hewed him down. Ere the body reached the floor, the meek spirit had parted from it. A shriek of horror and fear arose from the monks and the children, and they began to fly in every direction. Edmund alone, filled with rage at the perpetrator, rushed against him, and with the utmost of his childish force struck at him, and caught at his sword-belt to drag him back as he was springing forward to cut down the prior. The monster heard the indignant cry of the boy, though he could not feel the blow of his naked hand, or the feeble check at his belt; and, halfturning, whirled round his weapon to hew him in two; but Sidroc the Swede was close behind him, and with his sword parried the blow, which might else have fallen upon himself. "Look where you strike!" cried he to Hubbo. "Takest thou me for a priest ?" Hubbo replied with a laugh, and turned to other work. Edmund, however, still crying out against the murderer, attempted to follow him, and would inevitably have felt the edge of his sword; but Sidroc, laughing at his impotent fury, and interested by his beautiful countenance, caught him in his arms lightly as the boy would himself have caught up an angry kitten, and, bidding a soldier beside him follow instantly, leaped down the steps of the altar, and, avoiding the throng, went out at the western gate. Edmund, meantime, struggled in his arms, and, with his clenched hands, struck him unceasingly in the face; but the Swede, laughing at his rage, hurried on. By my good sword!" said he, "thou wilt prove a brave fellow, my little monk, shouldst thou live to gird on harness against us! Be quiet, most valorous mouse! Hold thy hand: I will not harm thee!" They had by this time cleared the gate, and Sidroc, putting down the boy, gave him to the soldier. "Rolf," said he to the man, get thee to a boat, and make to land with this young Thor. Bear him safely to the tent of the queen, and beg, in my name, her present protection for him. He shall be my cniht till his arm can strike with heavier weapon than that pulpy fist of which he is so liberal! Mark me! bear him safe and untouched! If any man harm one hair of his head the sword and lance shall speak of it! Strip his monkish gear from him, however, as soon as thou mayst, and clothe him fittingly. There is store enough of garments among the York booty. But I must be gone, or that Odinsee bull and his brother of Lethra will gore every man and child before we get from them the secret of their treasure! Away with thee, Rolf; and, my little lion," addressing Edmund and kissing his cheek, "go quietly, and make no attempt to escape, or thou wilt rue it till the day of thy death, and that will be the day of thy offset!" So saying, he turned hastily, and sprang through the doorway. Edmund made no reply. He heard the shrieks, and the howlings that bespake the horrid work going on in the sacred place; and with the feeling of one who labours under some hideous dream, went unresistingly, with his hand firmly held in that of the soldier. We shall not follow the Swedish warrior to the interior of the monastery. Suffice it to say, that, after vain and cruel attempts to force from the devoted monks a knowledge of their hidden treasures, the ferocious Northmen put to death every man and every child; and, having broken open the tombs, and seized such things as they deemed in any way worthy spoil, set fire to the noble edifice, and departed. CHAPTER III. THE soldier to whom Sidroc had committed the care of Edmund, had not proceeded many paces with him before, turning his head towards the monastery, and perceiving that his chief was out of sight, he stopped to listen to the sounds that issued from the building. lance, that they go to it among themselves. Ha! that's no sword-cut on monk's flesh, but steel falchion on iron buckler. But he knows how to tame you, fair foot to foot, roar as you will, old copper-front! Whew! What squall blows now ?" Just before he uttered the last words, a terrific cry arose from the miserable victims. "For the love of Heaven," said Edmund, stopping with his disengaged hand one ear, and almost shriek ing with agony of distress-" for the love of Heaven, take me away from this place, or kill me at once!" Ha, ha!” replied the soldier, laughing-" for the love of Heaven, sayest thou, my little monk? Troth! I should do little to pleasure thee for Heaven's sake; but for thy own, my pretty lamb-as thou dost not like to hear the baaing of the sheep under the butcher, and also for my captain's sake, who hath taken a liking to thy blue eyes and golden locks; and, furthermore, for my own sake, who may fare but ill if thou farest not well, being under my piloting-I will e'en forward with thee. But stop," continued he, after proceeding a short way. What hast thou under that wench's nappery? If thou art seen in this trim, 'tis odds I shall have to draw sword for thee against the first pike that may have nothing better to employ it. Undo thy monk's coat, and let us see what body-'fender thou hast beneath." 