CHAP. XVIII.

On Early Rising.

2. Ra'-di-ant, a. shining.
3. Lay, s. a song.
4. Dew'-y, a. moist with dew.

Lawn, s. a large plain in a park, or adjoining to some grand
Grove, s. a walk formed by trees whose branches spread above.

seat.

1. How foolish they who lengthen night,

And slumber in the morning light!
How sweet at early morning's rise,

To view the glories of the skies ;
2. And mark with curious eye the sun

Prepare his radiant course to run!
Its fairest form then nature wears,

And clad in brightest green appears. 3. The sprightly lark, with artless lay,

Proclaims the entrance of the day.
4. How sweet to breathe the gale's perfume,

And feast the eye with nature's bloom!
Along the dewy lawn to rove,

And hear the music of the grove ! 5. Nor you, ye delicate and fair,

Neglect to taste the morning air:
This will your nerves with vigour brace,
Improve and lengthen ev'ry grace :
Add to your breath a rich perfume,
Add to your cheeks a fairer bloom ;

6. With lustre teach your eyes to glow; And health and cheerfulness below.

ARMSTRONG.

1. Wil'-low-y-brook, s. (pro. wil-lo-e,) a brook growing willows. 2. Pil-grim, s. one who travels on a religious account. 3. I'-vy-ed-porch, s. a porch on which the ivy grows.

Fra'-grant, a. sweet-smelling.

1. MINE be a cot beside the hill;

A bee-hive's hun shall soothe my ear;
A willowy-brook, that turns a mill,

With many a fall shall linger near.

2. The swallow oft beneath my thatch,

Shall twitter from her clay-built nest;
Oft shall the pilgrim lift the latch,

And share my meal, a welcome guest.

3. Around my ivy'd-porch shall spring

Each fragrant flower that drinks the dew; And Lucy, at her wheel, shall sing,

In russet gown and apron blue.

4. The village church, among the trees,

Where first our marriage-vows were given,
With merry peals shall swell the breeze,
And point with taper spire to heav'n!

ROGERS.

CHAP. XX.

The Bee, the Lily of the Valley, and the Tulip.

A FABLE.

1. Am’-bi-ent, a. compassing, surrounding.

A-bash'-ed, part. put out of countenance. 2. Sol, s. the sun.

Phi"-lo-mel, s. the nightingale.

Ve-nus, s, the goddess of love. One of the planets. 4. Va'-grant, a. wandering, roving, void of occupation. 6. Sup'-pli-ant, a. begging, entreating.

Flo'-ret, s. a diminutive fiower. 7. Sa’-ble, a. dark, black. 12. Pe'-tal, s. the flower leaf of a plant. 14. Lux-u’-ri-ant, a. abundant, plentiful.

Ex-ult-ing, part, rejoicing greatly. 15. Ver'-dant, a. green, beautiful.

1. THE soft-eyed eve, serene and fair,

Was rising from her noon-tide bow'rs,
Her breath perfum'd the ambient air,

Her tints abash'd the closing flow'rs. 2. Sol's latest gleam had ting'd the rocks,

Sweet Philomel her plaint renews;
While Venus from her radiant locks

Shed, softly shed, the silent dews. 3. An infant bee, who at the morn,

First left a tender parent's wing,
Afar his giddy flight had borne,

And thoughtless sipt the sweets of spring: 4. Far from its busy guardian's call,

How had the little vagrant stray'd;
And when the dews began to fall,

He rested in a distant glade.

5. And there, as, pensive and forlorn,

The hapless rover sat and sigh'd,
Panting for her he left at morn,

A lily of the vale he spied.

6. With trembling voice, with suppliant eye,

He begs beneath its leaves to rest;
The tender floret hears his cry,

And thus the wand'rer she addrest :

7. “ Welcome beneath my humble shed;

There sleep secure till dawning day;
And when night's sable shades are fled,

Safe to the hive pursue your way.”

8. With grateful heart the insect bends,

And thanks the hospitable flow'r,
Whose ample leaf his frame defends,

And shelters from the dewy show'r.

9. But ah! not long this sweet repose

Had he beneath this shade enjoy'd,
For near the spot a tulip rose,

Whose envious glance the charm destroy'd,

1

10. “ And why,” it cried, “poor simple bee,

Dost thou contented there remain ?
Why slight the tints that glow in me,

For those, the meanest on the plain ?

11. Unmindful that on her you trust,

The passing traveller may tread,
Lay all her blossoms in the dust,

And crush you in the fatal bed.

12. Ah! waste no more, no more repose

Those downy limbs in vulgar arms,
But ere the night my petals close,

In me enjoy superior charms." 13. Deluded by its gaudy hue,

With glee the fond believing thing
To taste the boasted blessings flew,

And left the fairest child of spring.

14. Now, sweets luxuriant charm his taste,

When from the east begins to blow A ruder gale, whose boisterous haste

Soon laid th' exulting beauty low.

15. 'Twas on a riv'let's verdant side,

Queen of the banks, the tulip stood; The stream receives its fallen pride,

While the poor insect stems the flood.

16. At once, of all his hopes bereft,

The mossy bank he strives to gain, Mourns that the humble flow'r he left,

And beats his silken wings in vain.

17. Shudd'ring, he sees approaching death;

Too late his unavailing sighs :
The waters stop his vital breath;

And, lo! the helpless victim dies !

18. Ye gentle youth, who read this tale,

Mark well the moral it imparts:
66 Forsake not virtue's peaceful vale,

For beauty's vain insidious arts."