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278. INVOLUNTARY EFFORTS. Let no one imagine, that it is the design of this system to make arbitrary readers, and speakers; far from it: if the system were not founded in NATURE, such might be the result. By making use of the principles here developed, we return to truth and nature; provided we have wandered from them; consequently, the effort becomes involuntary: as was the case with the whistling of little Jimmy, in school; who, when his teacher was about to correct him, exclaimed, "No, no; it was not I that whistled, it whistled itself." No one can be a good reader, or speaker, till the effort becomes involuntary; he must will, and it shall be done. Unfortunately, some think they must do some great thing; whereas, they have only to wash, and be clean.

Proverbs. 1. It is well not only to seem pure; but, to be pure. 2. Aim at desert, rather than reward. 3. If you are in a thriving way, stick to it, and let well enough, alone. 4. Trifles-often decide much-concerning the character of a person. 5. Believe yourself capable of learning what others have learned. 6. Avoid all extremes; and live, and act, in the golden medium. 7. The loaded tree - always bends with its fruits; as virtu none can be rich; and with it-few can be poor. stoops beneath humility. 8. Without frugaly, 9. The used key-is always bright. 10. Man is a being who makes bargains; one dog never exchanges bones with another dog. 11. You can do it, if you only think so, and try. 12. Quick believers-need broad shoulders.

"what new character he ought to appear in ?" "New character," said the other,-❝ suppose you go sober, my lord." He took the hint of the comedian, and actually reformed.

Anecdote. New Character. Lord Hardy, who was so much addicted to the bottle, as to be always under the influence of liquor, pre279. EPIC, or heroic poetry, has for its sub-vious to a masquerade night, inquired of Foot, ject the exploits of some hero, or heroes, of national celebrity; Lyric poetry is designed to be set to music, as psalms, hymns, odes and songs; Elegiac poetry involves solemn, or mournful subjects; Epitaphs are inscriptions on tomb-stones; Pastoral poetry treats of rural affairs, and the social affections; it is appropriate to shepherds; Didactic poetry is designed to convey instruction; Satyric poetry is for reproving the vices, errors and follies of the world, by holding them up to ridicule; Descriptive poetry describes interesting subjects, mental or natural; and Romantic poetry has for its subjects, tales, romances, and novels, probable, or supernat ural.

280. CAUSE AND EFFECT. Such are the defects of our education, that we are brought up almost as ignorant of our bodies and minds, as of the man in the moon: the consequence is, we are imposed upon by the shoe-maker, the tailor, the mantua-maker, the carpenter and joiner, the cabinet-maker, the miller and baker, the cook and the washer, and by almost every body else: we are a race of abusers of one another. When we get a pair of shoes, the first question is, how well do they look? So also of the coat and dress, the house, the chair, the flour, and bread, &c., &c. Oh, when shall we be wise, and understand the things that so nearly concern our temporal welfare? Having eyes, we see not aright; having ears, we hear wrong: our feelings, taste, and smell-betray us, because they are perverted. The enemy comes in upon us like a flood, and who will lift up a standard against

him?

GENERATIONS OF MAN.

Like leaves on trees-the race of man is found,
Now, green in youth, now, withering on the ground.
Another race the following spring supplies;
They fall successive, and successive rise:
So-generations—in their course decay,
So-flourish these, when those-are passed away.

Industry. If industry is no more than habit, 'tis at least an excellent one. "If you ask me, which is the real hereditary sin of human nature, do you imagine I shall answer pride, or luxury, or ambition, or egotism? No; I shall say-indolence. Who conquers indolence, will conquer all the rest." Indeed, all good principles must stagnate, without mental activity.

Varieties. 1. A prime minister· -was asked, how he could perform such a vast amount of business, and yet, have so much leisure? He replied, I do every thing at the time. 2. Would wings-be folded in the worm, if they were not one day to enable it to fly? 3. The perfection of religion and science-will be united; their sphere of operation ascertained, and their periods of vicissitudes known in that better age, which is approaching.

Let fools-the studious despise ;
There's nothing lost, by being wise.

Whatever perils-may alarm us,
Kind words-will never harm us.

6. Pure, and undefiled religion, is the sheet-
anchor of happiness, the perfection and glory
of human nature; its essence-is a conscience
void of offence toward God, and man. 7.
There is a providence in every pulsation, and
in all the particulars that concern it: as the
sun-never ceases to shine, so the Lord—
never ceases to bless.

