Tax-a'-tion, act of taxing. A tax is
money taken for the use of the
government. From Lat. taxo,
I charge, handle, from tango, I
touch.
Ac-cess'-i-ble, open.

From Lat.

accedo, I go near to, from ad, to, and cedo, I go.

Re-frac'-tor-y, resisting stubbornly.

From Lat. re, back, against, and
frango, I break; that resists
breaking.

Me-chan'-ic, belonging to machines.
De'-i-fied, made into a god. From

Lat. deus, god, and facio, I make. Con-tem'-por-ar-ies, those living at the same time with. From Lat. con, together, and tempus, time.

EXERCISES.-1. Explain the following: (1) This name needs no commemoration of ours; (2) a thing stupendous alike for its force and its flexibility; (3) masses of obdurate metal; (4) it has completed the dominion of mind over the most refractory qualities of matter.

2. Analyse and parse the following:

'But art thou one, whom new opinions sway,

One who believes as Tindal leads the way.'

3. Name all the derivatives you know from the following Latin roots (1) Frango, I break; (2) durus, hard; (3) memor, mindful.

READING ALOUD.

1. We know of no accomplishment so valuable as that of reading aloud with 'good emphasis and discretion-of catching the meaning and spirit of an author, and conveying them to others with a distinct and intelligible utterance, and yet, strange to say, there is no department of modern education so much neglected. Indeed, so general is this neglect, that scarcely one young lady or gentleman in a dozen, who boast of having finished their education, can read aloud to a private company with that ease and graceful modulation which is necessary to the perfect appreciation of an author. There is either a forced or unnatural mouthing, a hesitating and imperfect articulation, or a monotony of tone so thoroughly painful, that one listens with impatience, and is glad when some excuse presents itself for one's absence.

2. The main evil arises from the unequal value which seems to be attached to good reading, as compared with music, singing, dancing, drawing, and other fashionable acquirements. Why it should be so, we can discover no good cause, but on the contrary, see many substantial reasons why reading aloud should be cultivated as one of the most useful and attractive accomplishments. To young ladies, for example, the habit of reading aloud has much to recommend it. As mere exercise, it is highly beneficial on account of the strength and vigour which it imparts to the chest and lungs, while the mental pleasure to be derived therefrom is one of the most delightful that can adorn the family circle.

3. Gathered round the winter's fire, or evening lamp, what can be more cheerful for the aged and infirm-what more instructive to the younger branches, or more exemplary to the careless, than the reading aloud some entertaining author? and who could do. this better than one thoroughly able to appreciate what Shakspeare meant when he made poor dying Lear, in referring to Cordelia, say: 'Her voice was ever gentle, soft and low-an excellent thing in woman?' Were women to adopt this practice more than they do at present, they would bind to their homes many who are otherwise disposed to go in search of unworthy enjoyments, and would add another chain of delightful associations wherewith to attach the young to the family hearth. To young men preparing for professional labours, the art of reading aloud is indispensable; and though not equally necessary for what are called business men, still to such it is a becoming and valuable acquirement.

4. Singing for the million is cried up on all hands

why not reading aloud? The one art is chiefly valued as an amusement and refining accomplishment; the other is equally entertaining-quite as necessary for the adornment of public or private life, and certainly more productive of utility and knowledge.

Em'-pha-sis, stress of the voice so

placed on the words as to make the meaning clear. From Gr. en, on, and phaino, I make clear. Dis-cre'-tion, judgment, good taste. From Lat. discerno, I judge, from dis, thoroughly, and cerno, perceive.

Mod-u-la'-tion, the regulating of the tones of the voice. From Lat. modulus, diminutive of modus,

measure.

Ap-pre-ci-a'-tion, setting a due value
on. From Lat. ad, to, and
pretium, price.
Ar-tic-u-la-tion, distinct forming of
the sounds in speaking or read-
ing.
From Lat. articulo, I
utter distinctly; lit. to furnish
with joints, from Lat. articulus,
a joint.
Mon-ot'-on-y, sameness of tone.
From Gr. monos, alone, and
tonos, tone.

Ac-quire'-ment, thing learned or

gained. From Lat. ad, to, and
quæro, I seek.
Ben-e-fi'-ci-al, useful, good. From
Lat. beneficium, a benefit, from
bene, well, and facio, I do.
Ex'-em-plar-y, giving a good ex-
ample. From Lat. exemplum,
example.

As-so-ci-a-tions, ties of union. From
Lat. ad, to, and socius, a com-
panion.
Pro-fes'-sion-al,

connected

with

one's calling or profession. In-dis-pens'-a-ble, that cannot be dispensed with or done without. From Lat. in, not, and dispense, from dis, asunder, and pendo, penso, I weigh. A-dorn'-ment, ornament. From Lat. ad, to, and orno, I deck. Pro-duc-tive of, causing, bringing forth. From Lat. pro, forth, and duco, I bring.

EXERCISES.-1. Explain the following: (1) A distinct and intelligible utterance; (2) the perfect appreciation of the author; (3) a hesitating and imperfect articulation; (4) a monotony of tone; (5) fashionable acquirements; (6) professional labours.

2. Analyse and parse the following: 'The work is incomplete, I grant; but, under the circumstances, I maintain that you cannot reasonably expect more.'

3. Name all the derivatives you know from the following Latin roots: (1) Duco, I lead or bring; (2) duco, compounded with con-, e-, re-, in-, pro-, ab-, via (a way); (3) facio, I do; (4) facio, compounded with bene, male, satis, manus (the hand).

THE CLOUD.

[This is one of the finer lyrical poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792— 1822), a young English poet, who was drowned in the Bay of Spezia, Italy, while returning in an open boat from Leghorn.]

I.

I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,

From the seas and the streams;

I bear light shades for the leaves when laid

In their noon-day dreams.

From my wings are shaken the dews that waken
The sweet buds every one,

When rocked to rest on their mother's breast,
As she dances about the sun.

I wield the flail of the lashing hail,
And whiten the green plains under,
And then again I dissolve it in rain,
And laugh as I pass in thunder!

II.

I sift the snow on the mountains below,
And their great pines groan aghast;
And all the night 'tis my pillow white,

While I sleep in the arms of the blast.
Sublime on the towers of my skiey bowers,
Lightning my pilot sits,

In a cavern under is fettered the thunder,
It struggles and howls at fits;

Over earth and ocean with gentle motion,
This pilot is guiding me,

Lured by the love of the genii that move
In the depths of the purple sea;

Over the rills, and the crags and the hills,
Over the lakes and the plains,

Wherever he dream, under mountain or stream,
The Spirit he loves remains;

And I all the while bask in heaven's blue smile,
Whilst he is dissolving in rains.

III.

The sanguine sunrise with his meteor eyes,
And his burning plumes outspread,
Leaps on the back of my sailing rack,
When the morning star shines dead,

As on the jag of a mountain crag,

Which an earthquake rocks and swings,

An eagle alit, one moment may sit

In the light of its golden wings.

And when sunset may breathe, from the lit sea beneath, Its ardours of rest and of love,

And the crimson pall of eve may fall

From the depth of heaven above,

With wings folded I rest, on mine airy nest,

As still as a brooding dove.

IV.

That orbed maiden with white fire laden,
Whom mortals call the moon,

Glides glimmering o'er my fleece-like floor,
By the midnight breezes strewn;

And wherever the beat of her unseen feet,
Which only the angels hear,

May have broken the woof of my tent's thin roof,

The stars peep behind her and peer;

And I laugh to see them whirl and flee

Like a swarm of golden bees,