2. But how different is the scene that is passing there. The Son of God stands on that hight, and casts his eye over the quiet valley, through which Jordan winds its silvery current. Three friends are beside him. They have walked together up the toilsome way, and now they stand, mere specks on the distant summit. Far away to the north-west, shines the blue Mediterranean,—all around is the great plain of Esdraelon1 and Galilee, eastward the lake of Tiberias dots the landscape, while Mount Carmel lifts its naked summit in the distance. 3. But the glorious landscape at their feet is forgotten in a sublimer scene that is passing before them. The son of Mary -the carpenter of Nazareth-the wanderer, with whom they have traveled on foot many a weary league, in all the intimacy of companions and friends, begins to change before their eyes.* Over his garments is spreading a strange light, steadily brightening into intenser beauty, till that form glows with such splendor that it seems to waver to and fro, and dissolve in the still radiance. 4. The three astonished friends gaze on it in speechless admiration, then turn to that familiar face. But lo! a greater change has passed over it. That sad and solemn countenance which has been so often seen stooping over the couch of the dying, entering the door of the hut of poverty, passing through the streets of Jerusalem, and pausing by the weary way-side -ay, bedewed with the tears of pity,-now burns like the sun in his mid-day splendor. Meekness has given way to ⚫ majesty, sadness, to dazzling glory,-the look of pity, to the grandeur of a God. 5. The still radiance of Heaven sits on that serene brow, and, all around that divine form, flows an atmosphere of strange and wondrous beauty. Heaven has poured its brightness over that consecrated spot, and, on the beams of light which glitter there, Moses and Elias have descended, and, wrapped in the same shining vestments, stand beside him. Wonder follows wonder; for those three glittering forms are talking with each other, and, amid the thrilling accents are heard the words, *Read the 17th Chapter of Matthew. "Mount Olivet," "Calvary !"—" the agony and the death of the crucifixion !" 6. No wonder a sudden fear came over Peter, that paralyzed his tongue, and crushed him to the earth, when, in the midst of his speech, he saw a cloud descend like a falling star from heaven, and, bright and dazzling, balance itself over those forms of light, while from its bright foldings came a voice, saying "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him!" 7. How long the vision lasted we can not tell; but all that night did Jesus, with his friends, stay on that lonely mountain. Of the conversation that passed between them there, we know nothing; but little sleep, we imagine, visited their eyes that night; and as they sat on the high summit, and watched the stars, as they rose one after another above the horizon, and gazed on the moon as she poured her light over the dim and darkened landscape, words were spoken, that seemed born of Heaven, and truths never to be forgotten were uttered in the ears of the subdued and reverent disciples. 8. O how different is Heaven and earth! Can there be a stronger contrast than the BATTLE and TRANSFIGURATION Of Mount Tabor? One shudders to think of Bonaparte and the Son of God on the same mountain,-one with his wasting cannon by his side, and the other with Moses and Elias just from Heaven. But no after desecration can destroy the first consecration of Mount Tabor; for, surrounded with the glory of Heaven, and honored with the wondrous scene of the TRANSFIGURATION, it stands a SACRED MOUNTAIN on the earth. LESSON Le THE BATTLE FIELD. MRS. HEMANS. 1. I LOOKED on the field, where the battle was spread, 2. I saw the dark forest of lances appear, As the ears of the harvest unnumbered they stood, I heard the stern shout as the foemen drew near, Like the storm that lays low the proud pines of the wood. 3. Afar, the harsh notes of the war-drum were rolled, Uprousing the wolf from the depth of his lair; On high to the gust streamed the banner's red fold, O'er the death-close of hate, and the scowl of despair. 4. I looked on the field of contention again, When the saber was sheathed, and the tempest had past; And the wild-weed and thistle grew rank on the plain, And the fern softly sighed in the low wailing blast. 5. Unmoved lay the lake in its hour of repose, [blue; And bright shone the stars through the sky's deepened And sweetly the song of the night-bird arose, [dew. Where the fox-glove lay gemmed with its pearl-drops of 6. But where swept the ranks of that dark frowning host, As the ocean in might,-as the storm-cloud in speed! Where now were the thunders of victory's boast, The slayer's dread wrath, and the strength of the steed? 7. Not a time-wasted cross,-not a moldering stone, To mark the lone scene of their shame or their pride; One grass-covered mound told the traveler alone, Where thousands lay down in their anguish, and died! 8. O glory! behold thy famed guerdon's extent; For this, toil thy slaves through their earth-wasting lot; A name like the mist, when the night-beams are spent,-A grave with its tenants unwept and forgot. 9. What is glory? What is fame? LESSON LI. NOTE.-The following lines were written when the author, 66 The marvelous boy, The sleepless soul that perished in his pride," was only eleven years of age. HYMN OF PRAISE TO THE CREATOR. THOMAS CHATTERTON. 1. ALMIGHTY FRAMER of the skies, Like incense in Thy sight! 2. The Sun of glory gleamed, the ray 3. How shall we celebrate the day, 4. A humble form the Savior wore, In glory all His own. 5. Despised, oppressed, He meekly bears Nor bids His vengeance rise: 1 1. In the mind of many a peasant whose every moment is bestowed on wringing from the soil a scanty subsistence, there slumber powers which, had they been evolved by early discipline, would have elevated their possessor to the first rank of philosophers; and many a mechanic who goes patiently the round of unvaried toil, is unconsciously the owner of faculties which, nursed and expanded by education, would have enabled him to electrify senates, and to win that pre-eminence which men award to the majesty of genius. 2. There arise occasions, when, peculiar circumstances aiding the development, the pent-up talent struggles loose from the trammels of poverty; and the peasant, through a sudden outbreak of mind, starts forward to the place, for which his intellect fits him. But ordinarily, the powers remain through life, bound-up and torpid; and he, therefore, forms but a contracted estimate of the amount of high mental endowment, who reckons by the proud marbles which cause the aisles of a cathedral to breathe the memory of departed greatness, and never thinks, when walking the village church-yard with its rude memorials of the fathers of the valley, that, possibly, there sleeps beneath his feet one who, if early taught, might have trod with a Newton's step the firmament, or swept with Milton's hand the harp-strings. 3. Ay! stand erect! nor bend thy knee, nor bow; But speak thine own free thoughts, and, with an eye, Hold upward thy proud way! Oh! why shouldst thou, |