There is a voice-I shall hear no more-
There are tones, whose music, for me, is o'er,
Sweet as the odors of spring were they,-
Precious and rich-but, they died away;
They came like peace to my heart and ear-
Never again will they murmur here;
They have gone-like the blush of a summer morn,
Like a crimson cloud-through the sunset borne.

281. EMPHASIS. Words are emphatic, Proverbs. 1. We must submit to authority, when opposition is expressed, or understood; till we can discover, or see-reasons. 2. Be not satthat is, when our words are contrasted, and isfied with the results and applications of knowwhen we wish to enforce our ideas, so as to ledge; but search for its fountains. 3. Youth-is produce their desired effects. As, Oratory- not a time to cast away stones, but to gather them. 4. Instead of naturalizing nature, we should natinvolves feelings, thoughts and words; so, uralize art. 5. The understanding—is a refining does it also involve ends, or purposes, causes, and effects; beyond which, human minds vessel, in which knowledge is purified. 6. Endeavor to acquire such knowledge, as will enable cannot travel. We may illustrate emphasis, by what is called lever-power; the resistance you to judge correctly yourself. 7. Time-destroys the speculations of man, but confirms the to be overcome, or the effect to be produced; judgments of Nature. 8. No evil propensity is so the lever as a medium, and the weight: thus, powerful, but that it may be subdued, by proper I will, or desire, to accomplish a certain obmeans. 9. No one is so great, or so small, but ject here, is the region of ends, or pur- that he is capable of giving, or receiving—benefits. poses; then, I devise ways and means, and 10. Be civil-to the great,-but intimate with the determine how it is to be done; here, is the good. 11. No religion-is better than an unnaturegion of causes: and, finally, I put the pur- ral one. 12. Immoderate sorrow-is a species of pose in operation, through the means, and suicide. 13. Pay what you owe. 14. Great thieves thus accomplish my object; which, of course, punish little ones. 15. The absent party is alis the region of effects. Here is the philosoways faulty. phy of oratory.

Anecdote. If a private gentleman, in Cheshire England, about the year 1730, had not been overturned in his carriage; it is possible, that the United States, instead of being a free Republic, might have remained a dependent colony: that gentleman-was Augustus Washington, who was thus thrown out of his carriage, into the company of a lady, who afterwards became his wife, emi

came the mother-of General Washington.

282. EXAMPLES OF EMPHASIS BY STRESS. 1. It is not so easy to hide our faults, as to confess-and avoid them. 2. Never attempt to raise yourself, by depreciating the merits of others. 3. As fools-make a mock at sin, so do the ignorant-often make a mock at knowledge. 4. They are generally most ridiculous themselves, who see most to ridicule in others. 5. Wherever education is neg-grated with him to Virginia, and, in 1732, belected,-depravity, and every kind of action, that degrades mankind, are most frequent. 6. The first three volumes; not, the three first volumes; there is only one-first. 7. The first three, and the last two verses; not, the three first, and two last. 8. To be trulyhappy, man must be good, and renounce such enjoyments as are grounded in the love of evil. 9. There is a natural body, and there Varieties. 1. Did mankind fall suddenis a spiritual body. 10. Flesh-and blood-ly, or by degrees? 2. While freedom-is true cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

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283. RULE. Emphasize the important word, or words, with such a degree and kind of stress, or expulsive prolongation of sound, as to convey the entire sense and feeling, in the best manner, and give each idea its relative importance. Example and definition. Emphasis is the index of my meaning, and shows more exactly, what I wish the hearers to attend to-particularly." Indeed, it is to the mind what the finger is to the eye: when we wish a person to see any thing, we naturally point to it: thus, are the manifestations of the mind made by the emphasis, or pointing of the voice.

They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Mortals, compassed round with woe,-
Eyelids, wearied out with weeping,
Close for very weakness now:
And that short relief from sorrow,
Harassed nature-shall sustain,
Till they wake again-to-morrow,
Strengthened-to contend with pain!

Laconics. When we see birds, at the approach of rain, anointing their plumage with oil-to shield off the drops, should it not remind us, when the storms of contention threaten us, to apply the oil of for bearance, and thus-prevent the chilling drops from entering our hearts?

to itself, every one becomes subject to it; and even its adversaries are instruments in its hands. 3. The preservation of health--depends, principally, on proper diet, early retiring, and early rising, temperance in eating, and drinking, proper exercise, and perfect cleanliness. 4. By a vicious action, we injure our mind, as we should our body, by drinking poison, or inflicting a wound upon it. 5. What is liberty? Willing, thinking, speaking, and doing--what we understand; provided, we violate no law, or principle. 6. Mental pleasures--never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by repetition, approved by reason, and strengthened by enjoyment. 7. Evil action, contrivance and speech, is but the manifestation of the nature of evil; and that it should be made manifest, is consistent with divine intentions.

