Page 236 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

READING LESSONS. 235
SusPEXD1ED, pt., hung up. L. su.pen.us, from sursum, upward (or sub, i.e., om below), and pendeo, I hang.
FLUCTUA1TI m, a., moving like a wave; rolling backward and rward with uncertain motion. L. uduans, om uo, I ow.
Co 'cERT, n., a symphony or harmony of mingled sounds, elicited from a number of instruments united in the same per rmance. F. con­ cert,-of dubious etymology.
lLLl7STRA'nox, n., elucidation, explanation. F. illustration. See "Illustrious," p. 144.
SUPER AT1URAL, a., more than, or above what, is natural. . sur­ naturel, from (L.) super, above, and natura. See p. 122.
For " Alternately," see p. 28. For derivation of" Recede," see "Re­ ceding," p. 111 ; of " Intelligible,'' see "Intelligence," p. 114; and of "Commune,",see "Communion," p. 44.
1. THE olian Harp is a long box or case of.light wood, with harp or violin strings extended on its ce. These are generally tuned in per ct unison with each other, or to the same pitch, as it is ex­ pressed, except one, serving as bass, which is thicker than the others, and vibrates only half as st; but when the harp is suspended among trees, or in any other situation where the uctuating breeze may reach it, each string, according to the manner in which it receives the blast, sounds either entire, or breaks into some of the simple divisions above described; the result of which is, the production of the most pleasing combination and succession of sounds that ear has ever listened to, or ncy, perhaps, conceived. After a pause, this iry harp may be heard begin­ ning with a low and solemn note, like the bass of distant music in the sky: the sound then swells as if approaching, and other tones break rth, mingling ,vith the rst and with each other: in the combined and varying strain, sometimes one clear note pre­ dominates, and sometimes another, as if single mu­ sicians alternately led the band; and the concert often seems to approach and again to recede, until
with the unequal breeze it dies away, and all is hushed again.