4. When this had ceased, an awful fire passed by. As the winds had done before, so now the flames come upon him from every side, and the deepest shades of night are turned into the light of day. Elijah, lost in adoring astonishment, beholds the awfully sublime spectacle, and the inmost sensation of his heart must have been that of surprise and dread; but he enjoys, as yet, no delightful sensation of the divine presence`; "the Lord was not in the fire." 5. The fire disappears`, and tranquillity, like the stillness of the sanctuary, spreads gradually over all nature`, and it seems as if every hill and dale`, yea, the whole earth and skies, lay in silent homage at the footstool of eternal Majesty. The very mountains seemed to worship; the whole scene is hushed to profound peace; and now, he hears a "still, small võice." "And it was so when Elijah heard it, he wrapt his face in his mantle," in token of reverential awe and adoring wonder, and went forth, "and stood at the entrance of the cave."

TO TEACHERS.

RHETORICAL notation will now be omitted, as the learner may be supposed to have become sufficiently acquainted with the subject to judge for himself, with such occasional aid as the teacher may think proper to give.

LXXIII. EARTH AND HEAVEN.

WORDS marked thus + in the subsequent lessons should be defined and spelled by the pupil, as "+summoned" and "+couch" in the first paragraph of this lesson. The pupil may be required to write them upon a black board or slate. If resort to a Dictionary is needed, Webster's should be referred to as a standard authority in spelling and definition.

EARTH.

1. THERE is grief, there is grief, there is wringing of hands,
And weeping and calling for aid;

For sorrow hath summon'd her group, and it stands
Round the couch where the sufferer is laid.

And lips are all pallid, and cheeks are all cold,
And tears from the heart-springs are shed;
Yet who that looks on the sweet saint to behold,
But would gladly lie down in her stead.

2. There is grief, there is grief, there is anguish and strife,
And the sufferer is striving for breath ;

For the spirit will cling, O! how fondly, to life,
And stern is the struggle with death!

But the terrible tconflict grows deadlier still,

Till the last fatal symptoms have birth;

And the eye-ball is glaz'd, and the heart-blood is chill;
And this is the portion of EARTH!

HEAVEN.

3. There is bliss, there is bliss, in the regions above,
They have opened the gates of the sky;

A spirit has soar'd to those mansions of love,
And seeks for tadmittance on high.

And friends long divided are hasting to greet,
In a land where no sorrow may come,
And the +seraphs are eager a sister to meet,
And to welcome the child to its home.

4. There is bliss, there is bliss, at the foot of the throne; See the spirit all +purified bend;

And it beams with delight, since it gazes alone,

On the face of a father, a friend!

Then it joins in the anthems for ever that rise,
And its +frailty or folly forgiven,

It is dead to the earth, and new-born to the skies,
And this is the portion of HEAVEN!

1. THEY are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Children wearied with their play;
For the stars of night are peeping,
And the sun hath sunk away,
As the dew upon the +blossoms

Bow them on their slender stem,
Lo, as light as their own bosoms,
Balmy sleep hath +conquer'd them.

2. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Mortals +compass'd round with woe,
Eyelids wearing out with weeping,
Close for very weakness now:
And that short relief from sorrow,
Harass'd nature shall +sustain
Till they wake again to-morrow,
Strengthen'd to contend with pain!

3. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Captives in their gloomy cells;
Yet, sweet dreams are o'er them creeping;
With their many color'd spells,

All they love again they clasp them;
Feel again their long lost joys;

But the haste with which they grasp them,
Every fairy form destroys.

4. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping? Misers by their +hoarded gold;

And in fancy now are heaping
Gems and pearls of price untold.
Golden chain their limbs tencumber,
Diamonds seem before them strown;
But they waken from their slumber,
And the splendid dream is flown.

5. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping? Pause a moment, softly tread; Anxious friends are fondly keeping Vigils by the sleeper's bed!

Other hopes have all forsaken;
One remains; that slumber deep
Break not, lest the slumberer waken
From that sweet, that saving sleep.

6. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Thousands who have pass'd away,
From a world of woe and weeping,
To the regions of decay!

Safe they rest, the green turf under;
Sighing breeze, or music's breath,
Winter's wind, or summer's thunder,
Can not break the sleep of death!

LXXV.

THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER.
FROM JANE TAYLOR.

1. In a remote period of antiquity, when the supernatural and the marvelous obtained a readier credence than now, it was fabled, that a stranger of extraordinary appearance was observed passing the streets of one of the magnificent cities of the east, remarking, with an eye of intelligent curiosity, every surrounding object. Several individuals gathering around him, questioned him concerning his country and his business; but they presently perceived that he was unacquainted with their language, and he soon discovered himself to be equally ignorant of the most common usages of society. At the same time, the dignity and intelligence of his air and demeanor, forbade the idea of his being either a barbarian or a +lunatic.

2. When, at length, he understood by their signs, that they wished to be informed whence he came, he pointed with great significance to the sky; upon which, the crowd, concluding him to be one of their deities, were proceeding to pay him divine honors; but he no sooner comprehended their design, than he rejected it with horror; and, bending his knees and raising his hands toward heaven, in the attitude of prayer, gave them to understand that he also was a worshiper of the powers above. After a time, it is said, the mysterious stranger accepted the hospitalities of one of the nobles of

the city; under whose roof he applied himself with great diligence to the acquirement of the language, in which he made such surprising proficiency, that in a few days, he was able to hold intelligent intercourse with those around him.

3. The noble host now resolved to take an early opportunity of satisfying his curiosity respecting the country and quality of his guest; and upon his expressing his desire, the stranger assured him, that he would answer his inquiries that evening, after sunset. Accordingly, as night approached, he led him forth upon the +balconies of the palace, which overlooked the wealthy and populous city. Innumerable lights from its busy streets and splendid palaces, were now reflected in the dark bosom of its noble river; where stately vessels, laden with rich merchandise from all parts of the known world, lay anchored in the port. This was a city in which the voice of the harp and the viol, and the sound of the mill-stone, were continually heard; and craftsmen of all kinds of craft were there; and the light of a candle was seen in every dwelling; and the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride were heard there.

4. The stranger mused awhile upon the glittering scene; and listened to the confused murmur of mingling sounds. Then suddenly raising his eyes to the starry +firmament, he fixed them with an expressive gaze, on the beautiful evening star, which was just sinking behind a dark grove, that surrounded one of the principle temples of the city. "Marvel not," said he to his host, "that I am wont to gaze with fond affection on yon silvery star. That was my home; yes, I was lately an inhabitant of that tranquil planet; from whence a vain curiosity has tempted me to wander.

5. "Often had I beheld, with wondering admiration, this brilliant world of yours, even one of the brightest gems of our *firmament, and the ardent desire I had long felt to know something of its condition, was at length unexpectedly gratified. I received permission and power from above to +traverse the mighty void, and to direct my course to this distant sphere. To that permission, however, one condition was annexed, to which my eagerness for the enterprise induced me hastily to consent, namely, that I must thenceforth remain an inhabitant of this strange earth, and undergo