Freedom-is

The brilliant gift of heaven; 'tis reason's self,
The kin-to Deity.

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284. EMPHASIS. There are only two ways Proverbs. 1. It is a fraud-to conceal fraud. of making emphasis, but as many ways of 2. Never attempt to do two things at once. exhibiting it, as there are pitches, qualities, He, labors in vain, who endeavors to please every and modifications of voice--in Speech and body. 4. To the resolute and persevering—nothSong: all of which are very simple, and a ing is difficult. 5. Thieves-are game for the knowledge of them easily acquired, by the penitentiary, and often, for the gallows. 6. Kindpersevering student. In every sentence, there ness-begets kindness, and love-begets love. 7. is a word, or words, on which the sense de- The drop-hollows the stone, not by its force, but pends, as the body—on the heart; the voice and by falling often on the same spot. 8. A man who gestures, only, can exhibit it. Emphasis, not well as by day. 9. There is no sauce equal to a aspires to be an orator, must study by night, as only illustrates, but often amplifies the sense good appetite. 10. To wicked persons--the virof the author; and that is the best emphasis, tue of others--is always a subject of envy. 11. A which does this the most effectively; indeed, man would not be alone, even in paradise. 12. there are times when, through the emphasis, Weigh right, if you sell dear. one may make words mean-more than they were designed to mean by the author.

285. EMPHASIS by expulsive stress. 1. He who cannot bear a joke-should never give

one.

2. Avoid a slanderer, as you would a scorpion. 3. A wager--is a fool's argument. 4. He that is past shame, is past hope. 5. What is worth doing at all, is worth doing well. 6. Men of principle, ought to be principal men. 7. Aim at nothing higher, till you can read and speak, deliberately, clearly, and distinctly, and with proper emphasis: all other graces will follow. 8. The head, without the heart, is like a steam engine, without a boiler. 9. As love--thinks no evil, so envy -speaks no good. 10. Variety, delights; and perfection, delights in variety.

286. MUSIC. The cultivation, and frequent practice of music, in schools of every grade, will have a strong, and decidedly beneficial influence on the habits of the pupils. By using the same words, and singing the same pieces in concert, their thoughts will be directed in the same channel, and their affections elevated together; and they will naturally be led into closer association and sympathy with each other. Well chosen music may be made an efficient auxiliary, guiding and controlling the feelings and actions in the school-room, and contribute essentially, to the proper management of its concerns. It was in accordance with this principle, that a certain poet wisely said, "Let me make the songs of the nation, and I care not who makes its laws."

287. GEOGRAPHY-comprises a general description of the earth; and, especially of the nations, by which it is inhabited, in reference to their position and extent; their productions and resources; their institutions and improvements; their manners and customs; including the subject of statistics, voyages, and travels. It is a term, that admits of almost indefinite extension; for in describing a nation, allusion must be made to its language, laws, religion, arts, and literature; and in treating of the earth, and its productions, we may include the whole range of the physical sciences.

True love-is never idle.

Anecdote. Dr. Johnson-observed to Macklin, in a sneering manner, that literary men-should converse in the learned languages; and immediately addressed the dramatist in Latin; after which, Macklin-uttered a long sentence in Irish. The Doctor again returned to the English tongue, saying, "You may speak very good Greek; but I am not sufficiently versed in that dialect—to converse with you fluently.”

Of Dress, &c. A creature, who spends its time in dressing, gaming, prating, and gadding, is a being originally, indeed, of the rational make; but who has sunk itself beneath its rank, and is to be considered, at present, as nearly on a level with the monkey-species.

Varieties. 1. What was the design of God, in making man? 2. How absurd, to have half a dozen children, with different dispositions, and capabilities, and yet, give them all-the same education! 3. Are not bigotry, and intolerance--as destructive to rality, as they are to common ser 4. Observations, made in the cloister, or in the desert, will generally be as obscure--as the one, and barren--as the other; to become orators, or painters, we must study originals. 5. Which side of a pitcher has the handle? The outside, of course. 6. If a book really needs the patronage of a great man; it is a bad book; and if it be a good book, it does not need it. 7. To sow the seeds of order-we must be just; and so, also, to water them; but beware that self--enter not into the action.

