Sanders' Union Fourth Reader Part 24

BRILL' IANT, shining; sparkling.

HOST, great mult.i.tude.

EX' TRA, additional.

CRES' CENT, form of the new moon.

HAIL' ED, saluted.

EF FUL' GENCE, splendor.

RE' GEN CY, rule; government.

WAN' ING, decreasing.

SUP PLI CA TION, prayer; pet.i.tion.

RAPT' URE, great joy; transport.

[Headnote 1: PAL' ES TINE includes that part of Turkey in Asia, lying on the eastern borders of the Mediterranean Sea.]

NIGHT'S LESSONS.

L.H. SIGOURNEY.

1. The lessons of our school are over. The lights in the distant windows are extinguished, one after the other. The village will soon be lost in slumber. When all the men and the women are asleep, must we keep awake to learn lessons?

2. In large cities, there may be heard, now and then, the rushing wheel of the traveler. The watchmen pace their round, and cry, _"All is well."_ In the long, cold nights of Norway, the watchmen who guard the capitol, p.r.o.nounce, in a solemn tone, "G.o.d bless our good city of Bergen!"

3. In the garrison, or the endangered fortress, the armed sentinel keeps watch, lest they should be surprised by the foe. But in this peaceful village there is no need of either sentinel or watchman. Why may we not go to sleep, instead of learning Night's lessons?

4. My son, one of these you may learn in a moment. Did you say that all will soon be sleeping? No! there is one Eye that never slumbers. He who made all the people, keepeth watch above the everlasting hills. Commit yourself to His care.

5. Now, will you learn with me the second lesson of the night? Lift your eyes to yon glorious canopy. Seest thou not there a sentinel, set by the Eternal, at the northern gate of heaven,--the pole-star?

6. The pole-star! Blessings are breathed upon it, by the weary caravan, fearing the poisonous wind of the desert,--by the red forest-children, seeking their home beyond the far Western prairies,--and by the lonely mariner, upon the pathless ocean.

7. The stars! See them! The oil in their lamps never burns out. These glorious constellations wheel their mighty course unchanged, while "man dieth and wasteth away, yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?"

[Footnote: Job, 14th chap., 10th verse.]

8. Yon brilliant orbs maintain their places, while countless generations pa.s.s away, and nations disappear and are forgotten. Let us bow in humility before "Him who bringeth out their host by number, who calleth them all by names, by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth." [Footnote: Isaiah. 40th chap., 26th verse.]

9. Thirteen times in the year, Night, the teacher, gives extra lessons.

Will you be there to learn them? First, she hangs up a pale crescent in the west. The ancient Jews hailed its infant beam, and answering fires of joy were kindled on the hills of Palestine.[Headnote 1]

10. Next, she summons forth a rounded orb, clad in full effulgence, and commits to it the regency when the sun retires. Lastly, a slender, waning crescent appears nightly, like an aged man, ready to descend into the night of the tomb.

11.

"Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the listening earth, Repeats the story of her birth; While all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole."

12. These are some of Night's lessons. Are you tired of them? Or, will you learn one more? Lift up your heart to Him who has given you the past day, with thanks for its blessings,--with penitence for its faults,--with supplication for strength and wisdom for the time that is to come.

13. "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge" [Footnote: Psalm 19th, 2nd verse.] of G.o.d. Thus, meekly and faithfully studying Night's lessons, may we find

"Even sorrow, touched by Heaven, grows bright With more than rapture's ray, As darkness shows us worlds of light, We never saw by day."

QUESTIONS.--1. Who watches over us when asleep? 2. In what way is the pole-star useful to man? 3. What is said of the stars? 4. What extra lessons is it that night gives thirteen times a year? 5. Describe the first appearance of the moon. 6. How does it next appear? 7. Where is Palestine? 8. Where are the pa.s.sages to be found, quoted in the 7th, 8th, and 13th paragraphs? 9. Do you know who is the author of the 11th verse? Ans. Addison.

LESSON XXI.

HID' DEN, secret; concealed.

QUAIL, sink; droop.

SCORN' ING, disdaining.

GREET' ING, salutation.

VIEW' LESS, not to be seen.

YEARN' ETH, longeth.

CHANT, sing; carol.

PORT' AL, entrance; gate-way.

CHEER' Y, gay; lively.

E TER' NI TY, endless duration.

NATURE'S TEACHINGS.

CHAMBERS' JOURNAL.

FIRST VOICE.

1. Sunlight! tell the hidden meaning Of the rays thou lettest fall; Are they lessons writ in burning, Like G.o.d's warning on the wall?

SECOND VOICE.

Strive, O man, to let a loving Spirit cheer the sad and poor; So shall many a fair hope blossom, Where none grew before!

FIRST VOICE.

2. Stars! what is it ye would whisper, With your pure and holy light?

Looking down so calm and tender From the watch-tower of the night.

SECOND VOICE.

When thy soul would quail from scorning, Keep a brave heart and a bold; As we always shine the brightest When the nights are cold.

FIRST VOICE.

3. Hast thou not a greeting for me, Heaven's own happy minstrel-bird'?

Thou whose voice, like some sweet angel's, Viewless, in the cloud is heard'?

SECOND VOICE.

Though thy spirit yearneth sky-ward, Oh, forget not human worth!

I, who chant at heaven's portal, Build my nest on earth.