had the curiosity to march up a crooked stair-case into the hay-loft, with a view, no doubt, to examine his stock of provisions; it is supposed he must have been there at least two hours, when his rider coming to the stable, and missing the Horse, was thunderstruck, knowing he had the key in his pocket. The poor fellow, not having the least suspicion of his Horse being up stairs, ran like a madman to inform an officer of his loss, but had soarcely got twenty yards, when the animal (exulting in his station) put his head through the pitching hole, and neighed aloud. The astonishment of the soldier and the whole neighbourhood, may be better conceived than described. Every stratagem that could be devised was made use of, to lead, or force him down the stairs, but all in vain; he saw the danger, and was obstinate.

The Horse ran a considerable time, trotting and snorting about the loft, to the no small diversion of the spectators; at length having wearied their efforts and patience, he accidentally trod upon the only vulnerable part of the floor, a trap-door, which covered a hole for sacking hops, (27 inches by 23) which being made of weaker boards than the rest, gave way; and his hinder part going down through, till his feet touched the ground; he remained a few seconds in that position, and then disappeared (like harlequin in a pantomime, or the methodist parson into the washing-tub) and dropped into the very posture and place in which he before stood in his stall, without any hurt except the loss of a few hairs off one of his legs, and a piece of skin off one of his whiskers, the size of a shilling. The spectators could not forbear expressing their wonder that the creature should fall through so small a hole without greater injury.

VI.

PARENTAL AFFECTION IN A FOX.

(Related by Dr. Goldsmith.)

"A she Fox (near Chelmsford) that had as it should seem, but one Cub, was unkenneled by a gentleman's Hounds, and hotly pursued. The poor animal braving every danger, rather than leave her Cub behind to be worried by the Dogs, took it up in her mouth, and ran with it in this manner for some miles. At last taking her way through a farmer's yard, she was assaulted by a Mastiff, and at length, obliged to drop the Cub; this was taken up by the farmer;" and we are happy to add that the affectionate creature escaped the pursuit, and got off in safety:

VII.

THE AFFRIGIITED HORSE.

As Captain Laing, a gentleman in the army, was driving his gig down the road from St. Peter's to Broadstairs, into the village, by some

accident the animal took fright in coming down the hill, ran with great violence past the corner in the open street, and took for the parade on the beach, which is directly opposite. In the small distance between the high road and the parade is an iron bar placed across the railing to prevent carriages passing. The Captain, aware of this railing, crouched in the chaise, which passed within an inch of the top, and of his head. Within four yards was a cliff, on the edge of which was a strong railing upon reaching which, the horse made a bold leap over it, but the strong post of the railing caught one of the wheels of the chaise, by which means the shafts were broken off short, the Horse and harness precipitated into the sea, and the chaise and driver left behind. It was most happy for the Captain that the Horse attempted to leap the railing when he came to it; for had he on the contrary, forced himself against it, it would easily have given way, and inevitable destruction to him would have been the consequence; as it was, he escaped without the least injury, while the chaise was broken, and the poor animal dashed to pieces at the bottom of the cliff.

VIII.

A MONKEY CURED OF HUNTING.

The late Duke of Richmond had some hunters in Sussex. A Monkey who was kept in the same stable, was remarkably fond of riding the Horses, skipping from one to another, and teazing the poor animals incessantly. The groom made a complaint to the Duke, who immediately formed a plan to remedy the evil. "If he is fond of riding (replied his Grace), we'll. endeavour to give him enough of it:" and accordingly provided a complete jockey's dress for the Monkey. The next time the hounds were out, Jackoo, in his uniform, was strapped to one of the best hunters. The view-hollow being given, away they went through thick and thin; the Horse carrying so light a weight, presently left all the company behind. Some of the party passing by a farm-house, enquired of a countryman whether he had seen the Fox. "Ay, zure, (said the man), he is gone over yon fallow." "And was there any one up with him Ay, zure, (said John), there be a little man in a yellow jacket just gone by, riding as tho' the devil be in un. I hope from my heart, the young gentleman may'nt meet with a fall, for he rides most monstrous hard.' This experiment had the desired effect. Jackoo was sufficiently chafed by his exercise, to make him dislike the sight of a stable ever afterwards.

IX.

CURIOUS INSTANCES OF AFFECTION.

Pliny tells us, that at Argos, a Goose was enamoured of a fine boy, named Henus, and also of a damsel called Glauce, who was a skilful player on the lute; in this latter attachment he had a rival in a ram! Lacydas, the philosopher, had the honour of a Goose's love, so ardent, that it never left him, night or day; and he was geose enough at the

death of his favorite, to have the creature buried magnificently. The affection of geese in these latter days, has apparently taken a different direction, and, like other experienced lovers, have evinced their passion for old women. As an instance, an aged blind woman of a village in Germany, used to be led every Sunday to Church, by a Gander, taking hold of her gown with his bill, when he had introduced her to her seat, he always retired to graze in the Church-yard, and no sooner was the congregation dismissed, but he returned to his duty, and led her home. One day the Pastor called at the house of the party, and on expressing his surprize to the daughter of her mother being out-" Oh, Sir, (said the girl) we are not afraid of trusting her out, for the Gander is with

her.

X.

SURPRIZING COURAGE OF A CAT.

