joyment, eat and drink only to be able to laugh the more heartily afterwards. As the all-wise Creator has ordered that the little circle of our habitation should be ruled twelve hours alternately by day and night, it was certainly his intention that man, his noble though weak child, should quietly rest in the bosom of the latter, that he might be able to awake refreshed, and to enjoy the morning beams of the former. Therefore, let the end of the evening be also the end both of your day and your pleasure. May midnight find you enjoying soft repose. And the day being peacefully closed, at a proper time, you will be able to say with the poet 'After an evening Moderately enjoyed, We sleep with pleasure, and awake uncloyed.' The clock strikes eight! The horrible supper hour! The carriage waits. My husband is ready, and I have not a single flower in my hair. Good night, happy Amelia, you will soon be in bed, but I must set forth on another expedition. To-morrow, if I am able, I shall singWhen suppers and yawns The evening close, We enjoy a fever, but no repose. DISCOVERIES AT NINEVEH. character, and are of such great length that all the arrow-headed inscriptions before known, if united together, would not equal them. The character used closely resembles that found in the middle column of the inscriptions of Persepolis, Hamadan (Ecbatana), and Bisutun, and in the earlier inscriptions of Van. Each wall bears two rows of sculptures, one placed above the other, and the inscriptions, containing generally about twenty lines, are graven between. Frequently, however, they also occur on the garments of figures, or on towns, and other objects found in the bas-reliefs. There cannot be a doubt, therefore, that they contain a description of the events recorded, and the names of the principal actors in them-in fact, that they are a portion of the historical records of a kingdom. We have alluded to the variety of the subjects described by the sculptures, but the spirit and beauty of their execution form the widest field for astonishment and conjecture. To those who have been accustomed to look upon the Greeks as the true perfectors and the only masters of the imitative arts, they will furnish new matter for inquiry and reflection. I shall, I think, be hereafter able to show, that even if they cannot be referred to a period much antecedent to the earlier stages of Greek art, they have, nevertheless, no connexion with it, and are perfectly original both in design and execution. Whilst probably cotemporaneous with many of the most ancient sculptures of Egypt, they are immeasurably superior to the stiff and ill-proportioned figures of the monuments of the Pharoahs. They discover a knowledge of the anatomy of the human frame, a remarkable perception of character, and wonderful spirit in the outlines and general execution. In fact, the great gulf which separates barbarian from civilized art has been passed. Although the ornaments, robes, and various implements of war, are finished with an extraordinary precision and minuteness, they in no way detract from the effect of the whole, nor do they add heaviness to the figures. The extreme beauty and elegance of the various objects introduced among the groups are next to be admired. The shapes of the vases, of the drinkingcups, the sword-scabbards, adorned with lions, and the shields decorated with animals and flowers; the chairs, tables, and other articles of domestic use; the ornaments of the head, the bracelets, and ear-rings, are all designed with the most consummate taste, and rival the productions of the most cultivated period of Greek art. There are undoubtedly faults in the general execution (such as a frequent contempt for the relative proportions of the figures), and it is evident that a variety of hands may be traced in the workmanship.'-Malta Times. As the excavations undertaken by the French Government near the ruins of Nineveh have now been completed, some account of their origin and results may not be uninteresting. About three years ago, M. Botta, the French Consul at Mosul, was induced to open several of the artificial mounds which abound in the neighbourhood of that city, in the hopes of discovering remains of what is generally termed the Babylonian epoch. 'After many fruitless attempts he was about to relinquish his labours, when his curiosity was excited by some fragments of sculptured stones which were scattered around Khorsabad. This village is situated upon a lofty tapeh or tumulus about twelve miles distant from Mosul, and to the left of the river Tigris. In this mound M. Botta renewed his excavations, and was fortunate enough, upon the removal of a very small accumulation of earth, to discover several bas-reliefs. Farther research proved that these sculptures were but a portion of an extensive series which formed the walls and interior divisions of a large building. Difficulties of no ordinary nature were, however, in the way of their entire examination. The summit of the mound was covered with houses, whose inhabitants were averse to the labours of the