66 As he spoke this, the soldier busied himself to remove the long habit which the boy had on, and which was of the kind worn by the children of the monasteries, as well as by the monks, when they attended upon the solemn ceremonies of their religion. The usual coat, fitting close to the body, and reaching below the knee, was visible when the robe was drawn aside; and the soldier failed not to remark that it was framed of such fine materials as bespoke the wearer to belong to the wealthier class. A chain of gold round the neck, sustaining a small cross rudely shaped from some precious stone, chiefly attracted his attention, and excited his cupidity. "What bauble hast thou here ?" he said to the boy, attempting at the same time to remove it from his neck. "I must not leave this trinket about thee, or thou wilt likely have rough hands at thy dainty throat." Edmund, however, resisting as well as he could, implored him not to take it from him. "It was the gift of my father, Cynewulf," he cried, " and he is dead, and I shall want it to pray to, and to comfort me. Do not-oh, do not take it from me!" "Tush, child!" replied the man, forcibly removing it and hasting forward. "Thou shalt have it again: dost think I care for thy baby toy? Some nurse's market-day present, I suppose, bought with a copper-piece, or a dozen of eggs. Peace with thy puling wouldst thou have thy neck twisted by the first fellow that saw thee, for the sake of tricking thyself off with this trumpery? Thou'dst better keep a quiet tongue, and say nought of it, even to my captain; for other people may not know so well as I do, now that I have looked well at it, that it's hardly worth the picking up; and if once they take it in their heads that thou hast aught of cost about thee, credit me thou'lt have queer tickling soon enough, but not to make thee laugh. So say no more about it, my little saint; and I'll keep it safe for thee, and give it thee again when thou art a man, and canst hold thine own with sword and buckler." The boy, however, was too keen-witted not to see through the shallow cunning of the fellow; and, moreover, knew well enough the value of his ornament, and was too much attached to it, for the sake of him whom he supposed to have been the giver, to surrender it passively. "It is no nurse's market-day present," said for, if you don't give it me again, I will complain he; "and I will not hold my tongue about it; of you so soon as I see your captain. You are a wicked man, I am sure; and want to steal it from me, and to frighten me because I am a boy and cannot fight with you." They had by this time reached the boat; and the soldier, having rather roughly lifted the boy in, and pushed from the bank, thought he might perhaps secure his captive's silence by terrifying him. "So I am Pretty music that, my little hero," said he, to the boy, "and new to thy ears, I daresay Ha, ha! he's making fine sport there, that Odinsee bull Hubbo, as my captain-thy very good friend and master-called him but now; and troth, well he deserves the name! I would priestling! and want to steal your gew-gaw!a wicked man, am I, my fine not give a horn of small ale for the lives of the and you will complain of me to my captain! On whole brood, when he sings in this tune. But, my word, you are a mighty and terrible fellow! for the matter of that, his brother, the boar of And suppose, most potent sir, I should make Lethra, pitches his voice to as loud a key. By bold to drop you into this salt-water basin, as my sword-blade, they make a very choice uplifting we are going gently across, and then make my of it! Hark! that's the call of Sidroc; and he own complaint to my captain that you had your bids them hold. A gilded helmet now to a rusted self taken the leap, might I not easily-if I coveted your bit of brass-make sure of it without feeling the scourge of your wrath, and no *Cniht, a youthful attendant of the better class. one the wiser? You'll complain, will you, my precious milk-skin ?" As he said this he suddenly caught up the boy, and with one arm lifted him from the boat and held him over the water. "Swear now to me, young headstrong, by this bit of mummery "-holding up the cross-"and I know thou durst not break that oath-swear to me by this sparkler that thy lips shall never breathe to man, woman, or child one word touching the bauble, and I will spare thy life, and be kind to thee; but if thou wilt not swear to me, by the pit of Niflheim and by the right hand of Odin I will drop thee into the water, and keep thy trumpery in spite of thee! Take the oath, thou monk-spawn-take the oath!" So saying, he shook the child with violence, and lowered him till his feet touched the water. "I will not take an oath to thee, thou wicked and cruel man!" said the undaunted boy-"I will not profane the sacred sign of my redemption! And thou mayst do thy will upon me, for