But the English troops soon formed and renewed the attack. It was answered as before, and again they retired. But at length, the Americans, having exhausted their powder and ball, were forced to retreat. With slow and reluctant steps, they descended from the hill, leaving it in posses sion of the British. Many of the English were killed, and but very few of the Americans. This was the famous battle of Bunker's Hill.

Now the war was begun in earnest. The Americans set about making arrangements to defend themselves, and if possible, drive the British troops from the country. They appointed George Washington, a wise and brave man, to command their forces, and took measures to raise a large and powerful army. At the same time, the king of England, filled with resentment, and resolving to subdue the rebellious colonies, sent a great many ships and many thousands of soldiers to assist in accomplishing his wishes.

5. Capture of Lord Cornwallis.

Many battles were fought, during this war, between the English and Americans; But the greatest and most important event of the Revolution was the capture of the British army at Yorktown under Lord Cornwallis, in the fall of the year 1781. The circumstances were these.

Lord Cornwallis, at the head of seven thousand British troops, was at Yorktown, Virginia. To this place, General Washington marched at the head of the American army, determined, if possible, to overcome and capture the British. He soon began the attack, and in a few days Lord Cornwallis, with his seven thousand soldiers, gave themselves up to General Washington.

England now saw that she could not conquer America. She gave up the idea, therefore, and acknowledged its independence.

Our country's independence being thus secured, it has since gone on in happiness and prosperity. It has once since been engaged in a war with England, but it lasted only a short time, and terminated honorably to our country. Ours is now a great and powerful nation. It consists of eleven millions of people. They are governed by a President and Congress, who meet every winter at Washington, to make laws. The Congress consists of several hundred men, some from each state, who assemble in a building called the Capitol.

LESSON 9.

Scenes in the Northern Ocean.

The northern ocean, on account of the dreadful cold prevalent there, is full of mountains of ice, which float in masses, and unite together far more firmly than the waters of a frozen pond in our country. For this reason it is sometimes called the Frozen Ocean. It is not easy to open a passage on this coast. The Dutch have tried it twice, but both times without success. At last some men of spirit, who would not easily yield to difficulties, resolved to make another attempt, and fitted out two ships for the purpose.

They set sail from Amsterdam in the beginning of May. The weather was mild and the wind favorable, so they sailed swiftly; and in about four days they found themselves in view of the Shetland Islands, which you may see on the map of Europe between Scotland and Norway. They then steered directly for the north Pole, and in a few days arrived at Iceland.

By the first of June they had passed the seventieth degree of north latitude. On this day, to their great surprise, the sun did not set; for they were

now in regions where, during this season, the sun remains on the horizon for some months, appearing to travel round it in twenty-four hours.

On the fifth of July, those who were upon deck, raised a great shout, and called their companions to see an immense number of swans that were coming towards them. All ran together, thinking how excellent they would be when roasted, if they could catch a few dozen ;-but, when they had looked a little while, they found that their comrades were deceived, and had mistaken lumps of ice covered with snow for swans: they bore their disappointment, however, with good temper, and the desire of eating roasted swans soon went off.

These navigators sailed some days longer through lumps of ice, which were larger the farther they advanced. On the ninth of July they saw land; they examined their maps to see what country it was, but no land was laid down there; and they concluded that it was an unknown country. They sailed round the coast, and soon saw distinctly that it was an island of about eight leagues in length. Having anchored, some of them took a boat and went on shore. The first thing they saw was a great number of sea-gulls' eggs, which they carefully gathered up for that night's

supper.

On the following day, they saw a frightful monster twelve feet long, with four paws, shaggy white hair, and a mouth full of sharp teeth, with which it made a terrible grinding. It was a white bear, an animal that is never found but in the most northern parts, where it commonly feeds upon fish, sea-calves, and dead whales, though it will attack men as well as beasts. It can swim and dive as well as a waterdog.

But however formidable this animal might be, the sailors were not afraid to attack him. They resolved not to shoot at him from a distance, but

to go up to him and throw a rope round his neck, to strangle him or take him alive. They immediately jumped into the boat, and rowed towards him; but when they came near, they found him so furious, that they renounced their former plan, and attacked him with hatchets and other sharp weapons.

The battle was obstinate, and lasted a long time; the bear defended himself for two hours, until at last with a lucky blow they cut off his head and the huge beast fell down. They dragged the dead body to the ship, skinned it, and prepared some of the flesh for a repast; but they did not find it much to their taste, though some pretend that it is as good as beef.

LESSON 10.

The dying Father's Advice to his Children.

Mr. Thomas Halyard lived on a small farm in the state of New-Jersey. He had been a sailor when he was young, and had been three times cast away, barely escaping with his life. He left the sea, because he did not like to be so long away from his wife and children, and suffer so great hardships for so little profit.

Mrs. Halyard was a woman of good sense, and took the best care of her family. Charles was her oldest son, and Jack was the second. Her two little girls were younger than the boys. Their names were Mary and Betsey. Year after year, this agreeable family had lived, enjoying the delights of their virtue and affection. Each succeeding season returned to shed its blessings upon them. The parents were kind and the children dutiful.

But there is no lasting happiness here below. A sad change was to take place in this little company, and the tie of love that so united them, was, for the first time, to be broken. Mr. Halyard was taken extremely sick with a fever. Although he was very weak, yet he had not lost his reason, and his mind was composed. He perceived that the doctor had no hope of his living.

Mr. Halyard said that while he was able to speak, he wanted his children to be called, that he might talk to them. Having been raised up in his bed, he waited a short time, and then said, My dear children, I see you are much grieved to think your father must die, and leave you; but such are the ways of God, that even in this seeming evil, there is some wise design for your good.

"He who made us, is all-powerful, wise, and just. It is his law that all things here shall pass