Stranger! if through thy reeling brain Such midnight visions sweep Spare, spare, O spare thine evening meal, O. W. HOLMES. LESSON XLI. LIBERTY OF THE PRESS. Press, as here used, the publica- | Boun'te oŭs, free; generous. tions that issue from the print- A bound'ing, plentiful. ded to. Af'flu ents, small streams flow ing into rivers, lakes, and the like. In ĕv'i ta ble, not to be avoided or resisted. Ġēn'ius, talent; great mental superiority. THE HE liberty of the Press is the highest safeguard to all free government. Ours could not exist without it. It is like a great, exulting and abounding river. It is fed by the dews of heaven, which distill their sweetest drops to form it. It gushes from the rill, as it breaks from the deep caverns of the earth. 2. It is augmented by a thousand affluents, that dash from the mountain top, to separate again into a thousand bounteous and irrigating streams around. On its broad bosom it bears a thousand barks. There genius spreads its purpling sail. There poetry dips its silver oar. There art, invention, discovery, science, morality and religion, may safely and securely float. It is a genial, 3. It wanders through every land. cordial source of thought and inspiration, wherever it touches, whatever it surrounds. Upon its borders, there grows every flower of grace, and every fruit of truth. 4. Sir, I am not here to deny that that river sometimes overflows its bounds. I am not here to deny that that stream sometimes becomes a dangerous torrent, and destroys towns and cities upon its bank. But I am here to say that, without it, civilization, humanity, government, all that makes society itself, would disappear, and the world would return to its ancient barbarism. 5. We will not risk these consequences, even for slavery; we will not risk these consequences, even for union; we will not risk these consequences to avoid that civil war with which you threaten us;--that war which you announce as deadly, and which you declare to be inevitable. E. D. BAKER. PLEASURES, But pleasures are like poppies spread, That flit ere you can point their place; LESSON XLII. ADVENTURES OF AN INDIAN PRINCE. PART FIRST. Těz eu'co, the chief city of the | Căp ́i tal, the chief city or town Tezcucons. of a country. Sub'se quent, following after An çès'tral, pertaining to or de in point of time. Ro mănʼtie, like romance or fiction. Loy'al ty, fidelity to a superior, itation to one party in favor of scending from ancestors. In hos'pi ta ble, not favorable to strangers or guests. Cens ́er, a vase or pan in which incense is burned. In'çense, the odor of spices and gums burned in religious rites. Seour, to hunt over thoroughly. THE Acolhuans came into the valley of Mexico Tabout the close of the twelfth century, and built their capital of Tezcuco on the eastern borders of the lake, opposite to Mexico. From this point they gradually spread themselves to the northern portion of the country, when their career was checked by an invasion of a kindred race, the Tepanecs, who, after a desperate struggle, succeeded in taking their city, slaying their monarch, and subjugating their kingdom. 2. The young Tezcucan prince, the heir to the crown, saw his father butchered before his eyes, while he himself lay concealed among the friendly branches of a tree which overshadowed the spot. His subsequent history is full of romantic daring and perilous escapes. Not long after his flight from the field of his father's blood, he fell into the hands of his enemy, and was borne off in triumph to the city of the Tepanecs, and thrown into prison. 3. He effected his escape, however, through the connivance of the governor of the fortress, an old servant of the family, who took the place of the royal fugitive and paid for his loyalty with his life. He was at length permitted, through the intercession of the reigning family in Mexico, which was allied to him, to retire to their capital, and subsequently to his own, where he found a shelter in his ancestral palace. 4. There he remained unmolested for eight years, pursuing his studies under an old preceptor, who had the care of his early youth, and who instructed him in the various duties befitting his princely station. At this period the Tepanec usurper died, bequeathing his empire to his son, Maxtla, a man of fierce and suspicious temper. To him, on his accession to the throne, the Tezcucan prince hastened to pay his obeisance. 5. But the tyrant refused to receive the little present of flowers which he laid at his feet, and turned his back upon him in the presence of his chieftains. One of his attendants, friendly to the young prince, admonished him to provide for his own safety by withdrawing, as speedily as possible, from the palace, where his life was in danger. He lost no time, consequently, in retreating from the inhospitable court, and returned to Tezcuco. 6. Maxtla, however, was bent on his destruction. He saw with jealous eye the opening talents and popular manners of his rival, and the favor he was daily winning from his ancient subjects. He accordingly laid a plan for making away with him at an evening entertainment, which was only defeated by the vigilance of the prince's tutor, who contrived to mislead the assassins, and to substitute another victim in the place of his pupil. 7. The baffled tyrant now threw off all disguise and sent a strong party of soldiers to Tezcuco, with orders to enter the palace, seize the person of the prince, and slay him on the spot. The prince, who became acquainted with the plot through the watchfulness of his preceptor, instead of flying, as he was counseled, resolved to await his enemy. 8. They found him playing at ball, when they arrived, in the court of his palace. He received them courteously, and invited them in to take some refreshments after their journey. While they were occupied in this way he passed into an adjoining saloon, which excited no suspicion, as he was still visible through the open doors by which the apartments communicated with each other. 9. A burning censer stood in the passage, and, as it was fed by the attendants, threw up such clouds of incense as obscured his movements from the soldiers. Under this friendly veil he succeeded in making his escape by a secret passage, which communicated with a large earthen pipe formerly used to bring water to the palace. 10. The Tepanec monarch, enraged at this repeated disappointment, ordered instant pursuit. A price was set on the head of the royal fugitive. Whoever should take him, dead or alive, was promised, however humble his degree, the hand of a noble lady, and an ample domain along with it. Troops of armed men were ordered to scour the country in every direction. 1). In the course of the search, the cottage in which the prince had taken refuge was entered. But he fortunately escaped detection by being hid under a heap of maguey fibres, used in making cloth. As this was no longer a proper place of concealment, he sought a retreat in the mountainous region lying on the borders of his estate. |