And down, down, the farthing's worth came with a 8. Again, he performed an experiment rare; When he found, with surprise, that the whole of his Weighed less, by some pounds, than this bit of the other. 9. By further experiments-no matter how He found that ten chariots weighed less than one plough. A shield and a helmet, a buckler and spear, When a bee chanced to light on the opposite scale. 10. A dozen quack doctors, two courtiers, one earl, Ten counsellors' wigs full of powder and curl, All heaped in one balance, and swinging from thence, Weighed less than some atoms of candor and sense ;A first-water diamond, with brilliants begirt, Than one good potato, just washed from the dirt; Yet, not mountains of silver and gold would suffice One pearl to outweigh-'twas the "pearl of great price." 11. At last the whole world was bowled in at the grate, With the soul of a beggar to serve for a weight; When the former sprang up with so strong a rebuff, That it made a vast rent, and escaped at the roof; Whence, balanced in air, it ascended on high, And sailed up aloft, a balloon in the sky; While the scale with the soul in, so mightily fell, That it jerked the philosopher out of his cell. MORAL. 12. Dear reader, if e'er self-deception prevails, And impartiality use for a beam. Then bring those good actions which pride overrates, LESSON XCI. Captain John Smith and Pocahontas. 1. THE residence of Powhatan was situated on the north side of York River, in Gloucester County, Virginia, about twenty-five miles below the fork of the river. It was at that time Powhatan's principal place of residence, though afterwards, not being pleased with its proximity to the English, he removed to Orapax. Upon Smith's arrival in the village, he was detained, until the Indian emperor and his court could make suitable preparations to receive their captive in proper state. In the mean while more than two hundred of his " grim courtiers came to gaze at him, as if he had been a monster. 2. Powhatan, who was at that time about sixty years old, is described as having been, in outward appearance, "every inch a king." His figure was noble, his stature majestic, and his countenance full of the severity and haughtiness of a ruler, whose will was supreme, and whose nod was law. He received Captain Smith with imposing, though rude ceremony. 3. He was seated on a kind of throne, elevated above the floor of a large hut, in the midst of which was a fire. He was clothed with a robe of raccoon skins. Two young women, his daughters, sat, one on his right and the other on his left; and on each side of the hut there were two rows of men in front, and the same number of women behind. These all had their heads and shoulders painted red. Many had their hair ornamented with the white down of birds. 4. Some had chains of white beads around their necks, and all had more or less of ornament. When Smith was brought home, they all set up a great shout. Soon after his entrance, a female of rank was directed to bring him water to wash his hands, and another brought a bunch of feathers, instead of a towel, to dry them with. They then feasted him in the best manner they could, and held a long and solemn consultation to determine his fate. The decision was against him. 5. Two large stones were brought in and placed before Powhatan, and Smith was dragged up to them, and his head was placed upon them, that his brains might be beaten out with clubs. The fatal weapons were already raised, and the stern executioners looked for the signal which should bid them descend upon the victim's defenceless head. But the protecting shield of divine Providence was over him, and the arm of violence was arrested. 6. Pocahontas, the king's favorite daughter,-at that time a child of twelve or thirteen years of age,-finding that her piteous entreaties to save the life of Smith were unavailing, rushed forward, clasped his head in her arms, and laid her own upon it, determined either to save his life, or share his fate. Her generous and heroic conduct touched her father's iron heart, and the life of the captive was spared, to be employed in making hatchets for himself, and bells and beads for his daughter. 7. The account of this beautiful and most touching scene, familiar as it is to every one, can hardly be read with unmoistened eyes. The incident is so dramatic and startling, that it seems to preserve the freshness of novelty, amidst a thousand repetitions. We could almost as reasonably expect an angel to have come down from heaven, and rescued the captive, as that his deliverer should have sprung from the bosom of Powhatan's family. 8. The universal sympathies of mankind, and the best feelings of the human heart, have redeemed this scene from the obscurity which, in the progress of time, gathers over all but the most important events. It has pointed a thousand morals and adorned a thousand tales. Innumerable bosoms have throbbed, and are yet to throb, with generous admiration for this daughter of a people whom we have been too ready to underrate. 