A Cat, who had a numerous brood of kittens, one sunny day in spring encouraged her little ones to frolic in the vernal beams of noon, about the stable-door, while she was joining them in a thousand sportive tricks and gambols, they were discovered by a large Hawk, who was sailing above the barn-yard in expectation of prey; and in a moment, swift as lightning, darted upon one of the kittens, and had as quickly borne it off, but for the courageous mother, who seeing the danger of her offspring, flew on the common enemy, who, to defend itself, let fall the prize; the battle became (presently) dreadful to both parties, for the Hawk, by the power of his wings, the sharpness of his talons, and the keenness of his beak, had for a while, the advantage, cruelly lacerating the poor Cat, and had actually deprived her of one eye in the conflict; but Puss no way daunted at the accident, strove with all her cunning and agility for her little ones, till she had broken the wing of her adversary: in this state, she got him more within the power of her claws, the Hawk still defending himself, apparently with additional vigour, and the fight continued with equal fury on the side of Grimalkin, to the great entertainment of many spectators. At length, victory seemed to favour the nearly exhausted mother, and she availed herself of the advantage; for by an instantaneous exertion, she laid the Hawk motionless beneath her feet, and, as if exulting in the victory, tore the head of the vanquished tyrant, and immediately disregarding the loss of her eye, ran to the bleeding kitten, licked the wounds made by the Hawk's talons in its tender sides, purring while she caressed her liberated offspring, with the same maternal affection as if no danger had assailed them, or their affectionate parent.

VOL. II.

Ah! wanton cruelty thine hand withhold,
And learn to pity from the tale that's told;
Caress Felina, for in her we find
A grand example to instruct mankind.
Who leaves her young unguarded or unfed,
Has far less virtue than this Quadruped!
Y y 2

THE

INSPIRED GAMESTER..

N Archbishop of Canterbury making a tour into the country, stop. at a distance, in a solitary wood, a well-dressed man alone, talking, and acting a kind of part.

The prelate's curiosity was excited to know what the stranger was about; and accordingly sent some of his servants to observe him, and hear what he was rehearsing. But they bringing back an answer far from satisfactory, his Grace resolved to go himself; he accordingly repaired to the wood, ordering his attendants to keep at a distance. He addressed the stranger very politely, and was answered with the same civility. A conversation having been once entered into, though not without interruptions, by an occasional soliloquy, his Grace asked what he was about." I am at play," he replied. "At play," said the Prelate," and with whom? You are all alone!",.." I own," said he, "Sir, you do not perceive my antagonist, but I am playing with God." ..." playing with God, (his Grace thinking the man out of his mind) this is a very extraordinary party; and pray at what game are you playing?"... At chess, Sir."...The Archbishop smiled; but the man seeming peaceable, he was willing to amuse himself with a few more questions," And do you play for any thing, Sir?"..." Certainly."... "You cannot have any great chance, as your adversary must be so superior to you."..." He does not take any advantage, but plays merely like a man."..." "Pray, Sir, when you win or lose, how do you settle your accounts?"..." Very exactly, and punctually, I promise you."... "Indeed! pray how stands your game?"...The stranger, after muttering something to himself, said, "I have just lost it."..." And how much have you lost?"..." Fifty Guineas."......" That is a great sum; how do you intend paying it? Does God take your money?"..." No, the poor are his treasurers; he always sends some worthy person to receive the debt; you are, at present, the purse-bearer." Saying this, he pulled out his purse, and counting fifty guineas, put them into his Grace's hand, and retired, saying, "I will play no more to-day.

The Prelate was quite fascinated; he did not know what to make of this extraordinary adventure, he viewed the money, and found all the guineas good; recalled all that had passed, and began to think there must be something in this man more than he had discovered. However, he continued his journey, and applied the money to the use of the poor, as had been directed,

Upon his return, he stopped at the same inn, and perceiving the same person again in the wood, in his former situation, he resolved to have a little conversation with him, and went alone to the spot where he was. The stranger was a comely man, and the Prelate could not help viewing him with a kind of religious veneration, thinking, by this time that he was inspired to do good in this uncommon manner. The Prelate accosted him as an old acquaintance, and familiarly asked him how the chance stood since they had last met. "Sometimes for me, and sometimes against me; I have both lost and won."..." And are you at play now "..." Yes, Sir, we have played several games to-day."..... "And who wins?"..." Why, Sir, at present, the advantage is on my side, the game is just over, and I have a fine stroke; check mate, there it is." And pray Sir, how much have you won ?"..." Five hundred guineas!"..." That's a handsome sum; but how are you to be paid?" ..I pay and receive in the like manner: he always sends some good rich man when I win; and, at present, your Grace is the person. God is remarkably punctual upon these occasions."

The Archbishop had received a very considerable sum on that day: the stranger knew it, and produced a pistol, by way of receipt; the Prelate found himself under the necessity of delivering up his cash; and by this time, discovered the divinely inspired Gamester, to be neither more or less than a thief. His Grace had, in the course of his journey, related the first part of this adventure; but the latter part, he prudently took great pains to conceal.

STORY OF MR. DRYDEN,

THE POET.

R. DRYDEN, with all his understanding, was yet weak enough to be fond of judicial astrology, and always used to calculate the

nativity of his children.

When his lady was in labour of his son Charles, he being told that it was decent to withdraw, laid his watch on the table, begging one of the ladies then present, in a very grave manner, to give him notice of the exact minute of the child's birth, which she observed, and acquainted him therewith.

About a week after, when his lady was pretty well recovered, Mr. Dryden took occasion to tell her that he had been calculating the child's nativity; and observed with grief, that he was born in an evil hour for Jupiter, Venus and the Sun were all under the earth, and the lord of his ascendant afflicted with a hateful square of Mars and Saturn.

If he live to his eighth year, continues he, he will go near to die a violent death on his very birth-day; but if he should then escape, of