upon men so critically situated. He ordered the door to be again opened, and marched in at the head of twenty or thirty men, who filed through the passage, and formed at the end of the hall opposite to the crowd of criminals huddled together at the other.

16. He stated that he was empowered to quell the rebellion, that he wished to avoid shedding blood, but that he would not quit that hall alive till every convict had returned to his duty. They seemed balancing the strength of the two parties, and replied that some of them were ready to die, and only waited for an attack to see which was the more powerful; swearing that they would fight to the last, unless the punishment was remitted, for they would not submit to any such punishment in the prison. Major Wainright ordered his marines to load their pieces, and, that they might not be suspected of trifling, each man was made to hold up to view the bullet which he afterward put in his gun.

17. This only caused a growl of determination, and no one blenched or seemed disposed to shrink from the foremost exposure. They knew that their number would enable them to bear down and destroy the handful of marines after the first discharge, and before their pieces could be reloaded. Again they were ordered to retire; but they answered with more ferocity than ever. The marines were ordered to take their aim so as to be sure and kill as many as possible. Their guns were presented, but not a prisoner stirred, except to grasp more firmly his weapon.

18. Still desirous to avoid such a tremendous slaughter as must have followed the discharge of a single gun, Major Wainright advanced a step or two, and spoke even more firmly than before, urging them to depart. Again, and while looking directly into the muzzles of the guns which they had seen loaded with ball, they declared their intention "to fight it out." This intrepid officer then took out his watch, and told his men to hold their pieces aimed at

the convicts, but not to fire till they had orders; then, turning to the prisoners, he said: "You must leave this hall; I give you three minutes to decide; if at the end of that time a man remains, he shall be shot dead."

19. No situation of greater interest than this can be conceived. At one end of the hall, a fearful multitude of the most desperate and powerful men in existence, waiting for the assault; at the other, a little band of disciplined men, waiting with arms presented, and ready, upon the least motion or sign, to begin the carnage; and their tall and imposing commander, holding up his watch to count the lapse of three minutes, given as the reprieve to the lives of hundreds. No poet or painter can conceive a spectacle of more dark and terrible sublimity; no human heart can conceive a situation of more appalling suspense.

20. For two minutes not a person nor a muscle moved; not a sound was heard in the unwonted stillness of the prison, except the labored breathings of the infuriated wretches, as they began to pant between fear and revenge: at the expiration of two minutes, during which they had faced the ministers of death with unblenching eyes, two or three of those in the rear, and nearest the further entrance, went slowly out; a few more followed the example, dropping out quietly and deliberately; and before half of the last minute was gone, every man was struck by the panic, and crowded for an exit, and the hall was cleared as if by magic.

21. Thus the steady firmness of moral force and the strong effect of determination, acting deliberately, awed the most savage men, and suppressed a scene of carnage, which would have instantly followed the least precipitancy or exertion of physical force.

-J. T. Buckingham.

"It may be that more lofty courage dwells

In one weak heart which braves an adverse fate

Than does in his whose soul indignant swells,

Warmed by the fight, or cheered through high debate."

DEFINITIONS. 2. Ward'en, a keeper, one who guards. 4. Enerōach ́ment, unlawful intrusion on the rights of others. Brig'ands, robbers, those who live by plunder. 5. Mot'ley, composed of various colors. De-mō'ni-ae, devil-like. 6. Sub-ôr'di-nate, inferior in power. 7. Ma-rïnes', soldiers that serve on board of ships. De-mean'or, behavior, deportment. 8. Pärley, conversation or conference with an enemy. 9. Re-mis'sion (pro. re-mish'un), pardon of transgression. 11. Im-pre-ca'tions, curses, prayers for evil. Ex-post'ü-lat-ed, reasoned earnestly. 12. In-dom'i-ta-ble, that can not be subdued or tamed. 17. Blěnched, gave way, shrunk. 18. In-trěp'id, fearless. 19. Re-priēve', a delay of punishment. 21. Pre-çip'i-tan-çy, headlong hurry.

XLII. FAITHLESS NELLY GRAY.

Thomas Hood (b. 1798, d. 1845) was the son of a London book-seller. After leaving school he undertook to learn the art of an engraver, but soon turned his attention to literature. In 1821 he became sub-editor of the "London Magazine." Hood is best known as a humorist; but some of his poems are full of the tenderest pathos; and a gentle, humane spirit pervades even his lighter productions. He was poor, and during the last years of his life suffered much from ill-health. Some of his most humorous pieces were written on a sick-bed.

1. BEN BATTLE was a soldier bold,
And used to war's alarms;
But a cannon-ball took off his legs,
So he laid down his arms!

2. Now, as they bore him off the field,
Said he, "Let others shoot,
For here I leave my second leg,
And the Forty-second Foot!"

3. The army surgeons made him limbs;
Said he, "They're only pegs:

But there's as wooden members quite,
As represent my legs!"

4. Now Ben, he loved a pretty maid,
Her name was Nelly Gray;

So he went to pay her his devoirs,
When he'd devoured his pay.

5. But when he called on Nelly Gray,
She made him quite a scoff;
And when she saw his wooden legs,
Began to take them off!

6. "O Nelly Gray! O Nelly Gray!
Is this your love so warm?
The love that loves a scarlet coat
Should be more uniform!"

7. Said she, "I loved a soldier once,
For he was blithe and brave;
But I will never have a man
With both legs in the grave!

8. "Before you had these timber toes,
Your love I did allow,

But then, you know, you stand upon
Another footing now!"

9. "O false and fickle Nelly Gray!
I know why you refuse:

Though I've no feet-some other man
Is standing in my shoes!

10. "I wish I ne'er had seen your face; But, now, a long farewell!

For you will be my death;-alas!
You will not be my NELL!"

11. Now when he went from Nelly Gray,
His heart so heavy got,

And life was such a burden grown,

It made him take a knot!

12. So, round his melancholy neck,
A rope he did entwine,

And for the second time in life,
Enlisted in the Line!

13. One end he tied around a beam,
And then removed his pegs,

And, as his legs were off, of course
He soon was off his legs.

14. And there he hung, till he was dead
As any nail in town:

For, though distress had cut him up,
It could not cut him down!

DEFINITIONS.-4. De-voirs (French, pro. dev-wôr'), respects, compliments. 5. Seoff, an object of ridicule. 6. U'ni-form (adj.), consistent, (noun) military dress. 7. Blithe, merry, gay.

NOTES.-2. Forty-second Foot. Infantry in the army is spoken of as "the foot," and the "Forty-second Foot" means the Forty-second Regiment of Infantry.

3. Members. Persons elected to Parliament in Great Britain are called "Members," and are said to represent those who elect them.

12. The Line is another name for the regular infantry.

(5.-10.)