day, whose duty it was to read to his companions, while eating their dinners, a portion of the Holy Scriptures. At twelve o'clock, they arranged themselves in classes, according to their employment, and proceeded to their different masters to work, from which they generally returned about eight in the evening; at nine they supped, and immediately after supper, their names were called over by the monitor-general, and those absent marked down for inquiry the following day. This being done, and the Evening Hymn sung by them, they retired to rest. Eight months after the opening of the school, more than 60 children went in procession to their benefactor, count Romanzoff, dressed in clothes and shoes of their own making. His excellency on this occasion ordered them a better dinner than usual, and promised to partake of it with them; which promise he fulfilled, to the inexpressible pleasure of the poor children. From this time the institution continued to prosper, and even those who had opposed, joined in praising it: the children made rapid progress, both in learning and their trades, and became cheerful, obliging, and industrious. A strict observance of the Sabbath was not forgotten in the institution, and that part of the day not spent in church was appropriated to reading extracts from the Holy Scriptures. a By means of the school at Homel, the British system of education spread to Poland, where hitherto the strongest prejudices had existed against instructing the peasantry. Mr. Radovitch, young man of an amiable disposition, was sent by the University of Vilno to study the system, which he did with the greatest assiduity; and soon after his return, three schools were established for the poor upon this plan; and according to the last accounts from thence, they were actively employed in the establishment of more. In April, 1821, the school at Homel being completely established, and a plan laid down for extending the means of instruction to all the villages of the count's estate, Mr. Heard left home to return to England. POETRY. SAPPHO. From Croly's Antique Gems. LOOK on this brow!-the laurel wreath For passion gave the living breath, Look on this brow!-the lowest slave, For from these lips were utter'd sighs, That, more than fever, scorch'd the frame; And tears were rain'd from these bright eyes, That, from the heart, like life-blood, came. She loved-she felt the lightning-gleam, And she had hope-the treacherous hope, Then all gave way-mind, passion, pride! And buried in her bed, the tide, The whole concenter'd strife of Love. TO THE CLOUDS. From Bernard Barton. YE glorious pageants! hung in air This earth is beautiful, indeed, To eyes that have been taught to read Its giant mountains, which ascend To your exalted sphere, And seem, at times, with you to blend Its lovely valleys, forests vast; Its rivers, lakes, and seas; With every glance upon them cast, The sight, the sense must please. A purer, more abstracted joy And feel what gladden'd once the boy, What can there be on sea, or earth, When through the eastern gates of heaven Or when his softest beams are given All glorious as that orb appears, Each gentle charm, that most endears, Without your soft'ning hues. When these with his refulgent rays Who on your splendid pomp can gaze, "Tis then, if to the raptur'd eye Not merely mountains, cliffs, and caves, Not only what to man is known But objects which on earth can own As once the Seer in Patmos saw So, in a faint and low degree, Dawn on the wond'ring sight. Not even thought, and oh! much less It seems as if no dark eclipse Nor are they false, deceitful dreams, The warm emotion they inspir'd And it remains to be the part To seize on all which in the heart Such feelings can renew ; |