Let us contemplate, then, this connection, which binds the posterity of others to our own; and let us manfully discharge all the duties it imposes. If we cherish the virtues, and the principles of our fathers, Heaven will assist us to carry on the work of human libomens cheer us. Great examples are before us. Our firmament now shines brightly upon our path. Washington is in the clear, upper sky. Adams, Jefferson, and other stars have joined the American constellation; they circle round their center, and the heavens beam with new light. Beneath this illumination, let us walk the course of life; and, at its close, devoutly commend our beloved country, the common parent of us all, to the divine benignity.--Webster. 734. DUTIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS. Fellow-citizens: let us not retire from this occasion, without a deep and solemn conviction of the duties, which have devolved upon us. This lovely land, this glorious liberty, these benign institutions, the dear purchase of our fathers, are ours; ours to enjoy, ours to pre-erty, and human happiness. Auspicious serve, ours to transmit. Generations past, and generations to come, hold us responsible for this sacred trust. Our fathers, from behind-admonish us with their anxious, paternal voices; postery-calls out to us from the bosom of the future; the world turns hither its solicitous eyes; all, all conjure us to act wisely, and faithfully, in the relation which we sustain. We can never, indeed, pay the debt which is upon us; but, by virtue, by morality, by religion, by the cultivation of every good principle, and every good habit, we may bope to enjoy the blessing, through our day, and leave it, unimpaired, to our children. Let us feel deeply, how much of what we are, and what we possess, we owe to this liberty, and to these institutions of government. Nature has, indeed, given us a soil, which yields bounteously-to the hands of industry; the mighty and fruitful ocean is before us, and the skies, over our heads, shed health and vigor. But what are lands, and seas, and skies to civilized man, without society, without knowledge, without morals, without religious culture; and how can these be enjoyed, in all their extent, and all their excellence, but under the protection of wise institutions, and a free government? Fellow-citizens, there is not one of us here present, who does not, at this moment, and at every moment, experience, in his own condition, and in the condition of those most near and dear to him, the influence, and the benefits-of this liberty, and these institutions. Let us then, acknowledge the blessing; let us feel it deeply, and powerfully; let us cherish a strong affection for it, and resolve to maintain, and perpetuate it. The blood of our fathers, let it not have been shed in vain; the great hope of posterity, let it not be blasted. The striking attitude, too, in which we stand to the world around us,--cannot be altogether omitted here. Neither individuals, nor nations--can perform their part well, until they understand, and feel its importance, and comprehend, and justly appreciate, all the duties belonging to it. It is not to inflate national vanity, nor to swell a light and empty feeling of self-importance; but it is, that we may judge justly of our situation and of our duties, that I earnestly urge this consideration of our position, and our character among the nations of the earth. It cannot be denied, but by those who would dispute against the sun, that with America, and in America, a new era commences in human affairs. This era is distinguished by free representative governments, by entire religious liberty, by improved systems of national intercourse, by a newly awakened and an unquenchable spirit of free inquiry, and by a diffusion of knowledge through the community, such as has been before, altogether unknown, and unheard of. America, America, our country, fellow-citizens, our own dear and native land, is inseparably connected, fast bound up, in fortune, and by fate, with these great interests. If they fall, we fall with them; if they stand, it will be because we have upholden them. 735. LANDING OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS. The breaking waves-dashed high On a stern-and rock-bound coast, And the heavy night--hung dark- In silence, and in fear; They shook-the depth-of the desert's gloom, Amidst the storm-they sang, And the stars-heard, and the sea; And the sounding aisles-of the dim woods rang The ocean-eagle-soared From his nest-by the white wave's foam, There were men-with hoary hair, There was woman's-fearless eye, What-sought they-thus, afar? The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? Aye, call it holy ground, [found The soil-where first they trod! Twas Slander-filled her mouth with lying words, Here was a spectacle-for the potentates of the earth to look upon, an example for them to imitate. But the potentates the earth did not see; or, if they saw, they turned away their eyes from the sight; they did not hear; or, if they heard, they shut their ears against the voice. 