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-1993 As soon as the vessel arrived at Barbadoes, the merchants crowded around it for the purpose of purchasing slaves. The despicable Inkle was animated at the sight, and resolving to relieve himself of what he considered a burden, offered the beauteous Yarico, his amiable deliverer, to the highest bidder! It was in vain that she threw herself on her knees before him, or pleaded her tenderness and affection; the heart that could be dead to gratitude was lost to love; and the unfortunate Yarico was doomed to a life of slavery!!

LESSON LVI.

The Battle of Blenheim*-SOUTHEY.

1. Ir was a summer evening;

Old Kaspar's work was done;
And he, before his cottage door,
Was sitting in the sun;

And by him sported on the green,
His little grandchild, Wilhemine.
2. She saw her brother Peterkin

Roll something large and round,
That he beside the rivulet,

In playing there had found;
He came to ask what he had found,
That was so large, and smooth, and round.

3. Old Kaspar took it from the boy,

Who stood expectant by ;

And then the old man shook his head,
And with a natural sigh,

"Tis some poor fellow's skull, said he,
Who fell in the great victory.

4. I find them in the garden, for
There's many here about,
And often when I go to plough,
The ploughshare turns them out;
For many thousand men, said he,
Were slain in this great victory.

* Blenheim, a town in the north-western part of Austria, on the river Dan ube. It is famous for the great victory obtained in its vicinity, on the 13th at August, 1704, by the English and Austrians, under the duke of Marlborough and prince Eugene, over the French and Bavarians, commanded by marshals Tallard, Marsin, and the elector of Bavaria. The loss of the Fronch and Bavarians exceeded 30,000; that of the allies was 12,000.

5. Now tell us what 'twas all about,
Young Peterkin he cries;
And little Wilhemine looks up,1^.
With wonder waiting eyes;
Now tell us all about the war,
And what they killed each other for.
6. It was the English, Kaspar cried,
That put the French to rout;
But what they kill'd each other for,
I could not well make out;
But every body said, quoth he,
That 'twas a famous victory;

7. My father liv'd at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by;
They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forc'd to fly:

So with his wife and child he fled,

Nor had he where to rest his head.

8. With fire and sword the country round
Was wasted far and wide,

And many a chiding mother then,

And new-born infant died;

But things like this, you know, must be
At every famous victory.

9. Great praise the noble General won,
And our good friend Eugene ;*—
Why, 'twas a very wicked thing,
Said little Wilhemine;

Nay, nay, my little girl, quoth he,
It was a famous victory.

10. And every body praised the Dukef
Who such a fight did win;

But what good came of it at last?
Said little Peterkin;

Why-that-I cannot tell, said he,
But 'twas a famous victory.

* Francis_Eugene, Prince of Savoy, born in 1663. slighted by Louis XIV. in France, his native country, he

Finding himself retired to Germa

ny, and spent his life in the service of the Austrians. His victories over the Turks, and afterwards over the French, have rendered his name immortal. He died at Vienna, 1736.

* Duke of Marlborough, an Englishmar.

LESSON LVII.

The Dog and the Fox.-GAY.
1. A SHEPHERD's dog, unskilled in sports,
Picked up acquaintance of all sorts.
Among the rest a fox he knew;
By frequent chat their friendship grew.
2. Says Renard, " "Tis a cruel case,
That man should stigmatize our race.
No doubt, among us, rogues you find,
As among dogs and human kind;
And yet, (unknown to me and you,)
There may be honest men and true.
3. "Thus slander tries, whate'er it can,
To put us on the foot with man.
Let my own actions recommend ;
No prejudice can blind a friend;
You know me free from all disguise;
My honor as my life I prize."

4. By talk like this, from all mistrust The dog was cured, and thought him just. As on a time the fox held forth

On conscience, honesty, and worth,
Sudden he stopped; he cocked his ear,
Low dropped his brushy tail with fear.
"Bless us! the hunters are abroad :
What's all that clatter on the road?” ́

5. "Hold," says the dog; "we're safe from harm; 'Twas nothing but a false alarm.

At yonder town, 'tis market day;
Some farmer's wife is on the way:

"Tis so, (I know her pie-bald mare,)

Dame Dobbins, with her poultry-ware."

6. Renard grew huff. Says he, "This sneer,

From you, I little thought to hear.

Your meaning in your looks I see;

Pray, what's dame Dobbins, friend, to me?

Did I e'er make her poultry thinner?

Prove that I owe the dame a dinner."

7. "Friend," quoth the cur, " I meant no harm,

Then why so captious? why so warm?

My words, in common acceptation,
Could never give this provocation;
No lamb (for aught I ever knew)
May be more innocent than you."

8. At this, galled Renard winced, and swore
Such language ne'er was given before.
"What's lamb to me?-the saucy hint;
Show me, base knave, which way you squint.
If t'other night, your master lost
Three lambs-am I to pay the cost?
Your vile reflections would imply
That I'm the thief. You dog, you lie."

9. "Thou knave, thou fool," the dog replied.
"The name is just, take either side;
Thy guilt these applications speak;
Sirrah, 'tis conscience makes you squeak
So saying, on the fox he flies :-
The self-convicted felon dies.

99

LESSON LVIII.

The Hare and the Tortoise.-LLOYD.

1. IN days of yore,* when time was young,
When birds conversed as well as sung,
When use of speech was not confined
Merely to brutes of human kind,

A forward hare of swiftness vain,
The genius of the neighboring plain,
Would oft deride the drudging crowd,

For geniuses are ever proud:

He'd boast, his flight 'twere vain to follow;
For dog, and horse, he'd beat them hollow;
Nay, if he put forth all his strength,
Outstrip his brethren half a length.

2. A tortoise heard his vain oration, And vented thus his indignation:"O puss! it bodes thee dire disgrace, When I defy thee to the race. Come, 'tis a match; nay, no denial: I lay my shell upon the trial."

"Twas "Done !" and "Done !" "All fair!" "A bet!”

Judges prepared, and distance set.

3. The scampering hare outstripped the wind;

The creeping tortoise lagged behind,

* Yore, long ago, of old time.

of

And scarce had passed a single pole,
When puss had almost reached the goal.
"Friend tortoise," quoth the jeering hare,
“Your burden's more than you can bear;
To help your speed it were as well
That I should ease you your shell:
Jog on a little faster, pr'ythee;
I'll take a nap, and then be with thee.”
4. So said, so done, and safely, sure;
For say, what conquest more secure?
When'er he waked, (that's all that's in it,)
He could o'ertake him in a minute.
The tortoise heard his taunting jeer,
But still resolved to persevere;
Still drawled along, as who should say,
"I'll win, like Fabius,* by delay;"
On to the goal securely crept,

While puss, unknowing, soundly slept.

5. The bets were won, the hare awoke,
When thus the victor-tortoise spoke :-
"Puss, though I own thy quicker parts,
Things are not always done by starts;
You may deride my awkward расе,
But slow and steady wins the race."

LESSON LIX.

The Painter who pleased Nobody and Every Body.-GAY

1. LEST men suspect your tale untrue,
Keep probability in view,

The trav'ller, leaping o'er those bounds,
The credit of his book confounds,

Who with his tongue hath armies routed,
Makes e'en his real courage doubted.

2. But flatt'ry never seems absurd;
The flatter'd always take your word;
Impossibilities seem just;

They take the strongest praise on trust;
Hyperboles, though e'er so great,

Will still come short of self conceit.

An illustrious Roman General who opposed Hannibal in Italy. He died 203 years B. C.

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