facts recorded in the 6th chapter of the book of Daniel. Attach to it such reflections on the preservation of Daniel, and the destruction of his wicked enemies, as suggest themselves to your mind. LESSON LXXV. EXERCISES IN HISTORICAL NARRATION. WRITE in your own language an extended ac count of the incidents described in the following outlines. In doing this you may have occasion to follow the directions given in Lessons XLIII., XLIV., XLV., XLVI., and LII. ROMAN VIRTUE. Pyrrhus was king of Epirus. The Samnites were at war with Rome; they invited Pyrrhus to help them. He accepted their invitation. The physician of Pyrrhus was a bad man; he told the Romans that, for a large reward, he would poison his master. Fabricius was the Roman genera; he was an honorable man; he was shocked at the physician's treachery, and sent the traitor away with scorn, saying, "We should be honorable even to our enemies." Pyrrhus heard of this; he would not be outdone in generosity; be sent his prisoners to Rome without ransom, and consented to negotiate a peace. [Close with reflections on the baseness of such treachery, and the policy of always pursuing an honorable course, as the Romans did on this occasion.] THE DISOBEDIENT CAPTAIN. Frederick II., the Great, king of Prussia, was a famous warrior; remarkable for strict discipline. In one of his campaigns he intended, during the night, to make an important movement; gave orders that every light in the camp should be put out at eight o'clock, on pain of death. At that hour he went out himself, to see if the order was obeyed. Saw one light; in the tent of Captain Zietern; king entered; Zietern was folding a letter. Zietern was dismayed at beholding the king; threw himself on his knees and implored pardon; said he was writing to his wife, and had retained the candle to finish his letter. The king told him to go on, and write one line more which he would dictate to him; that line was to inform his wife that by sunrise the next day he would be a dead man. The letter was sent; at the appointed time Zietern was executed. [Close with reflections on the necessity and policy of obedience.] LESSON LXXVI. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. WHAT is a biographical sketch? A biographical sketch is a narration of the prin• cipal events in the life of an individual. What is it proper to include in a biographical sketch? A description of the person under consideration, according to the heads given in Lesson LXXI. What other particulars are to be considered in a biographical sketch? I. Birth, condition in life, vocation. III. Mental abilities, leading characteristics of mind. IV. Successive events, beginning at the earliest period of life. V. His peculiarities, or what rendered him fa mous. How do biographical sketches rank among other pieces of composition? They are among the most interesting and useful. What renders them useful? They are useful, because the lives of the most distinguished men teach us that a course of uprightness and industry secures the respect of the world, and that idleness and vice bring their votaries to suf fering and disgrace. What length is proper for biographical sketches? They may be of any length. Some men's lives are so eventful as to furnish sufficient matter for volumes. When brevity is required, only a few of the leading facts may be presented, and the whole may be so abridged as to occupy but a few pages, or be reduced even to the compass of a single page. EXERCISE. Copy and punctuate the following specimen of a biographical sketch. MAHOMET. "Mahomet was born at Mecca in 569 AD The tribe from which he descended was that of the Korash ites and the most noble in Arabia His immediate an cestors seem however to have been undistinguished and though his natural talents were great it is certain that his education was inconsiderable He acquired know ledge but not from books Intercourse with mankind had sharpened his faculties and given him an insight into the human heart In 609 when he was about 40 years old he began to concert a system of measures the issue of which was the establishment of a new religion in the world and of an empire which spreading over many countries lasted more than six centuries The religion still remains His impostures were not at first well received The citizens of Mecca even opposed them Forsaking his native city where his life was in jeopardy he fled to Medina at the epoch called by the Mahometans the hegira or flight which was in the year 622 By the aid of his disciples at Medina he returned to Mecca as a conqueror and making numerous proselytes he soon became master of Arabia and Syria and was saluted as king in 627 The main arguments which Mahomet employed to persuade men to embrace his religion were promises and threats which he knew would easily work on the minds of the multitude His promises related chiefly to Paradise and to the sensual delights to be enjoyed in that region of pure waters shady groves and exquisite fruits Such a heaven had strong charms for the Arabians whose burning climate made them regard images of this sort with excessive pleasure His threats on the other hand were peculiarly terrific to this people Those who rejected his religion were in the next world to drink nothing but putrid and boiling water to breathe nothing but exceedingly hot winds they were to dwell for ever in con tinual fire intensely burning and be surrounded with a black hot salt smoke as with a coverlet Mahomet was distinguished for the beauty of his person he had a commanding presence a majestic aspect piercing eyes a flowing beard and his whole countenance depicted the strong emotions of his mind His memory was retentive his wit easy and his judgment clear and decisive In his intercourse with society he observed th forms of that grave and ceremonious politeness so common in his country Mahomet persisted in his fanaticism to the last On his death-bed he asserted that the angel of death was not allowed to take his soul till he had respectfully asked the permission of the prophet The request being granted Mahomet fell into the agony of dissolution he fainted with the violence of pain but recovering his spirits in a degree he raised his eyes upwards and looking stead fastly said with a faltering voice O God pardon my sins Yes I come among my fellow-citizens on high and in this manner expired" EXERCISE IN BIOGRAPHICAL NARRATION. WRITE, in your own language, a biographical sketch of Newton from the facts furnished below. You may adopt whatever arrangement is most con venient. SIR ISAAC NEWTON. The most illustrious philosopher and mathematician that ever lived. Born, 1642, at Woolsthorpe, Lincoln |