9. Had we known nothing of her but what is related of her in this incident, she would deserve the eternal gratitude of the inhabitants of this country; for the fate of the colony may be said to have hung upon the arms of Smith's executioners. He was its life and soul, and, without the magic influence of his personal qualities, it would have abandoned in despair the project of permanently settling the country, and sailed to England by the first opportunity. The gen erosity of Powhatan was not content with merely sparing his prisoner's life. He detained him but two days longer. 10. At the end of that time, he conducted him to a large house in the woods, and there left him alone upon a mat by the fire. In a short time, from behind another mat that divided the house, " was made the most doleful noise he ever heard; then Powhatan, with some two hundred more, as black as himself," came in and told him they were now friends, and that he should return to Jamestown; and that, if he would send him two pieces of cannon and a grindstone, he would give him the country of Capahowsic, and esteem him as his own son. 11. He was faithful to his word, and despatched him immediately, with twelve guides. That night they quartered in the woods; and during the whole journey Captain Smith expected every moment to be put to death, notwithstanding Powhatan's fair words. But, as the narrative of his adventures has it, "Almighty God, by his divine providence, had mollified the hearts of those stern barbarians with compassion." 12. Smith reached Jamestown in safety, after an absence of seven weeks, and treated his savage guides with great hospitality and kindness. He showed them two demi-culverins * and a millstone, which they proposed to carry to Powhatan, but found them too heavy. He ordered the culverins to be loaded with stones and discharged among the boughs of a tree covered with icicles, in order to magnify to them the effects of these formidable engines. 13. When they heard the report, and saw the ice and the branches come rattling down, they were greatly terrified. A few trinkets restored their confidence, and they were dismissed with a variety of presents for Powhatan and his family. The generous conduct of Powhatan, in restoring a prisoner who had given such fatal proofs of courage and prowess, is worthy of the highest admiration. There is hardly any thing in history that can afford a parallel to it. 14. He was stimulated to take the prisoner's life, not only by revenge, a passion strongest in savage breasts, but by policy, and that regard to his own interests, which Christian and civilized monarchs feel justified in observing. He seems to have acted from some religious feeling, regarding Smith either as a supernatural being, or as under the special protection of a higher power. 15. How far this may have actuated him, or how far he may have been actuated by affection for his daughter, it is impossible to say; but, supposing both to have operated, we only elevate his conduct by elevating his motives. LESSON XCII. Prosperity and Resources of the United States. 1. THE United States of America constitute an essential portion of a great political system, embracing all the civilized nations of the earth. At a period when the force of moral opinion is rapidly increasing, they have the precedence in the practice and the defence of the equal rights of man. The sovereignty of the people is here a conceded axiom, and the laws, established upon that basis, are cherished with faithful patriotism. 2. While the nations of Europe aspire after a change, our constitution engages the fond admiration of the people y which it has been established. Prosperity follows the execution of even justice; invention is quickened by the freedom of competition; and labor rewarded with sure and unexampled returns. 3. Domestic peace is maintained without the aid of a military establishment; public sentiment permits the existence of but few standing troops, and those only along the seaboard and on the frontiers. A gallant navy protects our commerce, which spreads its banners on every sea, and extends its enterprise to every clime. Our diplomatic relations connect us on terms of equality and honest friendship with the chief powers of the world; while we avoid entangling participation in their intrigues, their passions, and their wars. 4. Our national resources are developed by an earnest culture of the arts of peace. Every man may enjoy the fruits of his industry; every mind is free to publish its convictions. Our government, by its organization, is necessarily identified with the interests of the people, and relies exclusively on their attachment, for its durability and support. 5. Even the enemies of the state, if there are any among us, have liberty to express their opinions undisturbed; and |