A home and a country they'd leave us no more? Their blood hath washed out their foul footsteps' pollution; No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave; 4. Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between our loved home and the war's desolation; And this be our motto, "IN GOD IS OUR TRust ;” KEY. FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, son of an army officer of the Revolution, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1779. He commenced the practice of law at Fredericktown in 1801, but soon removed to Washington, D. C., where he became District-Attorney for the city. He died January 11th, 1843. A small volume of his poems was published in 1857. VIII. 43. THE AMERICAN FLAG. WH HEN Freedom from her mountain height She tore the ǎzure robe of night, And set the stars of glory there : Who rear'st aloft thy regal form, When strive the warriors of the storm, And rolls the thunder drum of heaven- To guard the banner of the free, The harbingers of victory! 3. Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fiy, Each gallant arm that strikes below Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave; 5. Flag of the free heart's hope and home, And all thy hues were born in heaven. Forever float that standard sheet! Where breathes the foe but falls before us, And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us! DRAKE. JOSEPH RODMAN DRAKE, author of "The Culprit Fay," was born in the city of New York, August 7th, 1795. He entered Columbia College at an early period, through which he passed with a reputation for scholarship, taste, and admirable social qualities. He soon after made choice of the medical profession, and completed his professional studies in his native city. Immediately after he was married to Miss Sarah Eckford, a daughter of the noted marine architect, Henry Eckford, through whom he inherited a moderate fortune. His health, about the same time, began to decline; and in the winter of 1819 he visited New Orleans. He had anticipated some benefit from the sea-voyage and the mild climate of Louisiana, but was disappointed, and in the spring of 1820, he returned to New York. His disease-consumption-had now becon.e deeply seated. He lingered through the summer, and died near the close of September, in the twenty-sixth year of his age. He began to write verses when very young, and was a contributor to several gazettes before he was sixteen years old. The secrets of his authorship, however, were only known to his most intimate friends. His longest poem, "The Culprit Fay," was composed in the summer of 1819, though it was not printed until several years after his death. It exhibits the most delicate fancy, and much artistic taste. Drake placed a very modest estimate on his own productions, and it is thought that but a small portion of them has been preserved. A collection of them appeared in 1836. It includes, besides "The Culprit Fay," eighteen short pieces, some of which are very beautiful. SECTION VIII. I. 44. WANTS. PART FIRST. VERYBODY, young and old, children and gray-beards, has Eastern history and Eastern romance', and the most illustrious of the caliphs of Bagdad, that famous city on which the light of 2 tative of Mohammed; one vested with supreme dignity and power in all matters relating to religion and civil policy. This title is borne by the grand seignior in Turkey, and by the sophi of Persia. 3 Bagdad, (båg dåd′), a large and 2 Caliph, a successor or represen- celebrated city of Asiatic Turkey, 'Haroun al Raschid, (hå rồn`-ålråsh' id), a celebrated caliph of the Saracens, ascended the throne in 786, and was a contemporary of Charlemagne. He was brave, munificent, and fond of letters, but cruel and perfidious. learning and science shōne, long ere it dawned on the benighted regions of Europe, which has since succeeded to the diadem that once glittered on the brow of Asia. Though as the successor of the Prophet he exercised a despotic sway over the lives and fortunes of his subjects, yet did he not, like the Eastern despots of more modern times, shut himself up within the walls of his palace, hearing nothing but the adulation of his dependents; seeing nothing but the shadows which surrounded him; and knowing nothing but what he received through the medium of in'terested deception or malignant falsehood. 2. That he might see with his own eyes and hear with his own ears, he was accustomed to go about through the streets of Bagdad' by night, in disguise, accompanied by Giafer the Barmecide, his grand vizier,' and Mesrour, his executioner; one to give him his counsel, the other to fulfill his commands promptly, on all occasions. If he saw any commotion among the people, he mixed with them and learned its cause; and if in passing a house he heard the moanings of distress or the complaints of suffering, he entered, for the purpose of administering relief. Thus he made himself acquainted with the condition of his subjects, and often heard those salutary truths which never reached his ears through the walls of his palace, or from the lips of the slaves that surrounded him. 3. On one of these occasions, as Al Raschid was thus perambulating the streets at night, in disguise, accompanied by his vizier and his executioner, in passing a splendid mansion he overheard, through the lattice of a window, the complaints of some one who seemed in the deepèst distress, and silently approaching, looked into an apartment exhibiting all the signs of wealth and luxury. On a sofa of satin embroidered with gold, and sparkling with brilliant gems, he beheld a man richly dressed, in whom he recognized his favorite boon-companion Bedreddin, on whom he had showered wealth and honors with more than Eastern prodigality. He was stretched out on the sofa, slapping his forehead, tearing his beard, and moaning piteously, as if in the extremity of suffering. At length starting up on his feet, he formerly capital of the empire of the caliphs, now capital of the pashalic of the same name, on both banks of the Tigris, about 190 miles above its junction with the Euphrates. 1 Vizier, (viz yer), a councilor of state; a high executive officer in Turkey and other Eastern countries. exclaimed in tones of despair, "O Allah (God)! I beseech thee to relieve me from my misery, and take away my life!" 4. The Commander of the Faithful, who loved Bedreddin, pitied his sorrows, and being desirous to know their cause, that he might relieve them, knocked at the door, which was opened by a black slave, who, on being informed that they were strangers in want of food and rest, at once admitted them, and informed his master, who called them into his presence and både them welcome. A plentiful feast was spread before them, at which the master of the house sat down with his guests, but of which he did not partake, but looked on, sighing bitterly all the while. 5. The Commander of the Faithful at length ventured to ask him what caused his distress, and why he refrained from partaking in the feast with his guests, in proof that they were welcome. "Has Allah afflicted thee with disease, that thou canst not enjoy the blessings he has bestowed? Thou art surrounded by all the splendor that wealth can procure; thy dwelling is a palace, and its apartments are adorned with all the luxuries which captivate the eye, or administer to the gratification of the senses. Why is it, then, O my brother, that thou art miserable?" 6. "True, O stranger," replied Bedreddin. "I have all these; I have health of body; I am rich enough to purchase all that wealth can bestow, and if I required more wealth and honors, I am the favorite companion of the Commander of the Faithful, on whose head lie the blessings of Allah, and of whom I have only to ask, to obtain all I desire, save one thing only." 7. "And what is that?" asked the caliph. "Alas! I adore the beautiful Zuleima, whose face is like the full moon, whose eyes are brighter and softer than those of the gazelle, and whose mouth is like the seal of Solomon. But she loves another, and all my wealth and honors are as nothing. The want of one thing renders the possession of ĕvèry other of no value. I am the most wretched of men; my life is a burden, and my death would be a blessing." 8. "By the beard of the Prophet," cried the caliph, "I swear, thy case is a hard one. But Allah is great and powerful, and will, I trust, either deliver thee from thy burden or give thee strength to bear it." Then thanking Bedreddin for his hospitălity, the Commander of the Faithful departed, with his companions. |