Page 266 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

READING LESSONS. 265
and temperate zones, as snow is to those who inhabit the torrid zone, could not be viewed without a par­ ticular interest. Two months of-perpetual day-light, during the whole of which time the sun never sets, seems to place the traveller in a new state of exist­ ence, while its e ect on the inhabitants of these re­ gions is striking. During the time the sun is per­ petually above the horizon, they rise at ten o'clock in the morning, dine at ve or six o'clock in the evening, and go to bed at one. But throughout the winter season, om the beginning of December until the end of January, when the sun never rises, they sleep more than half of the twenty- ur hours, and spend the other half in sitting over the re, all busi­ ness being at an end, and constant darkness pre­ vailing.
TO THE BLESSED VIRG MARY,
As the mute nightingale in closest groves
Lies hid at noon, but when day's piercing eye
Is lock'd in night, with ll heart beating high Poureth her plain song o'er the light she loves: So, Virgin, ever pure, and ever blest,
:Moon of religion, om whose radiant ce,
Re ected streams the light of heavenly-grace On broken hearts, by contrite thoughts oppress'd;
j So, fary, they who justly feel the weight
J
Of Heaven's o ended :Majesty, implore
Thy reconciling aid, with suppliant knee: Of sin l man, 0 sinless Advocate,
To thee they turn, nor Him the less adore ;
'Tis still s light they love, less dread l seen in thee. 23 G. GR FIN.
I