I do not wish to live when my father, and the holy abbot, and the brethren, and my companions are killed by such wicked men !" His eyes, while he spake, and his whole countenance, beamed indignation, and bespoke his resolve to meet death rather than submit to the offered alternative. [To be continued.] HELPING ALONG. [COPYRIGHT] THE world is so hard and so dreary, That if a man is to get through, He need have the courage of Nelson, And plenty of Job's patience, too! But he who is kind to another, And cheerfully helps him along, We claim as a man and a brother; So here's to his health in a song! As clouds that in sunshine are opened, Are gilded by light passing through, So men who are gen'rous and kindly, Are bless'd by the good that they do. There's nothing like helping another, For getting one's own self along : Who does so is truly a brother; So here's to his health in a song! The world is as cheerless as winter To him who is cold in the heart, The path that he treads seems to blossom, So here's to his health in a song! There's something in other men's sorrows, That strengthens the man that is true- Our poor fellow-creatures among, A CUNNING DOG.-A detachment of cavalry, during a recent expedition against some bandits in the province of Naples, arriving about day. break at a small wood in which they had reason to believe that a number of bandits were concealed, observed a little dog, which had been evidently placed on the watch, rise up and bark furiously, at the same time running about in all animal was giving the alarm, hastened forward, The soldiers, perceiving that the directions. but only found in the interior of the wood traces of the recent departure of the party of which they were in search. The officer in command, vexed at missing an important capture, drew his pistol and fired at the four-footed sentinel, which, with a howl, rolled over on its back, and lay completely motionless. The soldiers continued their march; but a quarter of an hour later, one of the men, happening to turn round, observed the same dog they had just before left for dead on the ground dodging about behind the trees in their rear, as if to watch them. The animal was captured, and found not to have had a hair touched by the shot fired at it; it had evidently feigned death in order to be able to continue its functions of vedette. The prisoner's life was not only preserved, but the captive was admitted into the regiment, and will be taught to render service in discovering the haunts of its former masters. OUR PORTFOLIO. TRUE HEROISM. THE following anecdote, extracted from the unpublished memoirs of a French nobleman, may; it is hoped, serve as an example well worthy of being imitated by all who desire to be thought truly brave and courageous. It records an instance of a victory gained by a man over his own passions—a victory more glorious, more honour able than any that has ever been purchased with fire and sword, with devastation and bloodshed: Two noblemen, the Marquis de Valaise and the Count de Meric, were educated under the same masters, and were regarded by all who knew them as patterns of friendship, honour, and sensibility. Years succeeded years, and no quarrel had ever disgraced their attachment, when one unfortunate evening, the two friends having indulged rather freely in some excellent Burgundy, repaired to a neighbouring hotel, and engaged in a game of backgammon. Fortune declared herself in favour of the marquis; he won the game, and in the thoughtless glee of the moment laughed in exultation at his unusual good luck. The count lost his temper, and once or twice upbraided the marquis for enjoying the pain which he had excited in the bosom of his friend. At last, upon another fortunate throw made by the marquis, by which he gammoned his antagonist, the infuriated count threw the box of dice in the face of his brother soldier. Every gentleman present was in amazement, and waited, almost breathlessly, for the moment when the marquis would sheathe his sword in the bosom of the now repentant count. "Gentlemen," said the marquis, "I am a Frenchman, a soldier, and a friend. I have received a blow from a Frenchman, a soldier, and a friend. I know and acknowledge the laws of honour, and I will obey them. Every man who sees me wonders why I am tardy in visiting with vengeance the author of my disgrace. But, gentlemen, the heart of that man is entwined with my own our education was the same, our principles are alike, and our friendship dates from our earliest years. But, Frenchmen, I will obey the laws of honour and of France: I will stab him to the heart!" Upon this he threw his arms around his unhappy friend, and said: "My dear De Meric, I forgive you if you forgive me for the irritation I have occasioned in a sensible mind by the levity of my own. And now, gentlemen," added the marquis, "though I have interpreted the laws of honour my own way, if there remains in this room one