Definitions.—­1.  Col-li’sion, the act of striking together violently. 2.  Pre-cip’i-tat-ed, urged on violently.  Re-en-force’ments, additional troops. 3.  Corps (pro. kor), a body of troops.  Re-serve’, a select body of troops held back in case of special need for their services. 4.  Bank’rupt-cy. inability to pay all debts, insolvency.  Re-mit’tanc-es, mouey, drafts, etc., sent from a distance.  Ma-tur’ing, approaching the time fixed for payment. 5.  Prov-o-ca’tion, that which causes anger. 6.  Ig-no-min’i-ous, infamous. 7.  Weal, prosperity, happiness.

Notes.—­3.  Emmanuel Grouchy was one of Napoleon’s marshals at the battle of Waterloo, fought in 1815 between the French under Napoleon, and the English, Dutch, and German troops under Wellington.

Napoleon Bonaparte (b. 1769, d. 1821) was born on the island of Corsica.  At school he was “studious, well-behaved, and distinguished in mathematical studies.”  In 1785 he was commissioned as a sublieutenant in the army.  From this obscure position he raised himself to the head of the army, and in 1804 was elected emperor of the French.  He is almost universally acknowledged to have been the greatest general the world has known.

L. THE OLD SAMPLER.

1.  Out of the way, in a corner
     Of our dear old attic room,
   Where bunches of herbs from the hillside
     Shake ever a faint perfume,
   An oaken chest is standing,
     With hasp and padlock and key,
   Strong as the hands that made it
     On the other side of the sea.

2.  When the winter days are dreary,
     And we’re out of heart with life,
   Of its crowding cares aweary,
     And sick of its restless strife,
   We take a lesson in patience
     From the attic corner dim,
   Where the chest still holds its treasures,
     A warder faithful and grim.

3.  Robes of an antique fashion,
     Linen and lace and silk,
   That time has tinted with saffron,
     Though once they were white as milk;
   Wonderful baby garments,
     ’Boidered with loving care
   By fingers that felt the pleasure,
     As they wrought the ruffles fair;

4.  A sword, with the red rust on it,
     That flashed in the battle tide,
   When from Lexington to Yorktown
     Sorely men’s souls were tried;
   A plumed chapeau and a buckle,
     And many a relic fine,
   And, an by itself, the sampler,
     Framed in with berry and vine.

5.  Faded the square of canvas,
     And dim is the silken thread,
   But I think of white hands dimpled,
     And a childish, sunny head;
   For here in cross and in tent stitch,
     In a wreath of berry and vine,
   She worked it a hundred years ago,
     “Elizabeth, Aged Nine.”

6.  In and out in the sunshine,
     The little needle flashed,
   And in and out on the rainy day,
     When the merry drops down plashed,
   As close she sat by her mother,
     The little Puritan maid,
   And did her piece in the sampler,
     While the other children played.