French Consul. The local authorities, suspecting that he was in search of treasure, openly opposed his plans. The climate of the place was unhealthy, and the small pay of a Consul was inadequate to the undertaking. M. Botta struggled manfully against these difficulties, and after important sacrifices of health and money, succeeded in rescuing from the rubbish several reliefs and inscriptions, of which he sentNow see, which of you will catch this one,' said Farmer rough sketches to Paris. The great beauty of the sculptures, the length of the inscriptions, and the extreme rarity of both, soon attracted the notice of the learned; and the French Government, at all times ready to afford its aid in the cause of science, offered its immediate assistance to M. Botta. Funds were placed at his disposal, and an artist, M. Flandin, was sent to Mosul to make correct drawings of the sculptures discovered. From that time the works were carried on with much activity. The Porte was induced to withdraw its opposition; the entire village was purchased, and its inhabitants removed. After seven months' residence on the spot, and a complete examination of the ruins, M. Flandin has returned to Constantinople, on his way to France, with the result of his labours. Fifteen chambers, some above 100 feet in length, and evidently forming part of a magnificent palace, have been opened. Their walls are entirely covered with inscriptions and sculptures. The latter are, almost without exception, historical, and illustrate events of the highest interest, sieges, naval manoeuvres, triumphs, single combats, &c. The inscriptions are in a cuneiform I'LL RISK IT. A STORY FOR YOUTH. Eldridge to his two children, as they stood under a tree, loaded with blushing Baldwin apples, against which he had placed a ladder, for the purpose of filling a little basket. Walter held up his hand, but little Mary more prudently took hold of the corners of her apron, and presented that to receive the falling fruit. You had better get your hat, Walter,' said the farmer, the surest way is the best, my boy.' 'No, father, I'll risk it,' said the careless boy. The smooth apple slipped through his fingers, and fell into Mary's apron. 'Now, my son,' said the farmer, 'remember from this little incident, what I have so often told you, the surest way is the best. It would have hindered you but a few moments, to run and pick up your hat from the grass yonder, and then you would have made sure. Now I must give you a smaller apple to make you remember.' 'He may have this,' said Mary, and I will take the little one. Prudent people can afford to be generous on occasion. It is true that when he had run a risk and failed, he paid the forfeit manfully; but he was just as willing to run the risk anew, as if he had never suffered by this careless, reckless spirit. The admonitions of his parents were hitherto productive of scarcely any amendment; and although he acknowledged his fault frankly, when he had just suffered by it, he forgot the whole affair when a new temptation offered. Mary was one of those quiet, sedate, womanly little girls, who are seldom elated, and never remiss in an appointed task or duty. She never uttered the maxim herself, but her mother said that careful and sure' was Mary's rule. John Eldridge, their father, lived in a very small, humble-looking cottage. It was but one story high-but then the walls were painted white, the farm, garden, and orchard, were in the neatest order, and the barn was a noble large one; which the country folks say, is a sign of a good farmer. At any rate, John was a good and a kind father. He sent his children to the town school all the year round, and what is more, he paid the most scrupulous attention to their conduct at home. For John believed that one of the first duties of a parent is to see that the heart and temper, the disposition and morals of his children, are properly cultivated, and above all, that they are taught the fear of God. At school, Mary suffered a little at first, from her diffidence. But presently the master began to perceive her merit. She was not a bold, loud reader, and she was never known to dispute for her place; but every lesson which was given her, she learned perfectly, and she used to ask her mother to explain things which she did not perfectly comprehend. She did not suppose that she had done with a lesson when she had learned and recited it, but read over the whole book at home, and endeavoured to retain everything which she had studied. In consequence of this prudent course, when the class went through the geography or grammar a second time, and had a double lesson every day, she rose to the head of her class. Her writing-book was one of the neatest in school, and the little maps which she drew were marked with the highest note of approbation, although she had no colours to put upon them. Every little crook or turn in the coasts and rivers was drawn exactly, and the whole had the appearance of a finished work. The master told Mrs Eldridge that her daughter was a pattern of a scholar. The same