trifling expense, and the lighting of the cavern, would enable a stage to go with safety to the second waterfall, a distance of fifteen miles.

LESSON XXXVI.

Same Subject Continued.

1. WE return to the main cavern and resume our course, climbing over rocks that had evidently fallen from above, and passing a number of rooms on our right and left. With much exertion we reached the place denominated the "six corners," in consequence of six rooms or caverns here taking different directions.

2. Not having time to examine these, we proceeded to the first waterfall, about two miles further, over a level plain. The track of persons who might have preceded_us for ages, was as plainly visible in the sand as when firs made. There is no air stirring which could disturb the lightest feather, or prevent the impression of a footstep from emaining for centuries.

3. We now directed our course to the chief city, about one mile further. A large hill, situated in the centre of the cave, would have exhibited a most commanding prospect, if the darkness had not obstructed our vision.

4. One of us, however, standing upon the top, with lights stationed at different parts of its base, obtained a novel and interesting view of the cavern. There is an echo here that is very powerful, and we improved it with a song, much to our gratification.

5. We started forward again, travelling over a plain of two miles extent, and about the same distance over rocks and hills, when we arrived at the second waterfall. The water here dashed into a pit below of immense depth.

6. A circumstance occurred here that had nearly proved fatal to one of us. The sides of the pit are formed of loose rocks, and we amused ourselves by rolling them down, in order to hear them strike the bottom. Such is the depth of it that a minute elapsed before we could hear them strike, and the sound was very faint,

7. One of our party venturing too near, for the purposo

of rolling a stone, started the foundation on which he stood, and was precipitated downward about twenty feet with the tumbling stones; but fortunately, a projecting rock saved him from destruction.

8. This put an end to all our amusements; and being much fatigued with our long travel on foot, and seeing no fairer prospects of finding the end than when we commenced, we concluded to return.

9. We accordingly took up the line of our march, returning the way we came. After being forty-two hours absent from the light of day, we again found ourselves at the mouth of the cavern, and gave ourselves up to a refresh ing sleep.

LESSON XXXVII.

What is Life.-C. D. DRAKE.

AN eagle flew up in his heav'nward flight,
Far out of the reach of human sight,
And gazed on the earth from his lordly height
In the clouds of the upper air:-

And this is life, he exultingly screams;

To soar without peer where the lightning gleams,
And look unblenched on the sun's gorgeous beams,
And know of no harrowing care.

A lion leaped forth from his bloody bed,

And roared till it seemed he would wake the dead;
And man and beast from him trembling fled,

As though there was death in the tone:-
And this is life, he triumphantly cried;
To hold my domain in the forest wide,
Imprisoned alone by the ocean's tide,

And the ice of the frozen zone.

It is life, said a whale, to swim the deep;
O'er hills submerged and abysses to sweep,
Where the gods of ocean their vigils keep
In the fathomless gulf below:-
To bask on the bosom of tropic seas,

1

And inhale the fragrance of Ceylon's breeze,
Or sport where the turbulent waters freeze,
In the climes of eternal snow.

It is life, says a tireless albatross,

To skim through the air when the black waves tos
In the storm that has swept the earth across,
And never to wish for rest:-

To sleep on the breeze as it softly flies,
My perch in the air, my shelter the skies,
And build my nest on the billows that rise,
And break with a beautiful crest.

It is life, said a wild gazelle, to leap
From crag to crag of the mountainous steep,
Where the cloud's icy tears in purity sleep,
Like the marble brow of death:-
To stand unmoved on the outermost verge
Of the perilous height, and hear the surge,
Of the waters beneath, that onward urge,
As if sent by a demon's breath.

It is life, I hear a butterfly say,
To revel in blooming gardens by day,
And nestle in cups of flowerets gay,

When the stars the heavens illume:-
To steal from the rose its delicate hue;
To sip from the hyacinth glittering dew,
And catch from beds of the violet blue

The richest and sweetest perfume.

It is life, a majestic war horse neighed,
To prance in the glare of battle and blade,
Where thousands in terrible death are laid,

And to scent of the streaming gore:-
To rush appalled through the fiery heat,
And trample the dead beneath my feet,
To the trumpet's clang, and the drum's loud beat,
And hear the artillery roar.

It is, said a savage, with hideous yell,
To roam unshackled the mountain and dell,

And feel my bosom with majesty swell,

As the primal monarch of all:

To gaze on the earth, the sky, and the sea,
And know that like them I am chainless and free,
And never, while breathing, to bend the knee,
But at the Manitou's call.

An aged christian went tottering by,
And white was his hair, and dim was his eye,
And his broken spirit seemed ready to fly

While he said, with faltering breath:-
It is life, to move, from the heart's first throes,
Through youth and manhood to age's snows,
In a ceaseless circle of joys and woes:-
It is life to prepare for death!

LESSON XXXVIII.

The Worm.-JOHN RUSSELL.

1. WHO has not heard of the rattlesnake or copperhead? An unexpected sight of either of these reptiles will make even the lords of creation recoil: but there is a species or worm, found in various parts of this state, which conveys a poison of a nature so deadly, that, compared with it, even the venom of the rattlesnake is harmless. To guard our readers against this foe of human kind, is the object of this communication.

2. This worm varies much in size. It is frequently an inch through, but, as it is rarely seen, except when coiled, its length can hardly be conjectured. It is of a dull lead color, and generally lives near a spring or small stream of water, and bites the unfortunate people who are in the habit of going there to drink. The brute creation it never molests, They avoid it with the same instinct that teaches the animals of Peru to shun the deadly coya.

3. Several of these reptiles have long info ted our settlements, to the misery and destru tion of many of our fel low citizens. I have, therefore, ad frequent opportunities of being the melancholy spectator of the effects produced by the subtle poison which this worm infuses.

4. The symptoms of its bite are terrible. The eyes of the patient become red and fiery, his tongue swells to an immoderate size, and obstructs his utterance; and delirium, of the most horrid character, quickly follows. Sometimes, in his madness he attempts the destruction of his nearest friends. 5. If the sufferer has a family, his weeping wife and helpless infants are not unfrequently the objects of his frantic fury. In a word, he exhibits, to the life, all the detestable passions that rankle in the bosom of a savage; and, such is the spell in which his senses are locked, that, no sooner has the unhappy patient recovered from the paroxysm of insanity, occasioned by the bite, than he seeks out the destroyer, for the sole purpose of being bitten again.

6. I have seen a good old father, his locks as white as snow, his steps slow and trembling, beg in vain of his only son to quit the lurking place of the worm. My heart bled when he turned away; for I knew the fond hope, that his son would be the "staff of his declining years," had supported him through many a sorrow.

7. Youths of Missouri, would you know the name of this reptile? It is called the Worm of the Still.

LESSON XXXIX.

American Commerce.-HENRY CLAY.

1. WHAT is this foreign commerce, that is represented as having suddenly become so inconsiderable? It has, with a very trifling aid from other sources, defrayed the expenses of the government ever since the adoption of the present Constitution-maintained an expensive and successful war with the Indians-a war with the Barbary powers-a quasi war with France-sustained the charges of suppressing two insurrections, and extinguished upwards of forty-six millions of the public debt.

2. In revenue it has, since the year 1789, yielded one hundred and ninety-one millions of dollars. During the first four years after the commencement of the present gov ernment, the revenue. veraged only about two millions annually; during a subsequent period of four years, it rose to an average of fifteen millions annually, or became equiv.