Before the gate there sat,
On either side, a formidable shape.
The one seemed woman-to the waist, and fair;
But ended foul, in many a scaly fold,
With mortal stings.
Voluminous and vast ;-a serpent arm'd

The other shape,

If shape it might be call'd, that shape had none,
Or substance might be call'd, that shadow seemed,
For each seem'd each, black it stood as night,
Fierce as ten furies,―terrible as hell,
And shook a dreadful dart.

You think this cruel; take it for a rule,
No creature--smarts so little-as a fool.

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288. Remember, that Emphasis-is to| Proverbs. 1. Wisdom-excelleth folly, as words, in a sentence, what accent is to letters much as light excels darkness. 2. Opinion -is or syllables, in a word; and, as proper ac-free; and conduct alone-amenable to the law. cent-on a right vowel, will impart an impe- 3. Some-affect to despise-what they do not untus to the voice, in going through the word; derstand. 4. In trying to avoid one danger, we so, true emphasis on the same, will give an sometimes fall into another. 5. Decency-is the impetus in delivering the sentence, so as to natural characteristic of virtue, and the decepultimate the end you have in view. Again, tive coloring of vice. 6. Never despair; speak the length of long vowel sounds, in emphatic 7. Never chase a lie; for if you keep quiet, truth the commanding word, "I WILL," and it is done. words, is, to the same vowels, in accented -will eventually overtake it. 8. A punctual words, what accented long ones are, to unaccented long ones: similar observations might doubtful credit. 9. Persons of fashion, starve is rarely a poor man ; and never--a man of be made in reference to force--on emphatic their happiness, to feed their vanity; and their short vowels, and accented and unaccented love, to feed their pride. 10. There is a great difference--between repeating a maxim, or proverb, and a practical observance of it. 11. Diseases-are the interest of sensual pleasures. 12. The half is often better than the whole. 13. Justice-should rule over ull.

short ones.

289. The various effects, produced by changing the seat of Emphasis, from one word to another, may be seen in the following sentence, of emphatic memory; provided it be read according to the notation. "Will you ride to town to-day?" That is: will you ride, or will you not? "Will you ride to town to-day?" That is: will you ride, or will you send some one. "Will you ride to town to-day?" That is: will you ride, or walk? "Will you ride to town to-day?" That is will you ride to town, or will you ride somewhere else? "Will you ride to town to-day?" That is: will you ride to town to-day, or to-morrow; or, next week? By using other modifications of voice, as many shades of meaning may be given, even to this short sentence, as there are letters in it.

290. APPLICATION. It is incredible, how much may be accomplished by diligence, and industry. The present state of the world, enlightened by the arts and sciences, is a living proof, that difficulties, seemingly insuperable, may finally be overcome. This consideration ought to stimulate us to industry and application. We do not know our own strength, till we try it; nor to what extent our abilities will carry us, till we put them to the test. Those who want resolution, often desist from useful enterprises, when they have more than half effected their purposes: they are discouraged by difficulties and disappointments, which ought rather to excite their ardor, and cause them to redouble their efforts to succeed.

Anecdote. While Athens-was governed by the thirty tyrants, Socrates, the philosopher, was ordered to assist in seizing one Leon, a man of rank and fortune, whom they determined to put out of the way, that they might enjoy his estate; but Socrates positively refused: saying, "I will not willingly assist in an unjust act." "Dost thou think," (said one of them,) "to talk in this high tone, and not to suffer ?" "Far from it," replied he; "I expect to suffer a thousand ills; but none so great-as to do unjustly."

man,

Bigots. Bigots, who are violent, positive, and intolerant, in their religious tenets, ought to feel very much humbled, when they reflect, that they would have been equally so for any other religion, had it been the religion of their parents, or of the country in which they had been born and educated.

Varieties. 1. Why is a tale-bearer-like a brick-layer? Because he raises stories. 2. When you have nothing to say, say nothing; for a weak defence-strengthens your opponent: and silence-is better than a bad reply. 3. We might enjoy much peace, and happiness, if we would not busy ourselves, with what others say and do. 4. Never think of yourself, when reading, speaking, or singing; but of your subject; and avoid an artificial, and grandiloquent style of delivery. 5. It is not enough-to be left to the tuition of Nature, unless we know what lessons she teaches. 6. Morals-too often come from the pulpit, in the cold abstract; but men smart under them when good lawyers are the preachers. 7. When we become perfectly rational, and act wholly from ourselves— in consequence of it, we are accountable for all our actions, and they are then imputed to us, if evil, but not before.