could not be said of Walter. He carried his adventurous, careless spirit into school, and the marks of it were plain enough. He never anticipated a lesson, nor reviewed the book till he was ordered. On the contrary, he put off the stated lessons till the last minute; and when his sister told him that he would lose his place in the class, he replied, as usual,' I'll risk it.' His writing-book showed frequent blots, and he never had patience to finish a map, or get through the book which told about the places mentioned in the geography. The consequence was, that although he was two years older than Mary, and had been through the geography, and parsed a long time before she began, yet when she had been one year upon those studies, she could parse sentences which he could make nothing of, and could tell the situation of ten cities and towns to his one. When things had come to this pass, Walter felt sadly ashamed of his negligence, and resolved to be more studious; but habit was so powerful, that he had very frequent returns of the old fault. His reformation, even at school, where the effects of his carelessness were most visible, was still very imperfect. One day as he was walking with his more prudent sister, a gentleman who was fishing called to him, for he knew who he was, and told him he would give him something if he would take care of his rod and line whilst be returned home for some tackle he had forgotten. It will be quite safe on the grass,' said the gentleman, and all I wish you to do, is merely to see that no one touches it; I shall not be gone long.' Walter readily undertook the charge; but the gentleman was scarcely out of sight, when an inclination to use the rod in his absence seized him; and, with his usual daring, he raised it for the purpose. Mary remonstrated with him on the impropriety of his conduct, and represented that he might do some mischief. 'Never mind,' replied Walter, throwing the line into the water, 'I'll risk it; but from his size and inexperience, he did it so awkwardly that the line became entangled with the weeds, and defied all his efforts to extricate it. In this state, ashamed and alarmed, the gentleman found him on his return; instead of the promised reward, he received a severe reproof; but this was not sufficient to cure him of his bad habit of risking it.' Mary had a single grape-vine, which had been given her by the gardener at a gentleman's seat in the neighbourhood, as an acknowledgment of her kindness in teaching his little daughter a particular kind of needlework. She had trained it up against the south side of the cottage, where the garden spread out its little squares of vegetables, strawberries, and flowers. It had now been two years under her care, but had as yet borne no grapes. Walter was rather inclined to laugh at his sister for what he considered her hopeless labour. And when she began to weed about its root and break up the soil on the third spring, he carelessly asked her what she would take for her harvest next autumn.' She replied tha: 'she was not a very good hand at making bargains, bat she would tell him when the autumn should arrive.' He had a garden of his own, planted with vegetables and strawberries, which he had insisted upon having separated from his father's by a fence, so that it might seem more like an independent freehold and possession of his own; and to do him justice, it presented quite a tidy appearance. The beds were all neatly weeded, the alleys were quite clean, and the plants looked fair and flourishing. One morning in summer, before going to school, Mary observed that the fence of this garden had got broken down in the night, and told Walter that he had better stop and put it up. he. Oh, it is no matter now, I will put it up at noon,' said But the breach is next the road, and it exposes your garden very much. You ought not to neglect it for three whole hours,' said Mary. There are no cattle in the road,' replied Walter, ' and besides, there is not the least danger in the world. If there is, I'll risk it.' So saying he swung his satchel over his shoulder, whistled a merry tune, and trudged of towards the school-house. Mary followed him with slow steps, casting many a lingering look behind at the fair garden, which she feared would suffer by her brother's carelessness. It so happened that in the course of the forenoon, a large drove of cattle were driven by, and meeting a carriage just opposite the cottage, they were thrown into disorder. An unruly ox threw off the top rail of Walter's broken fence with his horns, and jumped into the inclosure, whither he was followed by twenty more, and in two minutes time the pretty garden was in a perfect state of desolation. Every bed was demolished, and almost every plant torn up. When the children came home at noon, Walter surveyed his ruined garden with an aching heart. He tried to get over the matter with an air of heroism, but a tear started in his eye, in spite of his best efforts, and his Out of school he was as adventurous and careless as kind-hearted sister was ready to break