HENRY THE FOURTH'S SOLILOQUY ON SLEEP. 179 Whether the thing was green or blue. Sirs," cries the umpire, cease your pother I caught the animal last night, "And I'll be sworn, that, when you've seen 'Well, then, at once to ease the doubt," (Then first the creature found a tongue), When next you talk of what you view, HENRY THE FOURTH'S SOLILOQUY ON SLEEP. SHAKSPEARE. How many thousand of my poorest subjects And steep my senses in forgetfulness? Why rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee, And hushed with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber, Than in the perfumed chambers of the great, And lulled with sounds of sweetest melody? Who take the ruffian billows by the top, Curling their monstrous heads, and hanging them ON PROCRASTINATION. YOUNG. BE wise to-day; 'tis madness to defer; Of man's miraculous mistakes this bears At least their own; their future selves applaud : ON PROCRASTINATION. How excellent that life they ne'er will lead ! And scarce in human wisdom to do more. All promise is poor dilatory man, And that through every stage. When young, indeed, Unanxious for ourselves, and only wish, As duteous sons, our fathers were more wise. 181 And why? Because he thinks himself immortal. All men think all men mortal but themselves; Themselves, when some alarming shock of fate Strikes through their wounded hearts the sudden dread; But their hearts wounded, like the wounded air, Soon close; where passed the shaft no trace is found, As from the wing no scar the sky retains, The parted wave no furrow from the keel, So dies in human hearts the thought of death. Even with the tender tears which nature sheds O'er those we love, we drop it in their grave. APPENDIX. THE design of the author in preparing this small volume, was, that he might present in a condensed form a work that would contain a suitable variety and a sufficient number of selections for elocutionary practice. Since its publication, many teachers have solicited the author to present a more extensive analysis of the principles of reading; that the work might be made more practical as a text book on reading to the class of pupils usually found in the upper classes in our public schools and seminaries. We would not here present to the students a long series of rules which, at best, are of but little worth. There are many introductory principles that find their proper place in our elementary readers; and we would not increase the size of our volume by repeating them. Elaborate treatises on the subject of elocution are of value to those desirous of obtaining a thorough knowledge of the art. An intermediate course, however, is demanded by the pupils of our schools. We should give them less of the theory, more of the practice. The cultivation of the pure tone should receive special attention. A clear and distinct enunciation is the first essential requisite of a good reader. This can be attained. It may require time, but it will richly compensate the student for all his toil. Suggestions are given for the cultivation of clear and full tones in our brief analysis on the first few pages. We would suggest as an auxiliary exercise that the student read a selection backward-the teacher placing himself on 182 the opposite side of the room. Should the student fail to enunciate a single word distinctly, his attention should be called to it. This exercise might be practised in the open air, and it will be productive of good results. Care should be taken, however, that no vocal exercise be continued for so long a time that the voice becomes wearied. We give below a few combinations, which should be first pronounced by the teacher and then by the student or class. This exercise will be found of value in securing distinct articulation. A brief elementary exercise in gymnastics will have a salutary effect upon the class if given directly before the vocal drill. EXERCISE IN ENUNCIATION. bd-orb'd, prob'd, rob'd, sob'd Id--bold, hail'd, toll'd, mail'd. Im-helm, whelm, film, elm. ls-falls, tells, toils, rolls. rvd--curv'd, swerv'd, starv'd, serv'd. rnd--burn'd, turn'd, spurn'd, warm'd. dst-mind'st, call'dst, fill'dst, roll'dst. ngs--rings, wrongs, hangs, songs. ngd-clang'd, wrong'd, hang'd, bang'd. rdst-heard'st, reward'st, guard'st, discard'st. br-brave, bread, brink, bright. shr-shrine, shroud, shriek, shrub. f-flame, fly, flee, flit. EXAMPLES IN PITCH. MIDDLE PITCH-PURE TONE. 1. "Probably no man since the days of Washington was ever so deeply enshrined in the hearts of the American people as Abraham Lincoln Nor was it a mistaken confidence and love. He deserved it all. He deserved it in his character, by the whole tenor, tone, |