Frenchman who dares to doubt my resolution to resent even an improper smile at me, my sword is by my side to punish an affront, but not to murder a friend for whom I would die, and who sits there a monument of contrition and bravery, ready with me to challenge the rest of the room to deadly combat if any, man dare to think amiss of this transaction." ARTIFICIAL SEAS. Not only does civilised man transform the wilderness into blooming gardens and productive fields wherever his hands follow the guidance of the enterprising spirit of the times, but now the desert is to be made to "blossom as the rose," and serve as a means of commerce. The ground on which stands Ismailia, Egypt-a town with six thousand people-was, only a few years ago, a sandy desert. All is now transformed. The old dried-up basin of Lake Timsah has been again filled with water from the Nile by a fresh-water canal. Trees, shrubs, and plants of all descriptions grow rapidly wherever the soil is irrigated, and the artificial oasis widens fast. Until two years ago rain was unknown, but in twelve months ending in April last there were actually fourteen days on which rain fell, and lately there fell a tremendous shower of rain, a phenomenon which the oldest Arab had never previously witnessed. Rain ceases to fall on a country deprived of its forests, or only falls in violent storms. Here we see rain returning to the desert on restoring the trees. In view of this fact, M. de Lesseps, the famous French savant, has conceived the idea of making still another advance in the same direction, and utilise the great Desert of Sahara. Some explorers having found that the bed of this desert is about ninety feet below the level of the Red Sea in the most elevated places, he has advanced the idea that a canal, seventyfive miles long, would be sufficient to conduct the waters of the Red Sea into the desert, restore to the latter its original character of a great inland sea, and which he thinks is a fact beyond dispute, the water in some remote age having been displaced by some convulsion of A WONDERFUL CLOCK. MANY years ago there was a clock made by one Having desired the Minister of Marine, who THE INDIAN COBRA. A BEAUTIFUL INCIDENT. A YOUNG man recently ran away from the galleys The "You see me driven to despair," said the father; 66 food or shelter, and I without means to provide my wife and my little children without them." The convict listened to the tale with tears of sympathy, and said: caped from the galleys. Whosoever brings back "I will give you the means. I have just esan escaped prisoner is entitled to a reward of fifty francs. How much does the rent amount 'Forty francs," answered the father. to ?" 66 body. I will follow you to the city, where they tener. "My children should starve a thousand After a long struggle, the latter yielded, and taking his preserver by the arm, led him to the city, and to the mayor's office. Everybody was surprised to see that a little such a strong young fellow; but the proof was man like the father had been able to capture before them. The fifty francs were paid, and the prisoner sent back to the galleys. ac-private interview with the mayor, to whom he But, after he was gone, the father asked a I KNOW nothing in nature which gives me such told the whole story. The mayor was so much affected, that he not only added francs to the father's purse, but wrote immediately to the Minister of Justice, begging the noble young prisoner's release. The minister examined into the affair, and finding that it was a comparatively small offence which had condemned the young man to the galleys, and that he had already served out half his term, ordered his release. REMARKABLE MEMORIES.' MAGLIABECCHI, the founder of the great library at Florence, had so wonderful a memory, that Gibbon styled him "memory personified." At one period of his life, Sencca could repeat two thousand words precisely as they had been pronounced. Gassendi had acquired by heart six thousand Latin verses, and in order to give his memory exercise, he was in the habit of daily reciting six hundred verses from different languages. Saunderson, another mathematician, was able to repeat all Horace's odes, and a great part of other Latin authors. La Croze, after listening to twelve verses in as many languages, could not only repeat them in the order in which he heard them, but could also transpose them. Pope had an excellent memory, and many persons have amused themselves by looking through his writings, and pointing out how often he had brought it into play. He was able to turn with great readiness to the precise place in a book where he had seen any passage that had struck him. John Lynden had a very peculiar faculty for getting things by rote, and he could repeat correctly any long, dry document, such as a deed or Act of Parliament, after having heard it read; but if he wanted any single paragraph, he was obliged to begin at the commencement, and