the dear faith, which has been plighted, by pure hands, to the holy cause of truth and man; by the awful secrets of the prison houses, where the sons of freedom have beeu immured; by the noble heads which have been brought to the block; by the wrecks of time, by the eloquent ruins of nations, they conjure us not to quench the light which is rising on the world.

EXERCISE XXXVII.

INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS FOR AN EXHIBITION.*.

We greet with joy this happy day,
And we will drive dull care away;
Hearts full of cheer, we'll never fear,
While we in Wisdom's ways appear:
For all good people tell me so,
And I am sure they ougnt to know, -
That Wisdom's ways are good and true,
And all her paths are peaceful, too.

--

DEAR parents and friends: - -We are glad you have come to visit us on this interesting occasion, and we hope you will not be disappointed. We have come here, at this time, to show you, by our good conduct, and by the improvement we have made in our studies, that our time has not been wasted, and that the privileges you have provided for us have not been wholly misimproved. If we have not always done the best we could, we are sorry for it, and promise to try to do better, in future. But we do think that we have done well, and that we have learned a great many useful things. Besides what we have learned from our books, our teacher has told us many things, which, if we remember them, will help to make us wise, and good, and happy, all our days. For all that he has done for us, we thank him, from our young and grateful hearts, and we feel that God will bless him too. But some of us are very young, and know but little; and we ask you not to

“View as with a critic's eye,

But pass our imperfections by."

*If the lines at the commencement and close are sung, it will add to the interest of this Exercise.

And now, I'm glad to say to you,
Our duty we will try to do,

And never play the idle fool,

Nor waste our precious time in school:
For all good people tell me so, –
And I am sure they ought to know,
That Wisdom's ways are good and true
And all her paths are peaceful, too.

EXERCISE XXXVIII.

THE PROVINCE OF FAITH.

WHO has ever stood by the architectural ruins of other days, whether in India, in her gigantic underground temples, excavated from the solid rock, or in Egypt, amid her pyramids and gigantic colonnades and ruined cities, or amid the ruins of Mexico and Yucatan, or the mysterious but silent mounds of the great West, and not wished to wake from oblivion the history of those nations which left their intellectual impress on these works, and by them unfolded the emotions of their hearts?

But what palace so splendid as this glorious universe, in the midst of which we dwell, and through which we rove? How is it filled with every form of beauty and sublimity, and constructed, in all its parts, according to the most exquisite rules of art! How do the gentle breezes or the tempestuous gales, the murmuring brooks or the raging ocean, or the countless tenants of earth and air, commingle and vary those ceaseless anthems of praise which ascend before the throne of the eternal King!

And yet, till the eye is opened by faith, the highest and most glorious occupants of this vast palace remain unseen, unheard; their ends and sympathies, and joys and sorrows, and hopes and fears, are all unknown.

The chemist can analyze and arrange every element of the whole system; the geologist can investigate the structure of the earth; the natural philosopher may develop the laws of the atmosphere, of fluids, or of sounds, or trace the lightning in its rapid course; the astronomer may penetrate immeasurable realms of space, and dis

close orb on orb, and system on system, till the mind s overwhelmed and lost in the splendor of the scene; the mathematician may calculate with unerring precision the times and seasons of the material system; the historian, the musician, the painter, the poet, the sculptor, the architect, the linguist, and the philosopher, may each traverse and investigate his appropriate sphere, and yet not one, or all combined, can penetrate into that higher spiritual system, for which this material universe was made and exists.

The light which illuminates these regions of glory proceeds direct from God himself, the Eternal Sun, and is received by the eye of faith alone.

EXERCISE XXXIX.

INTRODUCTORY PIECE FOR AN EVENING EXHIBITION.

RESPECTED parents and friends: -In behalf of my teachers and schoolmates, I, this evening, bid you a cordial welcome to this our pleasant schoolroom. Here we are wont to meet from day to day, and spend many hours in attending to those studies which will prepare us to discharge usefully the duties of subsequent life. We have spent some of our happiest hours in this room, and have only to regret that we have not been more diligent, and more attentive to our duties as members of this school. With this regret for errors of the past, we feel a strong determination better to improve the future, so that each passing moment shall_bear with it a good record.

To your attention and kindness we feel greatly indebted for the privileges we here enjoy, and we trust that we feel truly grateful. We have invited you to meet us here this evening, with the hope that an hour may be spent which shall be mutually interesting and profitable. In judging of the exercises to which you may this evening listen, we beg that

"You'll not view us with a critic's eye,
But pass our imperfections by."

We wish you to remember that we are but children, and that childhood's errors will probably mark our performances. We will try to feel that we are surrounded by our dearest friends, and if we shall, in any degree, succeed in causing this evening to pass in a manner agreeable to you, we shall feel amply compensated for all our efforts.

For myself, for my teachers, and for these, my companions, I tender you heartfelt and sincere thanks for all past acts of favor and kindness. Especially would we remember, with grateful feelings, those who have devoted so much time and manifested so much interest for our good, the members of the school committee. We hope no one of them will ever have occasion to feel that he has been dishonored by the dishonorable acts of any pupil of this school.

We have been placed under weighty obligation, and we feel that much may justly be expected of us. That we may properly appreciate and improve our privileges so that we may become intelligent, useful, and valuable members of society, we bespeak your continued care and watchfulness; and, in return for them, we will endeavor so to improve our time and opportunities as to deserve and secure your hearty approbation.

EXERCISE XL.

THE MEMORY OF THE GOOD.

WHY is it that the names of Howard, and Thornton, and Clarkson, and Wilberforce, will be held in everlasting remembrance? Is it not chiefly on account of their goodness, their Christian philanthropy, the overflowing and inexhaustible benevolence of their great minds? Such men feel that they were not born for themselves, nor for the narrow circle of their kindred and acquaintances, but for the world, and for posterity. They delight in doing good on a great scale. Their talents, their property, their time, their knowledge, and experience, and influence, they hold in constant requisition for the benefit of the poor, the oppressed, and the perishing.

You may trace them along the whole patl way of life, by the blessings which they scatter far and wide. They may be likened to yon noble river, which carries gladness and fertility, from state to state, through all the length of that rejoicing valley, which it was made to bless, or to those summer showers which pour gladness and plenty over all the regions that they visit, till they melt away into the glorious effulgence of the setting sun.

Such a man was Howard, the prisoner's friend. Christian philanthrophy was the element in which he lived and moved, and out of which life would have been intolerable. It was to him that kings listened with astonishment, as if doubtful from what world of pure disinterestedness he had come. 'To him despair opened her dungeons, and plague and pestilence could summon no terrors to arrest his investigations. In his presence,

crime, though girt with the iron panoply of desperation, stood amazed and rebuked. With him home was nothing, country was nothing, health was nothing, life was nothing. His first and last question was, "What is the utmost that I can do for degraded, depraved, bleeding humanity, in all her prison houses?" And what wonders did he accomplish! what astonishing changes in the whole system of prison discipline may be traced back to his disclosures and suggestions, and how many millions, yet to be born, will rise up and call him blessed! Away, all ye Cæsars and Napoleons, to your own dark and frightful domains of slaughter and misery! Ye can no more endure the light of such a godlike presence, than the eye, already inflamed to torture by dissipation, can look the sun in the face at noonday.

EXERCISE XLI.

THE MOTHER LAND.

WHAT American does not feel proud that he is descended from the countrymen of Bacon, of Newton and of Locke? Who does not know, that while every pulse