3. The mountain- 't is my heritage; Tempests around their battles wage; 5. And when the bell begins to toll, And mountain-fires their flame-wreaths roll, And swing my sword and sing my lay: CXXXII. FROM THE GERMAN OF UHLAND. THE CHANGES OF THE MOON. If the 1. THE moon, like the earth, is a dark or opaque body, and, also like the earth, owes her light to the sun. moon were to shine by her own light, she would always appear full; but, as we only see that part which is turned towards the sun, it is evident that she shines only by reflecting the light of that body, and puts on different shapes according to her situation with respect to the earth. 2. Thus, when the moon is in a line between us and the sun, her dark side is toward the earth, and we do not see her; but when she has removed a little from that line, in her revolution round the earth, a streak of light appears, in the shape of a beautiful crescent. 3. This keeps increasing till she has passed through one quarter of her course, when she becomes a crescent, or half-moon, and is said to be in her first quarter. Night after night we see her growing larger and larger, till she has completed half her course, and is directly opposite the sun. One half of her surface is now enlightened, and she appears circular. This is full moon, the second quarter. 4. After this she begins to decrease, and, as she proceeds in her revolution, again presents a half-moon; this is the third quarter. Finally, she goes on showing less and less of her surface, till she disappears altogether, being now again placed between the sun and the earth, both morning and evening, and, consequently, her dark side is turned towards us. 5. These phases, as they are called, or variations in the appearance of the moon, are thus marked in the Almanac: full moon; last new moon; > first quarter; quarter. These figures represent the moon in her various stages very accurately. The horns or points of the increasing moon are directed towards the east, because it is from the west that the sun first enlightens her. When waning, the horns are turned westward, because it is from the east that the light is then received. 6. The length of time in which the moon passes through all the signs of the Zodiac is twenty-seven days, eight hours, nearly; but the space between each conjunction of the sun and moon, or between the new moon and another, is twenty-nine days and a half, and these form a lunar month. The reason of this difference is to be found in astronomical works. 1. It is the peculiar vice of our age and country to put a false estimate on the mere acquisition of riches. I do not undervalue either wealth or the diligence and enterprise so often exercised in its attainment. I would not say a word to throw doubt on the importance of acquiring such a measure of this world's goods as to render one independent, and able to assist others. 2. The young man who thinks he may amuse or employ himself as he sees fit, at the same time throwing the burthen of his support on others, or leading a precarious life, on the verge of debt and bankruptcy, is a dishonor to his species. But I assert that the too common mistake, which makes men look upon the acquisition of a fortune, or the having a fine and fashionable house, as constituting success in life, is extremely pernicious. 3. Success in life consists in the proper and harmonious development of those faculties which God has given us. Now, we have faculties more important to our welfare than that of making money.- faculties more conducive to our happiness, and to our health of body and soul. There are higher and better modes of activity than those which are exhibited in multiplying dollars. 4. Men can leave to their children a better pătrimony than money; they can leave to them the worth of a good example, good habits, a religious faith, a true estimate of the desirable things of this life; resources of mind and heart, which will shed sunshine on adversity, and give a grace to prosperous fortune. 5. "It is not wealth which is deserving of homage, but the virtues which a man exercises in the slow pursuit of wealth, the abilities so called forth, the self-denials so imposed." I have heard of two brothers, whose father died leaving them five hundred dollars apiece. "I will take this money, and make myself a rich man," said Henry, the younger brother. brother. "I will take this money, and make myself a good man," said George, the elder. 6. Henry, who knew little beyond the multiplicationtable, abandoned all thoughts of going to school, and began by peddling goods, in a small way, over the country. He was shrewd and quick to learn what he gave his attention to; but he gave all his attention to making money. He succeeded. In one year his five hundred dollars had become a thousand. In five years it had grown to be twenty thousand; and at the age of fifty he was worth a million. 7. George remembered the words of the wise man : "With all thy gettings get understanding." He spent two thirds of his money in going to school, and acquiring a taste for solid knowledge. He then spent the remainder of his patrimony in purchasing a few acres of land in the neighborhood of a thriving city. He resolved on being a farmer. 8. After a lapse of thirty-five years, the two brothers It was at George's house. A bright, vigorous, alert man was George, though upwards of fifty-five years old. Henry, though several years younger, was very infirm. He had kept in his counting-room long after the doctors had warned him to give up business, and now he found himself stricken in health beyond repair. 9. But that was not the worst. He was out of his element when not making money. George took him into the library, and showed him a fine collection of books. Poor Henry had never cultivated a taste for reading. He looked upon the books with no more interest than he would have looked on so many bricks. George took him into his garden, but Henry began to cough, and said he was afraid of the east wind. When George pointed out to him a beautiful elm-tree, he only cried "Pshaw!" 10. George took him into his greenhouse, and talked with enthusiasm of some rare flowers, the beauty of which seemed to give the farmer great pleasure. Henry shrugged" his shoulders and yawned, saying, "Ah! I do not care for these things." George asked him if he was fond of paintings and engravings. "No, no! Don't trouble yourself," said Henry. "I can't tell one daub from another." 11. "Well, you shall hear my daughter Edith play on the piano; she is no ordinary performer, I assure you.". "Now, don't, brother-don't, if you love me!" said Henry, beseechingly: "I never could endure music."--"But what can I do to amuse you? Will you take a ride?". "I am afraid of a horse. But, if you will drive me carefully down to your village bank, I will stop and have a chat with the president." 12. Poor Henry! Money was the one thing uppermost in his mind. To it he had sacrificed every other good thing. When, a few days afterward, he parted from his farmer brother, he laid his hand on his shoulder, and said: "George, you can just support yourself comfortably on the interest of your money, and I have got enough to buy up the whole of your town, bank and all,—and yet, your life has been a success, and mine a dead failure!" Sad, but true words! Osborne. CXXXIV.- TO THE SETTING SUN. 1. SUN of the firmament! planet of wonderment! Still art thou parting bright, shedding immortal light 2. Slow thou depart'st away, far from the realms of day, 3. Thy parting brings sadness; yet nations in gladness Thou kindlest day in the dwellings of night! 4. Where sleeps the thunder, there dost thou wander; Down 'neath the ocean deep, there dost thou stray; 5. Grandeur and glory, they travel before thee; |