Where the gentle streamlets flow,
Where the morning dew-drops glow,
Where the zephyrs-wing their flight,
In the cool and welcome night,
Whispering through the fragrant grove
To the heart, that "God is love,"
Where the light cloud skims the sky,
Worship! "God is passing by!"
Hoary forest, rugged rock,

Roaring torrents, earthquake's shock,
Mighty tempests, lightning's glare,
Ocean, raging in despair,
And the desert-lone and drear,
Wake the soul of man to fear;
And when thunder rends the sky,
Tremble! "God is passing!"

291. EMPHASIS. If your articulation, and pronunciation, be clear and correct, and you are free from all unnatural tones, and other bad habits, nothing can prevent your succeeding in this important art, if you perfect yourself in Emphasis: hence, the reason of dwelling on the subject so long, and of giving such a variety of examples. But remember, that books, rules, teachers, or all combined, cannot make orators of you, with out you throw your whole heart and soul into the exercises, and let your zeal be according to knowledge. Become independent of your book, and speak from memory, as soon as possible; then, you will be left to the promptings and guidance of your own mind, and become free.

292. 1. Men live, and prosper, but in mutual trust, and confidence of one another's truth. 2. Those, who are teaching our youth -to read with science and effect, are doing much to increase the power, and extend the influence of standard authors.

Peace is the happy, natural state of man;
War-his corruption, and disgrace.

To native genius-would you prove a friend!
Point out his faults—and teach him how to mend.

Let us

Proverbs. 1. Temperance-and intemperance reward, and punish themselves. 2. Riches-are servants to the wise,—but tyrants to fools. 3. None can be great, who have ceased to be virtuous. 4. Money-does no good, till it is distributed. 5. If you have one true friend, think yourself happy. 6. Silks, and satins, often put out the kitchen fire. 7. Hunger-looks into the working-man's house; but dare not enter. 8. When the well is dry, people know the worth of water. 9. Business-makes a man, as well as tires him. 10. For the evidence of truth, look at the truth itself. 11. Better go away longing, than loathing. 12. Of saving-cometh having. 13. God-never made a hypocrite.

Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Habits of literary conversation, and still more, habits of extempore discussion in a popular assembly, are peculiarly useful in giving us a ready and practical command of our knowledge. There is much good sense in the following aphorism of Bacon: "Reading makes a full man, writing a correct man, and speaking a ready man."

Varieties. 1. Through an affected contempt-for what some call little things, many remain ignorant-of what they might easily know. 2. A harmless hilarity, and buoyant cheerfulness—are not unfrequent concomitants of genius; and we are never more deceived, than when we mistake gravity-for greatness, solemnity-for science, and pomposity for erudition. 3. It is better to have recourse to a quack, who can cure our disease, tho' he cannot explain it, than to one who can explain, but cannot cure it. 4. Early rising-not only gives us more life, in the same number of years, but adds to the numuse are all these, if they cannot be made manifest? The body-ber; and not only enables us to enjoy more

Act with prudence, and with manly temper,
As well as manly firmness;
'Tis God-like magnanimity—to keep,
When most provoked, our reason-calm, and clear.
Notes. The ancients very properly called man a micro-
cosm, or little world. But what were this world-without a sun,

to impart to it light and heat? Of what use the body-without
the soul? Of what use the house, without the inhabitant? and
of what use words, without thought and feeling? And of what

is the mind's servant, and depends on its care, as the mind itself does on the Father of mind. Body, and soul-are best taken care of, when both are minded together.

293. ARCHITECTURE-teaches the art of building; and is one of the most useful, as well as ancient, of all the arts: it demands much more attention, than it has ever received; especially, in this country: and many -would save time, labor and money, and have better houses, as to comfort and appearance, if they would make themselves acquainted with this important art. Most persons will find it much to their benefit, to call upon an architect, when about to erect a building of importance.

Anecdote. King James I., of England, went out of his way one day, to hear a noted preacher. The clergyman, seeing the king enter, left his text-to declaim against swearing; for which vile practice-the king was notorious. After service, the king thanked him for his sermon; and asked him, what connection swearing had with his text. The minister replied, "Since your majesty came out of your way, thro' curiosity, I could not, in compliance, do less than go out of mineto meet you."

of existence, in the same measure of time, but
increases also their measure. 5. For his
honesty, there was no winter in't; an au-
tumn 'twas, that grew the more, by reaping.
6. Let us admire the results of truth, while
we ascend to the source of truth. 7. Look

first inwardly, for the coming of the Lord,
and of his kingdom; and when certainly
found there, then look in outward nature, for
a harmony agreeing with it; but not before.
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead, that slumbers,

And things are not-what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave-is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken-of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Finds us farther than to-day.
Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor, and to wait.

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