her heart with ever, as the sequel will show. crying. In the autumn, when her own vine produced an abundance of grapes, she insisted on sharing them with her brother, and fairly gave him half the produce of her own patient and long-continued care. Between the cottage and the school-house there lay a deep valley, through which ran a rivulet-a pleasant little stream, which for the most part coursed along through its green, flowery banks, with mellow murmur or fairy shout. The children had often stopped to play on its margin. The next spring after the ruin of Walter's garden, there came a long succession of heavy rains, which occasioned what is usually called a freshet. The little rill was swollen into a torrent, and long after the rains had ceased, it dashed and foamed along through the groves to a great distance. While the stream was rising, it was thought prudent for the children to go up to the village, about a quarter of a mile, and cross on a strong stone bridge, in order to go in safety to the school-house, instead of passing over, as usual, on a plank, which was thrown across the rivulet, directly opposite the cottage. One day, as, on their return from school, they came to the plank, Walter proposed to cross upon it. 'It is dangerous,' said Mary, besides, you know, we were told to go over the bridge.' 'I know that,' said Walter, but we were not forbidden to return on the plank. There is not the least danger. Here the plank has weathered all the storm, and been two or three feet under water, and is now just an inch or so above it. Come, let us go over, I will go first, or I will take you in my arms and carry you over. I am not afraid.' But I am,' replied Mary. The brook is deep enough to drown us both, and see how swift it runs! It would be very wrong to expose ourselves so foolishly, only to save ourselves a walk of half a mile.' Nonsense! said Walter, 'I'll risk it;' and catching his sister in his arms, before she was aware of his intention, he ran towards the plank, which at that moment was struck by a heavy log, that came drifting along, and taking the frail bridge with it, was borne down the rapid torrent. Another step of the careless brother, and his frolic would have cost them both their lives. Walter was struck with an overpowering sense of his sin and folly. All the past admonitions of his parents came upon his mind in a moment. He placed his terrified sister on the ground, and kneeling reverently, he thanked the merciful Disposer of events for having granted him the preservation of life, and for having rescued his little sister from perishing by his adventurous daring. He prayed for strength to reform, and rose with a chastised and humble spirit. As they resumed their way towards the bridge, he declared his firm resolution never again to indulge that reckless, careless spirit of adventure by which he had so often suffered, and which had almost rendered his parents childless. His endeavours and resolutions were blessed. He became a prudent and careful youth, and by consequence, a respectable and useful man, and never, from the day of his adventure at the rivulet, was he heard to use the expression, 'I'LL RISK IT.' RENCONTRE WITH A BOA CONSTRICTOR. CAPTAIN C, of her Majesty's 84th Foot, was one of the most indefatigable sportsmen I ever met with, and the entire of his time that could be spared from regimental duty was passed in the jungles. He was a man of vast personal strength, could undergo any degree of fatigue, in short, possessed a perfectly iron constitution. His habits, too, were anything but luxurious-a single attendant carrying a rifle of large bore, a small carpet to sleep on, a limited stock of linen, and a good supply of ammunition accompanied the sportsman, who pursued his game by day, and at night sought shelter in some village, perfectly careless as to his accommodations in the way of food or lodging, his beverage being, moreover, the simple element, for he never carried with him supplies of any kind, trusting his commissariat aid to Providence and rural hospitality. In this manner Captain C-became well known to the natives of the country in every direction where sport was to be obtained; he was sufficiently acquainted with their language to make himself understood, and the kindly simplicity of his manner attached them to his person, and many of them, indeed, have been known to walk miles to give him early information of large game, which were his favourite objects of pursuit. Captain C- was thus quite at home' in the Wynaud jungle and great western ghauts, where he probably brought to bag, single-handed, more head of large game-elephants, bisons, tigers, and the like, than any other man ever did before, or ever will again in India. When upon one of these excursions, Captain C- happened to be passing the night at a small village in the Wynaud jungle, when a ryot who had been out very late searching for a stray bullock, came to tell him of a large cheetul, or spotted deer, which he had watched to its lair. He had also heard from the villagers that a huge snake had been