seen the plans and drawings of the Steam-Hammer. In 1840 Mr. Nasmyth visited the Creuzot Works with M. Bourdon. He observed a crank-shaft of unusual size, and he at once asked, "How did you forge that shaft?"

M. Bourdon's answer was, "Why, with your hammer, to be sure!" Great indeed was Mr. Nasmyth's surprise to see his own idea fully carried out, and his own hammer successfully at work. The mystery was easily explained. Very soon the hammer was in universal use, both at

home and abroad, and the reputation of James Nasmyth

was securely established.

permanent, fixed firmly. investigations, researches. inestimable, very highly valued. premium, a sum of money paid with an apprentice.

draughtsman, a man skilled in
drawing.

acoeded to, accepted.
thrifty, careful as to spending
money.
ere, before.

Patricroft, a few miles from Man-
chester.

congenial, adapted to his tastes.
inherited, derived from.
engrossing, taking up all his
time.
paddle-shaft, the shaft or revolv-
ing bar that turns the paddle-
wheels.

Creuzot Ironworks, very large
ironworks in the east of France.

With what tool is the name of James Nasmyth specially connected? When and where was Nasmyth born? Where was he educated? What opportunity had he during his school-days of learning something of iron working? How did he raise the money to obtain admission to the lectures in the university? Into what firm did he wish to gain admission? How did he accomplish his object? Describe his mode of life while in this situation. Where did he finally settle in business? How did he occupy his time after his retirement from business? What first suggested the idea of the steam-hammer? State under what circumstances the idea was finally carried out.

SONG OF THE FORGE.

1. Clang! clang! the massive anvils ring;
Clang! clang! a hundred hammers swing--
Like the thunder-rattle of a tropic sky,
The mighty blows still multiply:

Clang! clang!

Say, brothers of the dusky brow,

What are your strong arms forging now?

2. Clang! clang!—we forge the colter now---
The colter of the kindly plough;

Benignant Father, bless our toil!

May its broad furrow still unbind
To genial rains, to sun and wind,
The most productive soil!

3. Clang! clang!-our colter's course shall be
On many a sweet and sunny lea,
By many a streamlet's silver tide,
Amidst the song of morning birds,
Amidst the low of sauntering herds,
Amidst soft breezes which do stray
Through woodbine hedges and sweet may,
Along the green hill's side.

4. When regal Autumn's bounteous hand,
With wide-spread glory clothes the land,
When, to the valleys, from the brow
Of each resplendent slope, is rolled
A ruddy sea of living gold,

We bless, we bless the Plough.

5. Clang! clang!—again, my mates, what glows
Beneath the hammer's potent blows?
Clink! clank!-we forge the giant chain,
Which bears the gallant vessel's strain
'Midst stormy winds and adverse tides;
Secured by this, the good ship braves
The rocky roadstead, and the waves
Which thunder on her sides.

Anxious no more, the merchant sees
The mist drive dark before the breeze,
The storm-cloud on the hill;

Calmly he rests, though far away
In boisterous climes his vessel lay-
Reliant on our skill.

7. Say, on what sands these links shall sleep,
Fathoms beneath the solemn deep?-
By Afric's pestilential shore;-

By many an iceberg lone and hoar;-
By many a palmy western isle,
Basking in spring's perpetual smile;—
By stormy Labrador?

8. Say, shall they feel the vessel reel,

When, to the battery's deadly peal,
The crashing broadside makes reply?
Or else, as at the glorious Nile,

Hold grappling ships, that strive the while,
For death or victory?

9. Hurrah!-cling! clang!-once more, what glows,
Dark brothers of the forge, beneath
The iron tempest of your blows,
The furnace's red breath?

10. Clang! clang!—a burning torrent, clear
And brilliant, of bright sparks is poured
Around and up in the dusky air,

As our hammers forge the Sword.

11. The sword! a name of dread; yet when
Upon the freeman's thigh 'tis bound-
While for his altar and his hearth,

While for the land that gave him birth,
The war-drums roll, the trumpets sound,—
How sacred is it then!

12. Whenever, for the truth and right,
It flashes in the van of fight-
Whether in some wild mountain-pass,
As that where fell Leonidas;
Or on some sterile plain, and stern,
A Marston or a Bannockburn;
Or 'mid fierce crags and bursting rills,
The Switzer's Alps, gray Tyrol's hills
Or, as, when sunk the Armada's pride.
It gleams above the stormy tide;--
Still, still, whene'er the battle-word
Is Liberty! when men do stand
For justice and their native land-
Then Heaven bless the Sword.

colter, the fore-iron of the plough
with a sharp edge to cut the
sod.
may, the flower of the hawthorn.

regal, kingly, roya..
potent, powerful.

adverse, acting in a contrary
direction.