736. THE PILGRIMS, AND THEIR DESTI- | boasted institutions? Interrogate the shades NY. Methinks I see it now,-that one, solita- of those who fell in the mighty contests, bery, adventurous vessel, the Mayflower-of a tween Athens and Lacedæmon, between forlorn hope, freighted-with the prospects Carthage and Rome, and between Rome and of a future state, and bound-across the un- the rest of the universe. But see our Wilknown sea. I behold it pursuing, with a liam Penn, with weaponless hands, sitting thousand misgivings, the uncertain, the tedi- down, peaceably, with his followers, in the ous voyage. Suns rise-and set, and weeks, midst of savage nations, whose only occupaand months-pass, and winter-surprises tion was shedding the blood of their fellowthem on the deep, but brings them not-the men, disarming them by his justice, and teachsight of the wished-for shore. I see them ing them, for the first time, to view a stranger now, scantily supplied with provisions, crowd- without distrust. See them bury their tomaed, almost to suffocation, in their ill-stored hawks, in his presence, so deep, that man shall prison, delayed by calms, pursuing a circuit- never be able to find them again. See them ors route, and now, driven in fury, before under the shade of the thick groves of Quathe raging tempest, on the high and giddy quannock, extend the bright chain of friendwaves. The awful voice of the storm-howls ship, and promise to preserve it, as long as through the rigging. The laboring masts- the sun, and moon shall endure. See him, seem straining from their base; the dismal then, with his companions, establishing his sound of the pump-is heard-the ship leaps, commonwealth on the sole basis of religion, as it were, madly, from billow to billow; the morality, and universal love, and adopting, ocean breaks, and settles with engulphing as the fundamental maxims of his governfloods over the floating deck, and beats, ment, the rule handed down to us from with deadening weight, against the staggered HEAVEN, "Glory to God on high, and on vessel. I see them escaped from these perils, earth peace, and good will to all men." pursuing their all but desperate undertaking, and landed, at last, after a five months' passage, on the ice-clad rocks of Plymouth,weak, and weary from the voyage,-poorly armed, scantily provisioned, depending on the charity of their ship-master-for a draft of beer on board, drinking nothing but water on shore, without shelter,-without means,— The character of William Penn alone, surrounded by hostile tribes. Shut, now, the sheds a never-fading lustre upon our history. volume of history, and tell me, on any prin- No other state in this Union can boast of such ciple of human probability, what shall be the an illustrious founder; none began their sofate of this handfull of adventurers? Tell me, cial career, under auspices so honorable to man of military science, in how many months humanity. Every trait of the life of that were they all swept off-by the thirty savage great man, every fact, and anecdote, of those tribes, enumerated within the early limits of golden times, will furnish many an interestNew England? Tell me, politician, howing subject for the fancy of the novelist, and long did this shadow of a colony, on which the enthusiasm of the poet.-Duponceau. your conventions and treaties had not smiled, languish on the distant coast? Student of 738. WOLSEY'S SOLILOQUY ON AMBITION. history, compare for me-the baffled pro- Farewell, a long farewell, to all my greatness! jects, the deserted settlements, the abandon-This-is the state of man: To-day, he puts forth ed adventures, of other times, and find the parallel of this. Was it the winter's storm, beating upon the houseless heads of women and children; was it hard labor and spare meals; was it disease, was it the tomahawk; was it the deep malady of a blighted hope, a ruined enterprise, and a broken heart, aching in its last moments, at the recollection of the loved and left, beyond the sea; was it some, or all of these united, that hurried this forsaken company to their melancholy fate? And is it possible, that neither of these causes, that not all combined, were able to blast this bud of hope? Is it possible, that from a beginning so feeble, so frail, so worthy, not so much of admiration as of pity, there has gone forth a progress so steady, a growth so wonderful, a reality so important, a promise yet to be fulfilled, so glorious?-Everett. 737. TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM PENN. Wil The tender leaves of hope; to-morrow, blossoms, I have ventur'd, O! how wretched Is that poor man, that hangs on princes' favors! liam Penn-stands the first, among the law- There are, betwixt that smile--he would aspire to, givers, whose names, and deeds are recorded That sweet aspect of princes, and his ruin, in history. Shall we compare with him Lycur- More pangs and fears, than war or women have; gus, Solon, Romulus, those founders of mili-And when he falls, he falls, like Lucifer, tary commonwealths, who organized their Never-to rise again.-Shakspeare. citizens in dreadful array-against the rest of their species? taught them to consider their fellow-men as barbarians, and themselves as alone worthy to rule over the earth? What benefit did mankind derive from their Meditation-here May think down hours-to moments; here, the 739. BASQUE GIRL, OR LOVE'S SACRIFICE. "Twas one of those sweet spots, which seem just For lovers' meeting, or, for minstrel haunts;[made The maiden's blush-would look so beautiful, By those white roses, and the poet's dream, Would be so soothing, lull'd by the low notes, The birds sing--to the leaves, whose soft replyIs murmur'd by the wind: the grass beneath, Is full of wild flowers, and the cypress boughs Have twined o'erhead, graceful, and close as love. The sun is shining cheerfully, though scarce his May pierce through the dim shade, yet, still, [rays Some golden hues are glancing o'er the trees, And the blue flood is gliding by, as bright, As hope's first smile. All, lingering, stayed to Upon this Eden-of the painter's art, [gaze And looking on its loveliness, forgotThe crowded world-around them! But a spell, Stronger than the green landscape-fixed the The spell-of woman's beauty! By a beech, [eyeWhose long dark shadow--fell upon the stream, There stood a radiant girl! her chestnut hair(One bright gold tint was on it)-loosely fell In large rich curls-upon a neck, whose snow And grace--were like the