seen several times in that neighbourhood. He started accordingly after his game at daybreak, accompanied by the villager and a favourite dog, which rarely left his heels unless ordered. After proceeding about half a mile through very dense jungle, and being, as the villager supposed, near the spot where the cheetul had laid itself down, Captain C of a sudden missed his dog, and hearing a rustling in the bushes about ten yards off, accompanied by a whimpering noise, he turned in that direction, and saw what he at the first glance took for a tiger, from its colour—a mixture of black and brown-but soon discovered what the monster really was an enormous boa constrictor, which had seized his poor Juno, and was at that moment crushing her to atoms in his terrible coils. The native who was with him likewise saw what it was, and immediately fled. Captain C afterwards described the appearance of the reptile, when thus coiled round his dog, as somewhat resembling a barrel, every portion in violent muscular motion, and he distinctly heard the bones of the poor animal crack in succession within its terrible embrace. At last the monster raised his head and fixed two glaring eyes on Captain C, who, in another moment, might perchance have been fascinated by their deadly gleam, but with unerring aim he placed two balls in its forehead. effect was not, however, as he expected, fatal, and the snake instantly uncoiling itself from its victim, came straight at Captain C- who, of course, tock to flight, but so thick was the jungle, that he found the animal gaining on him, from the noise it made amongst the bushes; and therefore sought shelter in a tree, reloading his gun with all possible expedition. Whether the reptile followed him by sight or smell, he could not judge, but Captain C- was only just prepared for a second discharge, when the boa reached the tree, and instantly twining itself round the stem, would have soon seized him, but fortunately at the next shot he blew out both its eyes with a charge of BB; yet though the snake appeared for a moment stunned, it still continued its efforts to reach him, until by repeated shots it was incapacitated from rising; not, however, till Captain C- - had completely emptied his powder-flask, and even then he did not venture to descend, as the reptile continued coiled round the tree, occasionally by a muscular movement showing that its vital powers were not wholly extinct. At length, after some hours' solitary confinement on his perch, and shouting until he was hoarse for aid, Captain C- had the satisfaction to see a number of villagers arrive, by whom the monstrous animal was soon completely destroyed. Captain C- had no means of accurately measuring its length but by a piece of stick, which the natives said was a cubit long, and he declared it measured upwards of thirty of these, and was much thicker than one of his own thighs.-Madras United Service Gazette. Their SHERIDAN AND THE GAMBKEEPER. The late Richard Brinsley Sheridan was more celebrated in the senate than in the field, and enjoyed more pleasure in popping at his political antagonists than at a covey of partridges. A few years before his death he paid a visit to an old sportsman in the sister kingdom, at the commencement of the shooting season; and in order to avoid the imputation of being a downright ignoramus, he was under the necessity of taking a gun, and at the dawn of day setting forth in the pursuit of game. Unwilling to expose his want of skill, he took an opposite course to that of his friend, and was accompanied by a gamekeeper, provided with a bag to receive the birds which might fall victims to his attack, and a pair of excellent pointers. The gamekeeper was a true Pat, and possessed all those arts of blarney which are known to belong to his countrymen; and thinking it imperative on him to be particularly attentive to his master's friend, he lost no opportunity of praising his prowess. The first covey, and the birds were abundant, rose within a few yards of the statesman's nose, but the noise they made was so unexpected, that he waited until they were out of harm's way before he fired. Pat, who was on the look-out, suppressed his surprise, and immediately observed, 'Faith, sir, I see you know what a gun is; it's well you wasn't nearer, or them chaps would be sorry you ever came into the country.' Sheridan reloaded and went on, but his second shot was not more successful. What an escape!' cried Pat, I'll be bound you rumpled some of their feathers! The gun was again loaded, and on went our senator; but the third shot was as little effective as the two former. Hah!' exclaimed Pat, although astonished at so palpable a miss, 'I'll lay a thirteen you don't come near us again to-day; master was too near you to be pleasant.' So he went on, shot after shot, and always had something to console poor Brinsley, who was not a little amused by his ingenuity. At last, on their way home, without a bird in the bag, Sheridan perceived a covey quietly feeding on the other side of a hedge, and, unwilling to give them a chance of flight, he resolved to slap at them on the ground. He did so, but, to his mortification, they all flew away untouched. Pat, whose excuses were now almost exhausted, still had something to say, and joyfully exclaimed, looking at Sheridan very significantly, Sure, you made them lave that any how!' and with this compliment to his sportsman-like qualities Sheridan closed his morning's amusement, laughing heartily at his companion, and rewarding him with halfa-crown for his patience and encouragement. ANECDOTE OF FREDERICK THE GREAT. Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, had heard that a corporal in his regiment of body-guards, who was well known as a remarkably handsome and brave young man, wore, out of vanity, a watch-chain, suspended from a leaden bullet in his fob. The King had the curiosity to inquire into the circumstance himself, and an opportunity was contrived that he should meet the corporal as by chance. " Apropos, corporal,' said the King, you are a brave fellow, and prudent too, to have spared enough from your pay to buy yourself a watch.' Sire,' replied the soldier, I flatter myself that I am brave: but as to my watch, it is of little signification.' The King pulling out a gold watch set with diamonds, said, ' By my watch it is five. What o'clock are you, pray?' The corporal, pulling out his bullet with a trembling hand, replied, 'My watch neither tells me five nor six, but shows me clearly the death I am to die in your Majesty's service.' 'Well, then,' returned the King, that you may likewise see the hour among the twelve in which you are to die in my service, I will give you mine.' THE FIRST LESSON IN MUSIC. An Irish gentleman called on an eminent singingmaster, to inquire his terms. The maestro said that he charged two guineas for the first lesson, but only one guinea for as many as he pleased afterwards. O, bother the first lesson,' said the other, 'let us begin with the second.' TEMERITY AND TIMERITY. Of all the dangers to which the juvenile student is exposed, I hold those of over-confidence and temerity to be incomparably smaller than those of doubt and distrust. It is very true that a young mind, plunging prematurely into the depths of metaphysical research, before it has stored itself with a knowledge of useful facts, may be compared to one exploring the wheels of a watch before he has learned to read the hours on the dial-plate. It is true, also, that precocious attempts at fine writing, and at colouring language before we have learned to give shape to our thoughts, have their disadvantages. Yet still, altogether, I tremble at the idea of damping the fire of youthful ambition; for in the young student, as in the young soldier, the dashing and daring spirit is preferable to the listless. The opposite feeling of the mind's distrust in its own powers, ought not to be too harshly and hastily set down as a token of mental debility in youth, for it is often connected with considerable talent. It is a failing, however, that if suffered to continue, will create all the effects of debility, and will dupe the mind to be the passive agent of its own degradation; like a juggling soothsayer contriving to make his prophecy fulfil itself, or a blundering physician verifying his ignorant opinion by despatching the patient whom he has pronounced incurable. But if to look abroad over the vast expanse and variety of learned pursuits should appal and overwhelm any young imagination, like the prospect of a journey over alps and glaciers, let it dispel the unworthy fear to recollect what guides, and lights, and facilities, modern science and literature afford, so that a quantum of information is now of comparatively easy access, which would formerly have demanded Herculean labour.-Thomas Campbell. Whose souls are weary of the world and sin- Take these, take these, to rest; But smite not childhood in its mirthful play; Gather ripe fruits, O Death! Strew not the pathway of the tomb with flowers; INTELLECTUAL CULTURE. mance at an early age, to the neglect of more solid acquirements, is about as wise as to sow arable ground with Poppies. In spring all will be prematurely beautiful; in autumn everything bleak and bare; and there will be but a drowsy residuum, in place of healthful nourishment, to be reaped from the fruit of the soil.