I know the brightest stars that set And dost thou still remember me? I sometimes think thy self comes back My cheeks bloom younger in thy breath, Till thou art mine and I am thine, Without a thought of pain or death; 55.-"ROCK OF AGES." ANONYMOUS. "Rock of Ages, cleft for me," Sung as sing the birds in June; "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Felt her soul no need to hide- "Rock of Ages, cleft for me—” 'Twas a woman sung them now, Every note with sorrow stirred, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me-" Lips grown aged sung the hymn Voice grown weak and eyes grown dim- Trembling though the voice, and low, As a river in its flow; Who life's thorny paths have pressed; Sung as only they can sing Who behold the promised rest. "Rock of Ages, cleft for me," All life's cares and sorrows hid. Wilt thou need thyself to hide. 56.-STUDY OF LATIN AND GREEK. SYDNEY SMITH. Latin and Greek are useful, as they inure children to intel lectual difficulties, and make the life of a young student, what it ought to be, a life of considerable labor. We do not, of course, mean to confine this praise exclusively to the study of Latin and Greek, or to suppose that other difficulties might not be found which it would be useful to overcome; but though Latin and Greek have this merit in common with many arts and sciences, still they have it; and, if they do nothing else, they at least secure a solid and vigorous application at a period of life which materially influences all other periods. To go through the grammar of one language thoroughly is of great use for the mastery of every other grammar; because there obtains, through all languages, a certain analogy to each other in their grammatical construction. Latin and Greek have now mixed themselves etymologically with all the languages of Modern Europe, and with none more than our own; so that we must read these two tongues for other objects than themselves. These two ancient languages are, as mere inventions-as pieces of mechanism-incomparably more beautiful than any of the modern languages of Europe; their mode of signifying time and case by terminations, instead of auxiliary verbs and particles, would of itself stamp their superiority. Add to this, the copiousness of the Greek language, with the fancy, harmony, and majesty of its compounds; and there are quite sufficient reasons why the classics should be studied for the beauties of language. Compared to them merely as vehicles of thought and passion, all modern languages are dull, ill-contrived, and barbarous. That a great part of the Scriptures have come down to us in the Greek language is of itself a reason, if all others were wanting, why education should be planned so as to produce a supply of Greek scholars. The cultivation of style is very justly made a part of educa tion. Everything which is written is meant either to please or to instruct. The second object it is difficult to effect without attending to the first; and the cultivation of style is the acquisition of those rules and literary habits which sagacity anticipates, or experience shows to be the most effectual means of pleasing. Those works are the best which have longest stood the test of time, and pleased the greatest number of exercised minds. Whatever, therefore, our conjectures may be, we cannot be so sure that the best modern writers can afford us as good models as the ancients; we cannot be certain that they will live through the revolutions of the world, and continue to please in every climate, under every species of government, through every stage of civilization. The moderns have been well taught by their masters; but the time is hardly yet come when the necessity for such instruction no longer exists. We may still borrow descriptive power from Tacitus; dignified perspicuity from Livy; simplicity from Cæsar; and from Homer some portion of that light and heat which, dispersed into ten thousand channels, has filled the world with bright images, and illustrious thoughts. Let the cultivator of modern literature addict himself to the purest models of taste which France, Italy and England could supply, he might still learn from Virgil to be majestic, and from Tibullus to be tender; he might not yet look upon the face of nature as Theocritus saw it, nor might he reach those springs of pathos with which Euripides softened the hearts of his audience. In short, it appears to us, that there are so many excellent reasons why a certain number of scholars should be kept up in this and in every civilized country, that we should consider every system of education from which classical education is excluded, as radically erroneous and completely absurd. 57.-BINGEN ON THE RHINE. C. E. NORTON. A soldier of the Legion lay dying in Algiers, There was lack of woman's nursing, there was dearth of woman's tears; But a comrade stood beside him, while his life-blood ebbed away, [around, My heart leaped forth to hear him tell of struggles fierce and wild; And when he died, and left us to divide his scanty hoard, I let them take whate'er they would, but kept my father's sword; And with boyish love I hung it where the bright light used to shine, On the cottage wall at Bingen,-calm Bingen on the Rhine. "Tell my sister not to weep for me, and sob with drooping head, When the troops come marching home again, with glad and gal. lant tread, But to look upon them proudly, with a calm and steadfast eye, To listen to him kindly, without regret or shame, And hang the old sword in its place (my father's sword and mine), For the honor of old Bingen,-dear Bingen on the Rhine. There's another,-not a sister; in the happy days gone by "I saw the blue Rhine sweep along; I heard or seemed to hear His eyes put on a dying look,-he sighed, and ceased to speak; 58. THE LOST LEADER. ROBERT BROWNING. Just for a handful of silver he left us; Found the one gift of which fortune bereft us, They, with the gold to give, doled him out silver, How all our copper had gone for his service! Rags-were they purple, his heart had been proud! Learned his great language, caught his clear accents, [graves! Burns, Shelley were with us-they watch from their He alone breaks from the van and the freemen; He alone sinks to the rear and the slaves! We shall march prospering,-not through his presence: |