luxuries of the Old World. Such as we are, we have been from the beginning - simple, hardy, intelligent, accustomed to self-government and self-respect. 5. The Atlantic rolls between us and any formidable foe. Within our own territory, stretching through many degrees of latitude and longitude, we have the choice of many products, and many means of independence. The government is mild. The press is free. Religion is free. Knowledge reaches, or may reach, every home. What fairer prospect of success could be presented? What means more adequate to accomplish the sublime end? What more is necessary, than for the people to preserve what they themselves have created? 6. Already has the age caught the spirit of our institutions. It has already ascended the Andes, and snuffed the breezes of both oceans. It has infused itself into the life-blood of Europe, and warmed the sunny plains of France, and the lowlands of Holland. It has touched the philosophy of Germany and the north, and, moving onward to the south, has opened to Greece the lessons of her better days. 7. Can it be that America, under such circumstances, can betray herself; that she is to be added to the catalogue of republics, the inscription of whose ruin is, "They were, but they are not?" Forbid it, my countrymen; forbid it, Heaven! I call upon you, fathers, by the shades of your ancestors, by the dear ashes which repose in this precious soil, by all you are, and all you hope to be, resist every project of disunion: resist every encroachment upon your liberties: resist every attempt to fetter your consciences, or smother your public schools, or extinguish your system of public instruction. 8. I call upon you, mothers, by that which never fails in woman the love of your offspring,- teach them, as they climb your knees, or lean on your bosoms, the blessings of liberty. Swear them at the altar, as with their baptismal vows, to be true to their country, and never to forget or to forsake her. I call upon you, young men, to remember whose sons you are, whose inheritance you possess. Life can never be too short, which brings nothing but disgrace and oppression. Death never comes too soon, if necessary in the defense of the liberties of your country. I call upon you, old men, for your counsels, and your prayers, and your benedictions. May not your gray hairs go down in sorrow to the grave, with the recollection that you have lived in vain. May not your last sun sink in the west upon a nation of slaves. JUDGE JOSEPH STORY. CXXXV. CURFEW SHALL NOT RING TO-NIGHT. 1. England's sun was setting o'er the hills so far away, Filling the land with misty beauty at the close of one sad day; And the last rays kissed the forehead of a man and maiden fair He with step so slow and weary, she with sunny, floating hair; He with bowed head, sad and thoughtful, she with lips so cold and white, Struggled to keep back the murmur, "Curfew must not ring to-night!" 2. "Sexton," Bessie's white lips faltered, pointing to the prison old, With its walls so dark and gloomy-walls so dark, and damp, and cold,— "I've a lover in that prison, doomed this very night to die At the ringing of the Curfew, and no earthly help is nigh. Cromwell will not come till sunset," and her face grew strangely white, As she spoke in husky whispers, "Curfew must not ring to-night." 3. "Bessie," calmly spoke the sexton,-every word pierced her young heart Like a thousand gleaming arrows-like a deadly poisoned dart, "Long, long years I've rung the Curfew from that gloomy shadowed tower; Every evening, just at sunset, it has told the twilight hour; I have done my duty ever, tried to do it just and right, Now I'm old, I will not miss it: girl, the Curfew rings to-night!" 4. Wild her eyes and pale her features, stern and white her thoughtful brow, And within her heart's deep center, Bessie made a solemn vow,— She had listened while the judges read, without a tear or sigh, "At the ringing of the Curfew-Basil Underwood And her breath came fast and faster, and her eyes -- 5. She with light step bounded forward, sprang within the old church door, Left the old man coming slowly, paths he'd trod so oft before: Not one moment paused the maiden, but with cheek and brow aglow, Staggered up the gloomy tower, where the bell swung to and fro; Then she climbed the slimy ladder, dark, without one ray of light, Upward still, her pale lips saying: "Curfew shall not ring to-night." 6. She has reached the topmost ladder; o'er her hangs the great dark bell, And the awful gloom beneath her-like the pathway down to hell. See, the ponderous tongue is swinging; 'tis the hour of Curfew now And the sight has chilled her bosom, stopped her breath and paled her brow. Shall she let it ring? No, never! Her eyes flash with sudden light, As she springs and grasps it firmly-" Curfew shall not ring to-night!" Out she swung, far out, the city seemed a tiny speck below; There, 'twixt heaven and earth, suspended as the bell swung to and fro; And the half deaf sexton ringing (years he had not heard the bell), And he thought the twilight Curfew rang young Basil's funeral knell ; Still the maiden clinging firmly, cheek and brow so pale and white, Stilled her frightened heart's wild beating-"Cur few shall not ring to-night!" 8. It was o'er. The bell ceased swaying, and the maiden stepped once more Firmly on the damp old ladder, where, for hundred years before, Human foot had not been planted. And what she this night had done, Shall be told long years after, as the rays of setting sun Light the sky with mellow beauty, as aged sires with heads of white Tell the children why the Curfew did not ring that one sad night. 9. O'er the distant hills came Cromwell; Bessie saw Lately white with sickening terror, glows with sud- At his feet she told her story, showed her hands all And her sweet young face so haggard, with a look Touched his heart with sudden pity-lit his eyes "Go, your lover lives," cried Cromwell; "Curfew ROSA HARTWICK, CXXXVI.-UNIVERSAL EDUCATION. 1. Universal Education! Grand, inspiring idea! And shall there come a time, when the delver in the mine and the rice-swamp, the orphans of the prodigal and the felon, the very offspring of shame, shall be truly, systematically educated? Glorious consummation! morning twilight of the millennium! 4 |