11. Now when he went from Nelly Gray,
His heart so heavy got,

And life was such a burden grown,
It made him take a knot!

12. So round his melancholy neck,
A rope he did entwine,

And for the second time in life,
Enlisted in the Line!

13. One end he tied around a beam,
And then removed his pegs,

And, as his legs were off, of course
He soon was off his legs.

14. And there he hung till he was dead
As any nail in town:

For, though distress had cut him up,
It could not cut him down!

DEFINITIONS. 4. De-voirs' (French, pro. dě-vwôr'), respects, compliments. 5. Seoff, an object of ridicule. 6. U'ni-form (adj.), consistent, (noun) military dress. 7. Blithe, merry, gay.

NOTES.-2. Forty-second Foot. Infantry in the army is spoken of as "the foot," and the "Forty-second Foot" means the Fortysecond Regiment of Infantry.

3. Members. Persons elected to Parliament in Great Britain are called "Members," and are said to represent those who elect them.

12. The Line is another name for the regular infantry.

(5.-10.)

XLIII. THE GENEROUS RUSSIAN PEASANT.

1. LET Vergil sing the praises of Augustus, genius celebrate merit, and flattery extol the talents of the great. "The short and simple annals of the poor" engross my pen; and while I record the history of Flor Silin's virtues, though I speak of a poor peasant, I shall describe a noble man. I ask no eloquence to assist me in the task; modest worth rejects the aid of ornament to set it off.

2. It is impossible, even at this distant period, to reflect without horror on the miseries of that year known in Lower Volga by the name of the "Famine Year." I remember the summer, whose scorching heats had dried up all the fields, and the drought had no relief but from the tears of the ruined farmer.

3. I remember the cold, comfortless autumn, and the despairing rustics, crowding round their empty barns, with folded arms and sorrowful countenances, pondering on their misery, instead of rejoicing, as usual, at the golden harvest. I remember the winter which succeeded, and I reflect with agony on the miseries it brought with it. Whole families left their homes to become beggars on the highway.

4. At night the canopy of heaven served them as their only shelter from the piercing winds and bitter frost. To describe these scenes would be to harm the feelings of my readers; therefore, to my tale. In those days I lived on an estate not far from Simbirsk; and, though but a child, I have not forgotten the impression made on my mind by the general calamity.

5. In a village adjoining lived Flor Silin, a poor, laboring peasant, a man remarkable for his assiduity and the ski and judgment with which he cultivated his lands. He was blessed with abundant crops; and his means being

larger than his wants, his granaries, even at this time, were full of corn. The dry year coming on had beggared all the village except himself. Here was an opportunity to grow rich. Mark how Flor Silin acted. Having called the poorest of his neighbors about him, he addressed them in the following manner :

6. "My friends, you want corn for your subsistence. God has blessed me with abundance. Assist in thrashing out a quantity, and each of you take what he wants for his family." The peasants were amazed at this unexampled generosity; for sordid propensities exist in the village as well as in the populous city.

7. The fame of Flor Silin's benevolence having reached other villages, the famished inhabitants presented themselves before him, and begged for corn. This good creature received them as brothers; and, while his store remained, afforded all relief. At length, his wife, seeing no end to the generosity of his noble spirit, reminded him how necessary it would be to think of their own wants, and hold his lavish hand before it was too late. "It is written in the Scripture," said he, "Give, and it shall be given unto you.""

8. The following year Providence listened to the prayers of the poor, and the harvest was abundant. The peasants who had been saved from starving by Flor Silin now gathered around him.

9. "Behold," said they, "the corn you lent us. You saved our wives and children. We should have been famished but for you; may God reward you; he only can; all we have to give is our corn and grateful thanks." "I want no corn at present, my good neighbors," said he; "my harvest has exceeded all my expectations; for the rest, thank heaven: I have been but an humble instrument."

10. They urged him in vain. "No," said he, "I shall not accept your corn. If you have superfluities, share them

among your poor neighbors, who, being unable to sow their fields last autumn, are still in want; let us assist them, my dear friends; the Almighty will bless us for it." "Yes," replied the grateful peasants, "our poor neighbors shall have this corn. They shall know it is to you that they owe this timely succor, and join to teach their children the debt of gratitude due to your benevolent heart." Silin raised his tearful eyes to heaven. An angel might have envied him his feelings.

- Nikolai Karamzin.

DEFINITIONS. -1. Ex-tol', to elevate by praise. An'nals, history of events. En-grōss', to occupy wholly. El'o-quence, the power of speaking well. 2. Drought (pro. drout), want of rain or water. 4. Es-tāte', property in land. 5. Grăn'a-ry, a storehouse for grain. 6. Sub-sist'ençe, means of support. Pro-pěn'si-ties, bent of mind, inclination. 10. Sū-per-flū'i-ties, greater quantities than are wanted. Sue'eor, aid, help.

NOTES.-1. Vergil was the greatest of Roman poets. He was born in the year 70 B.C., and died 19 B.C.

Augustus Cæsar was emperor of Rome in the latter portion of Vergil's life, and received many compliments in the verses of his friend the poet.

2. Lower Volga is a district in eastern Russia, bordering on the Caspian Sea, and takes its name from the river Volga. 4. Simbirsk is a town of eastern Russia, on the Volga.

XLIV. FORTY YEARS AGO.

1. I've wandered to the village, Tom,
I've sat beneath the tree,

Upon the schoolhouse playground,
That sheltered you and me;

But none were left to greet me, Tom,
And few were left to know,

Who played with me upon the green,
Just forty years ago.

2. The grass was just as green, Tom,
Barefooted boys at play

Were sporting, just as we did then,
With spirits just as gay.

But the master sleeps upon the hill,
Which, coated o'er with snow,
Afforded us a sliding place,

Some forty years ago.

3. The old schoolhouse is altered some; The benches are replaced

By new ones very like the same

Our jackknives had defaced.

But the same old bricks are in the wall,
The bell swings to and fro;

Its music's just the same, dear Tom,
'Twas forty years ago.