child! how pleased was I When news of Nelson's victory came;

Along the crowded streets to fly,

And see the lighted windows' flame.
To force me home my mother sought,
She could not bear to see my joy;
For with my father's life 'twas bought,
And made me a poor orphan boy.