proceed with his recital until he came to what he required. There was a French novelist who, being a printer, composed a volume in type, and thus the book was printed without having been written. Bishop Warburton had a prodigious memory, which he taxed to an extraordinary degree. His "Divine Legation" would lead one to suppose that he had indefatigably collected and noted down the innumerable facts and quotations there introduced; but the fact is, that his only note-book was an old almanac, in which he occasionally jotted down a thought. Scaliger obtained so perfect an acquaintance with one Latin book, that he offered to repeat any passage with a dagger at his breast, to be used against him in case of a failure of memory. THE TRIGGER; AND HOW TO PULL IT PART I. Ir is not my intention to write an abstruse treatise on the history of the gun from its invention down to the elaborate piece of mechanism now to be found in the hands of all lovers of game; nor shall I attempt, in any great degree, to impart a scientific complexion to this article. I merely purpose, in as simple a manner as possible, giving a few useful hints on the management and use of the gun, and on the young sportsman's conduct in the field. In using the word "gun," I wish it to be understood that I refer solely to that weapon employed in bringing down game in our own fields and woods, which is generally designated the fowling-piece. Perhaps many readers of the GENTLEMAN'S JOURNAL may think they will never fire off a gun, and that, therefore, there is no necessity for their reading further than this. It is true many of then may not, but it is equally true that they may. I therefore carnestly invite them not only to read this article, but carefully to study it, as it will be found thoroughly practical. My experience has taught me that nothing can be more vexatious-to give it the mildest termto a youth of spirit than to be called upon to do, or to take some part in the doing of, something which is familiar to his confreres, and have to enter a plea of total ignorance of the subject. This need never happen to any reader of this Journal with regard to shooting, if he will but carefully digest the hints, cautions, and remarks I am about to jot down, and, when occasion roquires, apply them. And now, of course, the first step to take in the matter is the procuring of a gun. I firmly believe, in defiance of all that has been written which tends to prove the contrary, that one may just as well attempt to give written directions for the choice of a horse, as for the selection of a gun. I shall therefore not attempt it; but rather advise that the neophyte calls to his assistance the matured judgment of some friend or acquaintance who has served an apprenticeship in the field; or, in default of this, that he places himself in the hands of some respectable gunsmith, who, for his own sake, will not supply him with an unsafe weapon. Let him have the gun on hire till he has fully ascertained that its weight is suitable to his strength, and, what is still more important, that the stock of the piece fits exactly to the shape of his shoulder; unless it does, he will never, with any amount of practice, become a crack shot; and then in a few days' use of it, he will easily discover its sins of omission and commission, and will learn more of the good or bad points of a gun, than from the most exhaustive programme of directions that could be compiled. I should also advise great chariness in using a strange gun, unless he has undoubted faith in the respectability of its maker; and on no account touch one which does not bear the proof mark; for, unfortunately, great as is the shame, there are many to be met with. upon one. second or two, then cover it. This is the best practice a learner can possibly adopt; for, should he not cover the object on the first bringing the gun to his shoulder, it is not too late to rectify his error, as it would be if the gun were loaded, and he pulled the trigger. He also learns at the onset to do things in a calm, collected manner, with all his brains about him. Should the friend who guided him in the choice of his gun be present on any of these occasions, so much the better, as a hint or two from him, on the proper position of the head and feet, would be very necessary, if a good style of shooting be a desideratum. The next step-the loading-is a most important one, and too much attention cannot be paid to this operation. versai cartridge "-which is the same thing enclosed in a stiff paper case instead of the wire basket-can be procured to suit either the breech or muzzle-loader. During the shooting season the papers occasionally teen with accounts of accidents which take place in the field, and many of them during the process of leading. I shall therefore call the reader's attention to ono or two of what I consider to be the most serious causes of these accidents. The first is, loading one