-Thomas Atkinson. To cultivate the sensibilities much, and a taste for ro Printed and published by JAMES HOGG, 122 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh; to whom all communications are to be addressed. Sold also by J. JOHNSTONE, Edinburgh; J. M'LEOD, Glasgow: W. M'Cомв, Belfast; R. GROOMBRIDGE & SONS London; and all Booksellers. No. 7. EDINBURGH, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1845. ETCHINGS FROM LIFE. CLEMENT FORD. FROFITABLE, in very deed, is the retrospect of the past. Although, in our ascent of the hill of life, our backward glances may not always be thrown upon green and sunny spots, yet, from the incidents of our journeying, many a maxim is to be drawn and many a lesson derived, to guide us more safely in the onward path. Who has not felt a benefit, perchance, too, a pleasure, when, seated in the stillness of his own thought, he has recalled the events of his previous existence, and-from the dim shadowy outlines of bygone years, to the vivid remembrances of yesterday-he has marshalled before his mind's eye a phantasmagoria of accident and character, most marvellous, yet simply true. He who has been accustomed to mingle in the motley throng around him, observant and inquiring; to note down in memory the phases of man in the aggregate, and the eccentricity of the individual, must have at his command a boundless source of instruction and amusement-a ready-reckoner of the practice of life, each rule illustrated by example. From among the many reminiscences of our earlier years we propose now to transfer to paper, a slight sketch of a being whose peculiarities made a lasting impression on our young mind, and we shall do so in naked truth, neither heightening colour nor deepening shade. In a small town in the north of England, dwelt, some years ago, a man named Clement Ford. In age he might have been a year or two beyond threescore; his person was tall and meagre; his face sallow and shrivelled, but its deeply indented lines seemed rather the work of a gnawing anxiety for this world's good, than the frosty but kindly pencillings of time, while the few straggling silver hairs that fell over his temples, lent not the calm dignity of age to the wrinkled brow. The fashion of his garments Clement altered not with changing years or seasons, and at all times, and in all weather, he might be seen arrayed in a long drab great-coat, fallen into the sere,' breeches of coarse brown cloth, grey stockings, 'a world too wide for his shrunken shanks,' and brightly polished shoes adorned -ay, herein he indulged a kind of pride-with huge antique silver buckles. A broad brimmed hat and a tall staff completed his attire. Although possessed of great wealth, he followed assiduously, and with a grasping eagerness, the double avocation of a small general dealer and a money lender; nor would it have been easy, from any expression of his withered countenance, to have told, whether he sold a few pence worth of his goods, or examined his securities in putting hundreds to usury, with PRICE 1d. a more calculating love of gain. Whence this being came (for at the period we speak of, he had been but a short time resident in the town) no one could tell, and the manners of the old man were not of such a nature as to encourage any to put the question to himself. Friend, relative, tie, on earth, he appeared to have none-an isolated existence, unloving and unlovely. Into his house none ever penetrated beyond the counter of his shop, save an old woman, who kindled his fire and prepared his scanty meal; and thus, in the utter disregard of all intercourse with his species, except what tended to selfish and sordid aggrandizement, he lived, a something scarcely thought of without a shudder. Here was a problem, a puzzle, a psychological curiosity in the concrete. To what end was this man existing, equally regardless, as he appeared to be, of the happiness of this world and of the concerns of that which is to come? We are accustomed to consider the interchange of the kindly emotions as among the highest of man's sublunary enjoyments-he voluntarily stifled them. Urchins ceased their sports when his gaunt figure approached them-the young, in whose hearts the blood danced mercurially, called him miser and fool, but wise men only sighed and said, 'twas a singular symptom of the moral disease with which we all were born. A penny to the craving beggar, Clement Ford was never known to give; yet he actually once presented the vestry with a new surplice and gown for the clergyman; and paid for the white-washing of the parish church, within the walls of which he seldom came. Upon this incongruous display of liberality, Mr Ford rose vastly in esteem, and there was some talk of electing him churchwarden; but he very gravely declined the honour, and the only thanks its proposers got were sundry pithy remarks upon the scandalous frequency of official dinners. He was under the necessity of doing all the work of his shop with his own hands, for his suspicious avarice would not permit him to incur the expense, nor trust the honesty of an assistant, and hence, whenever compelled by business to be absent from his dwelling, he would lock the door, and, quaintly enough, stick up a written notice of when he might be expected to return. On one occasion some itinerant swindler had imposed a counterfeit half-crown piece upon him, on the discovery of which he straightway proceeded to the office of a society for the prosecution of felons, and presented five pounds to their funds. No one could have believed Clement Ford so much the child of impulse as so far to have forgotten himself. At another time, when solicited to subscribe for the formation of a gas company in the little town, his brief and only reply was, 'gentlemen, I sell candles.' A great predilection he had for at |