swan's; she wore the Of her own village, and her small white feet [garb And slender ancles, delicate, as carved From Indian ivory-were bare,—the turf [stood! Seem'd scarce to feel their pressure. There she Her head-leant upon her arm, the beech's trunk Supporting her slight figure, and one hand, Press'd to her heart, as if to still its throbs! You never might forget that face,-so young, So fair, yet trac'd-with such deep characters Of inward wretchedness! The eyes were dim With tears, on the dark lashes; still, the lip Could not quite lose-its own accustom'd smile, Even by that pale cheek-it kept its arch, And tender playfulness: you look'd, and said, What can have shadow'd-such a sunny brow? There is so much of natural happiness, In that bright countenance, it seems but formed, For Spring's light sunbeams, or yet lighter dews. You turned away-then came-and look'd again, Watching the pale, and silent loveliness, Till even sleep-was haunted by that image. There was a sever'd chain upon the groundAh! love is e'en more fragile than its gifts! A tress of raven hair ;-oh! only those, Whose souls have felt this one idolatry, Can tell-how precious-is the slightest thing, Affection gives, and hallows! A dead flower Will long be kept, remembrancer of looks, That made each leaf a treasure. The tree Had two slight words-graven upon its stemThe broken heart's last record-of its faith-"Adieu Henri!" I learnt the hist'ry of the lovely picture: It was a peasant girl's, whose soul was given To one-as far above her, as the pineTowers o'er the lovely violet; yet still She lov'd, and was belov'd again,--ere yet The many trammels of the world-were flung Around a heart, whose first and latest pulse, Throbb'd-but for beauty: him, the young, the brave, Chivalrous prince, whose name, in after years, A nation-was to worship-that young heart- Moments of ecstasy, and maddening dreams, There is a land, of every land the pride, 741. MARIA DE TORQUEMADA TAKING THE VAIL. Two quivering crystal drops,-her cheek-a rose, To which her thoughts were wing'd! I never saw There is a spot, a holy spot, A refuge for the wearied mind; Let me do all,-but love again. Save from that wildest, worst despair. The bleeding breast-is turned to stone, I ask not death,-I wait thy will; I dare not-touch my fleeting span: The slave of misery and man! Can last, but till the victim-dies! 742. FALL OF BEAUTY, BY TEMPTATION. Once on a lovely day, it was in springI rested on the verge of that dread cliff, That overlooks old Sterling. All was gay; The birds-sang sweet; the trees-put forth their leaves, I saw her, in mid air, fall like a seraph 743. THE BEST OF WIVES. [ceasing. A man had once a vicious wife-- [done. And all the poor man did-was wrong, and ill- From speeches-long as tradesmen spin, In mournful terms, "My dear," he cried, [them. To drown-I have made up my mind, I would not be a suicide, and die thus. [soms; Each little flower, that bloomed upon the hill : Deep in a little den, within the cliff, A flow'ret caught her eye,-it was a primrose, she saw The depth she had descended, then, she woke Far, far down-on the rocks below, [do. [pleasure. "Thou best of wives-" the man replied, ven help you." The modern device of consulting indexes, Desire, (when young) is easily suppressed; Becomes too strong-and potent-for control; 744. ALEXANDER'S FEAST. Twas-at the royal feast, for Persia won, By Philip's warlike son. Aloft, in awful state, the godlike hero sat On his imperial throne. His valiant peers-were placed around, Sat, like a blooming Eastern bride, None but the brave, none but the brave, Timotheus, placed on high, Amid the tuneful choir, With flying fingers-touched the lyre; The song-began from Jove, When he, to fair Olympia pressed, [the world. With ravished ears, the monarch hears; And seems to shake the spheres. The praise of Bacchus, then, the sweet musician The jolly god in triumph comes! He shows his honest face. [sung, [comes! Now, give the hautboys breath-he comes! he Bacchus' blessings are a treasure; Rich the treasure; sweet the pleasure; Sweet is pleasure after pain. Soothed with the sound, the king grew vain; And thrice he routed all his toes, and thrice he slew He chose a mournful muse, soft pity to infuse, He sung Darius, great and good, [len, By too severe a fate, fallen, fallen, fallen, fal- And weltering in his blood. Deserted, in his utmost need, By those, his former bounty fed, On the bare earth-exposed he lies, With not a friend-to close his eyes. With downcast look-the joyless victor sat, The various turns of fate below, The master smiled, to see, That love--was in the next degree; Softly sweet in Lydian measures, Take the good the gods provide thee. The many rend the skies with loud applause; A louder yet, and yet a louder strain: And rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder. [dead, Hath raised up his head, as awaked from the And the sparkles that flash from their eyes! [fore. The sweet enthusiast, from her sacred store, ORATOR PUFF. Mr. Orator Puff-had two tones-in his voice, The one-squeaking thus, and the other down so; In each sentence he utter'd he gave you your choice, For one half was B alt, and the rest G below. Oh oh! Oratar Puff, One voice for an orator 's surely enough. But he still talked away, spite of coughs and of frowns, That a wag once, on hearing the orator say, "My voice is for war," ask'd him, "Which of them, pray?" Oh! oh! &c. Reeling homewards, one evening, top-heavy with gin, "Good Lord!" he exclaim'd, in his he-and-she tones, "Help me out!-help me out!-I have broken my bones!" "Help you out!" said a Paddy, who pass'd, "what a bother! Why, there's two of you there; can't you help one anOh! oh! &c. [other?" CHARACTER OF A GOOD PARSON. His preaching much, but more his practice wro❜t; |