VIII. The maid from her lattice IX. She opens her lattice Of the moonlight and starlight, A statue of snow; And she sings in a voice That is broken with sighs, And she darts on her lover The light of her eyes. X. The moonlight is hid In a vapor of snow; Her voice and his rebec Alternately flow; Re-echoed they swell From the rock on the hill, -JAMES G. PERCIVAL. 9. JOHN MAYNARD. John Maynard was pilot of the steamer Ocean Queen, which plied on Lake Erie between Buffalo and Detroit. He was well known as an honest, intelligent man; and now the time came when he was to prove himself as true a hero as ever lived. One bright midsummer day, as the Ocean Queen was steaming towards Buffalo, smoke was seen ascending from below. The captain at once directed the. mate, Simpson, to go down and see what caused the smoke. Presently the officer returned, his face pale as ashes, and whispered, "Captain, the ship is on fire!" The terrible tidings quickly spread among the passengers, of whom there were more than a hundred. "The ship is on fire!" they uttered with blanched lips. "The ship is on fire!" The captain was a cool, self-possessed man. Having called up all hands, he issued quick, sharp orders. Buckets of water were dashed upon the fire; but as the steamer carried a large quantity of rosin and tar, the flames spread so quickly that all effort to extinguish them was vain. To add to the horror of the situation the lake steamers at that time seldom carried boats. The Ocean Queen had none. The passengers rushed to the pilot: “How far are we from Buffalo?" "Seven miles." "How long before we reach it?" 66 Three-quarters of an hour, at our present rate of speed." “Is there any danger?" 66 Danger here- see the smoke bursting out! Go forward, if you would save your lives!" Passengers and crew, men, women, and children, crowded the forward part of the ship. John Maynard stood at the wheel. The flames burst forth in a sheet of fire; clouds of smoke arose. The captain shouted through his trumpet, "John Maynard!" 66 Ay, ay, sir!" "Are you at the helm ?" "Ay, ay, sir!" "How does she head?" "Southeast-by-east, sir!" "Head her southeast and run her on shore." Nearer, and yet nearer she approached the shore. Again the captain cried out: "John Maynard!" The response came feebly, "Ay, ay, sir!" "Can you hold out five minutes longer, John?" "By God's help, I will!" The old man's hair was scorched from the scalp, one hand disabled; his knee upon the stanchion, and his teeth set, with his other hand upon the wheel, he stood firm as a rock. He beached the ship; every man, woman, and child was saved, as John Maynard dropped, and his spirit took its flight to his God. -JOHN B. GOUGH. 10. THE WILL AND THE WAY. It was a noble Roman, In Rome's Imperial day, Who heard a coward croaker, 66 Before the battle, say, — They're safe in such a fortress: Is fame your aspiration? Her path is steep and high: Is learning your ambition? Alike the peer and peasant Must climb to her abode; If he has still the Roman will To "find a way or make it!" Are riches worth the getting? They must be bravely sought; But only he can take it Who says, with Roman courage, "I'll find a way or make it!" -JOHN G. SAXE. 11. LITTLE NICHOLAS; AND HOW HE BECAME A GREAT MUSICIAN. The violin is a wonderful instrument in the hands of a master. In its power of expression, its purity and fineness of tone, it ranks next to the cultivated human voice. There have been many famous performers on this instrument; but Paganini stands alone, the most wonderful violinist the world has ever heard. And he had won this fame before he was sixteen years old. |