to part with either of his family? 7. What objection did Conrad urge against going himself? 8. What did the stranger exhort him to do against his return?

LESSON LXXXVIII.

Spell and Define-1. A QUAT' IC, living in water, 2 HuMIDITY, moisture; dampness. 3. NAT U RAL IST, one who is versed in natural history.

4. CON FORM A'TION,

the manner, in which any thing is formed. U ATE, to cause to endure.

5. PER PET'

8. E.

6. LU BRI CA' TED, made smooth and slippery. 7. EN VEL' OP, to cover on all sides. QUI LIB' RI UM, equality of weight; balance. 9. PRE CAU’TION, previous caution or care. 10. PROV' I DENT, foreseeing wants, and making provision to supply them; cautious. 11. IN VEST I GATE, to search into with care. 12. FOR'TI FI ED, defended. 13. VEST' MENT, a garment. 14. O RIENT ALS, the people of eastern countries. 15. TOR'. RID, very hot; parched. 16. ZONE, a girdle; a division of the earth with respect to its temperature. 17. AC CLI MA' TION, the process of habituating the body to a foreign climate.

CLOTHING OF ANIMALS AND VEGETABLES.

1. Most of the animals, by an admirable contrivance of the Creator, are covered with wool, fur, hair, or feathers,-which, being bad conductors of heat, keep it from escaping. They are clothed by the hand of Providence. exactly in conformity with their wants, and the nature of things.

2. Their dress accommodates itself to the heat of summer, and the cold of winter. It falls and becomes thin in the former period, and grows thicker during the winter. The aquatic birds have a species of very warm down, which only covers that part of their breast, exposed to the water, which is var

nished with a bland oil, and it is at once fortified against cold and humidity.

3. Nature carries her foresight still farther. The same animal acquires a different fur in different climates. The northern frosts impart to the goat, rabbit, cat, and sheep, a thick and furry vestment. The same animals are almost deprived of hair in the burning regions of Senegal and Guinea; while in Syria, according to the expression of a naturalist, they are covered with a long, light, and silky vestment, like the robe of the Orientals.

4. The wants of all beings have been calculated with such an exactness of benevolent justice, that the animals which live in valleys, where they enjoy a milder temperature, are more thinly clad than the animals of mountains, that wander in the midst of storms and snow.

5. We might trace the same wise arrangement, even in the conformation of vegetables. Their flower-buds are destined to multiply and perpetuate the species. They contain, at the same time, the seed, the fruit, and the coming tree.

6. Nature, neglecting nothing that could tend to preserve so important a charge, has fenced the bud with scales, overlaying one another like tiles; bristled them with hairs, which defend them from insects; and lubricated them with a light varnish, over which the water glides without leaving a trace of humidity.

7. As animals are more warmly clad by nature, in proportion as their climates are colder, so, as we approach the warmer countries, these scales which envelop the germs, diminish by degrees, and end by disappearing entirely.

8. In the torrid zone, the light buds of flowers are naked, like the savage that dances around the tree which bears them. Transfer this vegetable to our climates, and you will see nature take care to clothe and defend it by-numerous scales. This is her process of acclimation.

9. Every thing in the universe, perishes, but only to be renewed. Nature incessantly struggles against destruction; and her wise and benevolent foresight maintains the equilibrium between life and death. What admirable precaution has she taken to secure the reproduction of the hum blest plant!

10. During the close of summer, she covers the ears of our maize with husks, more or less thick, according to the mildness or severity of the winter that is to follow. The naturalist discovers this provident care in many of the coverings of the fruits and grains.

11. The savage counts the number and thickness of these coats, and is forewarned for what severity of winter he has to prepare; and, unread in the lore of our books, by reading the beautiful book of nature, he is ena

bled to regulate his labors, his hunting and fishings in the deserts.

12. I hope you have seen that the study of nature is full of charms. In proportion as you investigate her secrets, the wisdom of Providence is continually disclosed, and your views become more broad and delightful, and all dryness disappears from the pursuit of knowledge. You enjoy such a pleasure as the traveler experiences, who has finally toiled to the summit of a mountain. The boundless prospect opens before him, and the heavens surround him on all sides.

QUESTIONS.-1. How are the animals clothed ? 2. Who provides their clothing? 3. How does their clothing accommodate itself to the heat of summer, or the cold of winter? 4. Do the same animals acquire different furs in different climates ? 5. Is the same wise arrangement extended to vegetables? 6. How are the flower buds defended from insects? 7. How do savages calculate on the mildness or severity of the coming winter? 8. How are we rewarded by studying the book of nature?

LESSON LXXXIX.

Spell and Define-1. PLUN' DER ED, pillaged; robbed. 2. A BIL' I TIES, physical powers; powers of mind. 3. DisCr PLE, a learner; a scholar. 4. O RA' TION, a discourse composed according to the rules of oratory, and spoken in public. 5. ES TATE', fortune; possessions. 6. IM PE' DED, hindered; obstructed. 7. STAM' MER ED, stuttered; hesitated in speaking. 8. UN GRACE' FUL, inelegant ; awkward. 9. CHAR AC TER IS' TIC, that which marks the peculiar character of a person. 10. SUB TER RA' NE AN, being under the surface of the earth. 11. SOL I TA RY, lonely. 12. SUC CEED' ING, following. 13. AS SI DU' I TY, constant or close application. 14. PAT RI OT, one who loves his

country.

DEMOSTHENES.

1. NEVER was there a more admirable example of perseverance overcoming great difficulties, than that of the celebrated Demosthenes, justly styled by the Greek historians, the "prince of orators." Left an orphan at the tender age of seven years, and plundered of his estate, and defrauded of his education by his guardians, he nevertheless repaired these losses by his love of eloquence, and his extraordinary abilities.

2. He became the disciple of the philosophers, Isaeus and Plato, and applied himself to study the orations of Isocrates. At the age of seventeen, he gave an early proof of his powers of eloquence against his guardians, from whom he recovered the greater part of his estate. But his rising talents were impeded by great natural defects, and it is in overcoming these, that he has given us such a capital example of perseverance.

3. He stammered badly; and to correct this, he declaimed with pebbles in his mouth. It is difficult for us to imagine how this could have cured him; and it is probable, that it depended on some very peculiar circumstances which have not been made known. But the remedy must have been a harsh one, and such as none but a determined spirit would have resorted to.

4. For an ungraceful shrug of his shoulders, he applied another remedy, quite as severe,