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6 in birds' nests, and in countries where these are very decp and dark, has the most singular provision of this kind. Its bill is very broad and long: when examined, it is completely covered with branches of nerves in all directions; so that, by groping in a deep and dark nest, it can feel its way as accurately as the finest and most delicate finger could. Almost all kinds of birds build their nests of materials found where they inhabit, or use the nests of other birds; but the Swallow of Java lives in rocky caverns on the sea, where there are no materials at all for the purpose of building. 7 It is, therefore, so formed as to secrete in its body a kind of slime, with which it makes a nest much prized as a delicate food in eastern countries.

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Plants, in many remarkable instances, are provided for by equally wonderful and skilful contrivances. There is one, the Fly-trap or Fly-catcher, which has small prickles in the inside of two leaves, or half leaves, joined by a hinge; a juice or sirup is provided on their inner surface, and acts as a bait to allure flies There are several small spines or prickles standing upright in this sirup, and upon the only part of each leaf that is sensitive to the touch. When the fly therefore, settles upon this part, its touching as it were the spring of the trap, occasions the leaves to shut and kill and squeeze the insect; so that its juices and the air arising from their rotting, serve as food to the plant.

In the West Indies, and other hot countries, where rain sometimes does not fall for a great length of time, a kind of plant called the Wild-pine, grows upon the branches of the trees, and also on the bark of the trunk. It has hol. 9 low or bag-like leaves, so formed as to make little reservoirs of water; the rain falling into them through channels which close at the top when full, to prevent it from evaporating. The seed of this useful plant has small floating threads, by which, when carried through the air, it catches any tree in the way, and falls on it and grows. Wherever

it takes root, though on the under side of a bough, it grows straight upwards, otherwise the leaves would not hold water. It holds in one leaf from a pint to a quart; and although it 10 must be of great use to the trees it grows on, to birds and other animals its use is even greater. Another tree, called Water-with, in Jamaica, has similar uses: it is like a vine

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in size and shape, but growing in very parched districts, is yet so full of clear sap or water, that on cutting a piece two or three yards long, and merely holding it to the mouth, plentiful draught is obtained. In the East, there is a plant somewhat of the same kind, called the Bejuco, which grows near other trees and twines round them, with its end hanging downwards, but so full of juice, that on cutting it, a plentiful stream of water spouts from it; and this, not only by its touching the tree so closely must refresh it, but is a supply to animals, and to the weary herdsman on the mountains.

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LESSON LXXXVI.

From a Scene in Julius Cæsar.-SHAKSPEARE. Brutus.-WHAT means this shouting? I do fear, the people

Choose Cæsar for their king.

Cassius.

Ay, do you fear it?

Then must I think you would not have it so.

Brutus. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well :
But wherefore do you hold me here so long?

What is it that you would impart to me?
If it be aught toward the general good,
Set honor in one eye, and death i'the other,
2 And I will look on both indifferently:

For, let the gods so speed me, as I love
The name of honor more than I fear death.

Cassius. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
As well as I do know your outward favor.
Well, honor is the subject of my story.-
I cannot tell, what you and other men
Think of this life; but, for my single self,
I had as lief not be, as live to be

In awe of such a thing as I myself.
3 I was born free as Cæsar; so were you :
We both have fed as well; and we can both
Endure the winter's cold, as well as he.
For once upon a raw and gusty day,

The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,

Cæsar said to me, Dar'st thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood,
And swim to yonder point?-Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in,

And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did.
4 The torrent roared; and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews; throwing it aside
And stemming it with hearts of controversy.
But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
Cæsar cried, Help me, Cassius, or I sink.
I, as Æneas, our great ancestor,

Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber,
Did I the tired Cæsar: And this man

Is now become a god; and Cassius is

5 A wretched creature, and must bend his body,
If Cæsar carelessly but ncd on him.
He had a fever when he was in Spain,

And, when the fit was on him; I did mark
How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake:
His coward lips did from their color fly;

And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world,
Did lose his lustre I did hear him groan:

Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans
Mark him, and write his speeches in their books,
6 Alas! it cried, Give me some drink, Titinius,
As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me,
A man of such a feeble temper should
So get the start of the majestic world,
And bear the palm alone.

Brutus. Another general shout!

I do believe, that these applauses are

For some new honors that are heaped on Cæsar. Cassius. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world,

7 Like a Colossus; and we petty men

Walk under his huge legs, and peep about

To find ourselves dishonorable graves.

Men at some time are masters of their fates:

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,

But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Brutus, and Cæsar: what should be in that Cæsar?

Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is as fair a name; Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; 8 Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure them, Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar. Now in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! When went there by an age, since the great flood, But it was fam'd with more than with one man? When could they say, till now, that talked of Rome, That her wide walks encompassed but one man? 9 Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, When there is in it but one only man.

O! you and I have heard our fathers say,

There was a Brutus once, that would have brooked
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome,
As easily as a king.

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LESSON LXXXVII.

The Hospitable Negro Woman.

THE enterprising traveller, Mungo Park, was employed, by the African Association, to explore the interior regions of Africa. In this hazardous undertaking, he encountered many dangers and difficulties. His wants were often supplied, and his distresses alleviated, by the kindness and compassion of the negroes. He gives the following lively and interesting account of the hospitable treatment he received from a poor negro woman :

"Being arrived at Sego, the capital of the kingdom of Bambarra, situated on the banks of the Niger, I wished to 2 pass over to that part of the town in which the king resides : but, from the number of persons eager to obtain a passage, I was under the necessity of waiting two hours. During this time, the people who had crossed the river, carried information to Mansong, the king, that a white man was waiting for a passage, and was coming to see him. He immediately sent over one of his chief men, who informed

me that the king could not possibly see me, until he knew what had brought me into his country; and that I must not presume to cross the river without the king's permission. 3 He therefore advised me to lodge, for that night, at a distant village to which he pointed; and said that, in the morning, he would give me further instructions how to conduct myself.

"This was very discouraging. However, as there was no remedy, I set off for the village; where I found, to my great mortification, that no person would admit me into his house. From the prejudices infused into their minds, I was regarded with astonishment and fear; and was obliged to sit the whole day without victuals, in the shade of a 4 tree.

"The night threatened to be very uncomfortable; for the wind rose, and there was great appearance of a heavy rain the wild beasts too were so numerous in the neighborhood, that I should have been under the necessity of climbing up the tree, and resting among the branches. About sunset, however, as I was preparing to pass the night in this manner, and had turned my horse loose, that he might graze at liberty, a negro woman, returning from the labors of the field, stopped to observe me; and perceiv5 ing that I was weary and dejected, inquired into my situation. I briefly explained it to her; after which, with looks of great compassion, she took up my saddle and bridle, and told me to follow her. Having conducted me into her hut, she lighted a lamp, spread a mat on the floor, and told me I might remain there for the night. Finding that I was very hungry, she went out to procure me something to eat; and returned in a short time with a very fine fish, which, having caused it to be half broiled upon some embers, she gave me for supper.

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"The rites of hospitality being thus performed towards a stranger in distress, my worthy benefactress (pointing to the mat, and telling me I might sleep there without apprehension) called to the female part of her family, who had stood gazing on me all the while in fixed astonishment, to resume their task of spinning cotton; in which they continued to employ themselves great part of the night. They lightened their labor by songs, one of which was composed extempore: for I was myself the subject of it. It

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