What is it

already in the field! Why stand we here idle? that gentlemen wish? what would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but, as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! Patrick Henry.

THE GRAY SWAN..

And to that lad I saw you throw
Taking it off, as it might be so
The kerchief from your neck."
"Ay, and he'll bring it back."

V.

"And did the little lawless lad,

That has made you sick, and made you sad,
Sail with the Gray Swan's crew?"
"Lawless! the man is going mad ;
The best boy ever mother had;

Be sure, he sailed with the crew,
What would you have him do ?"

VI.

"And he has never written line,

Nor sent you word, nor made you sign,

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To say he was alive?"

Hold, - if 't was wrong, the wrong is mine;

Besides, he may be in the brine ;

And could he write from the grave ?

Tut, man! what would you have?"

VII.

"Gone twenty years! a long, long cruise;
'T was wicked thus your love to abuse;
But if the lad still live,

And come back home, think you you can
Forgive him?" "Miserable man!

You're mad as the sea; you rave,
What have I to forgive?"

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CXXX. "PRESS

OFF...

TH

HIS is a speech, brief, but full of inspiration, and opening the way to all victory. The mystery of Napoleon's career was this, under all difficulties and discouragements, "PRESS ON!" It solves the problem of all heroes; it is the rule by which to weigh rightly all wonderful successes and triumphal marches to fortune and genius. It should be the motto of all, old and young, high and low, fortunate and unfortunate, so called.

2. "PRESS ON!" Never despair; never be discouraged, however stormy the heavens, however dark the way; however great the difficulties, and repeated the failures, "PRESS ON !"

3. If fortune has played false with thee to-day, do thou play true for thyself to-morrow. If thy riches have taken wings and left thee, do not weep thy life away; but be up and doing, and retrieve the loss by new energies and action. If an unfortunate bargain has deranged thy business, do not fold thy arms, and give up all as lost; but stir thyself and work the more vigorously.

4. If those whom thou hast trusted have betrayed thee, do not be discouraged, do not idly weep, but "PRESS ON!" find others; or, what is better, learn to live within thyself. Let the foolishness of yesterday make thee wise to-day.

5. If thy affections have been poured out like water in the desert, do not sit down and perish of thirst, but press on; a beautiful o'asis is before thee, and thou mayst reach it if thou wilt. If another has been false to thee, do not thou increase the evil by being false to thyself. Do not say the world hath lost its poetry and beauty; 't is not so; and even if it be so, make thine own poetry and beauty by a brave, a true, and above all a religious life.

PRR

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

Page 38.-John G. Whittier, one of the foremost of American poets, was born at Haverhill, Mass., in 1808. His early education was acquired at home, where until his eighteenth year he worked on the farm. He then spent two years in study at the town academy. At the age of twenty-two he became editor of a newspaper, and has spent most of his life since in literary pursuits. His verse is distinguished by vigor and a certain moral sweetness. Some of his best poems were written in behalf of universal freedom. Among his best known pieces are "Maud Muller," ""Barbara Frietchie" and "Snow-Bound."

Page 46.-Jacob Abbott, a popular writer of books for children, was born at Hallowell, Maine, in 1803. His "Rollo Books" have delighted and instructed two generations of children, and, together with many of his other writings, have been translated into European languages.

Page 48.-George III. was the king of England at the time when the people of the North American Colonies determined to govern themselves. A war took place between the Colonies and England, which is called the Revolutionary War, or the Revolution.

Page 53.--Queen Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII., and the half-sister of Mary, who was queen before her. She was a great sovereign, and governed England very wisely through a long reign.

Sir Walter Raleigh was born in England in 1552, and was beheaded, having been wrongfully convicted of treason, in 1618. He was a brave soldier, an adventurous explorer and a wise writer.

Page 54.-Louis XVI., king of France, was born in 1754, and ascended the throne at the age of 20. It was during his reign that the French people, driven to desperation through poverty, hunger and oppression, revolted, and took the government into their own hands. Then followed the fearful scenes of anarchy and bloodshed known as the

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French Revolution. Louis XVI. was thrown into prison; and his ignorance or indifference to the wants of the people was denominated treason, for which he was beheaded at the age of 39.

Page 57.-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Me., in 1807. He is the most popular of American poets, and his writings are almost universally read in England. For many years he was professor of Belles-Lettres in Harvard College.

Page 60.-George William Curtis was born in Providence, R. I., in 1824. He is distinguished as a scholar and a forcible and elegant writer. He is the author of "The Potiphar Papers," "Trumps," a novel, and of many essays and lectures.

Page 63.-Quebec is a city on the river St. Lawrence, in Canada, and, Montreal excepted, is the largest city in British North America. Its inhabitants are mostly of French descent.

The Heights of Abraham is the name given to an elevation near Quebec.

Page 64.—Samuel G. Goodrich, better known as Peter Parley, born at Ridgefield, Conn., in 1793, was a famous writer of books for children. His books conveyed much useful knowledge in the form of agreeable and interesting stories. Of his Geography for Beginners three million copies were sold. He died in 1863.

Page 66.-James Merrick, an English clergyman, was born in 1720, and died in 1769.

Page 67.-The Housatonic is a river in Connecticut.

Sevastopol, a Russian fortress situated on an inlet of the Black

Sea.

Page 69.-Greylock is a high mountain in Berkshire county, Mass. The Barometer is an instrument used for determining the pressure of the atmosphere, the state of which indicates the coming weather.

Henry Ward Beecher, perhaps the most famous preacher of his day, was born at Litchfield, Conn., Jan. 24, 1813. He was the son of Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, and the brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe. In 1847 he became pastor of the Plymouth Church, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and still holds that position. He was a dull boy, and gave no promise of future eminence, but he now wields a greater influence than any other clergyman in the country.

Page 72.-Henry Knox was born in Boston in 1750. He fought through the Revolutionary war, and became general of artillery. He was one of Washington's most trusted friends. He died in 1806.