barrel immediately after it is discharged, with the lock of the other at full cock, the vibration of the ramrod in the one barrel causing the look of the other to fall, and so discharging the contents through the brain, chest, or arm of the loader. Make a rule never to charge the empty barrel till you havo We will assume that the picce in the hands of put the other on half-cock, and always let the the novice is a breech-loader. Let him place the full barrel be the one farthest from you. Again, stock between his elbow and right side, prossing never take off the exploded cap from the nipple it firmly with his elbow, the gun being at a right til the gun is once more loaded and is held in a angle with himself, then grasp the barrels with perfectly safe position. When the gun is loaded, his left hand at any place where the purchase always keep it on half-cock, never allow the cocks would be convenient. With his right hand half- to remain down on the nipples. This plan is cock the locks, and adjusting the mechanism quite as dangerous, or more so, as keeping them which unites the barrels with the locks and on full-cock. There will be plenty of time to keeps them in their places, lower the muzzles cock when a "point" is made, or you are nearwith the left hand, which still grasps them, ing your game. No man but one of suicidal and the barrels will go down like the beam disposition would ever dream of going throngh in a pair of scales, exposing to view the a gate, over a wall or ditch, or through a hedge, openings nearest the locks, the stock still without half uncocking his gun; and in the event remaining in a horizontal position; then, with of its being a breech-loader, the most safe plan to the right hand, which is still free, or should be adopt is to release the barrels from the locks, as so, take a cartridge and place it in the breech described in the directions how to load; then, of the barrel, having especial care that the pin should either of the hammers from any accident of the cartridge is pushed well home in the-such as the catching of a twig, part of the nick purposely made for it in the barrel. The shooter's dress, or any of the many little things barrel will not come up to its proper position it is impossible to foresee-be raised, and fall, if this is neglected. When both barrels are they will descend harmlessly on nothing. Whenserved so, they should then be raised by the ever a piece is being cocked or uncocked, be sure left hand and brought in a line with the stock, that the muzzles of the barrels are directed to the breech ends taking their places in the sockets, the sod; never mind whether anyone is in front and the lever which fixes them adjusted by the of you or not-never let the barrels be raised right hand and the piece is loaded. during this process. Many an accident occurs through the discharge of a barrel, even while the piece is being put on half-cock, to prevent one, through fumbling or carelessness of the holder: he perhaps having his joke, or carrying on some conversation while he is doing it, the lock slips, the barrel is discharged, and some poor unfortu nate is either killed, or more or less wounded, before the perpetrator fully realises that his gun has gone off. Go to any Accidental Assurance Office, and learn its opinion of the subject, and mark the difference in the rates of premiums between those who shoot and those who do not, and some idea may be gained of the importance of my cautions. The number of cartridges required for the day's shooting, equally divided between the right and left-hand pockets of the shooting jacket, is a far preferable way of carrying them, both for convenience and safety, than in either bag or box. But should the gun be a muzzle-leader-a double barrel-of course it requires a very different manner of treatment, for now the proper quantity of powder and shot is left entirely to the judgment of the young sportsman. Certainly in using a breech-loader, he may have what alterations made in the filling of the cartridges he may deem necessary. I shall recommend that the powder-flask be set at three drachms powder, and the shot-belt at one ounce No. 6or No. 7 shot; then in a very few times of discharging the picce it will be easily discovered what changes should be made in these proportions. It is simply ridiculous to lay down any fixed rules for the proper quantity of powder and shot to be used in the loading of any gun. Premising that the piece is perfectly clean, and that the powder-flask and shot-belt are set to suit its temper, let our young friend place the butt on his left foot, holding the muzzles of the gun well away from his body. Place the forefinger of the right hand firmly on the mouth of the powder-flask, inverting it, fill the top with The breech-loader is so immeasurably su- powder, which he should pour down the barrel perior to all other kinds of fowling-pieces, farthest from him; afterwards the other. Next, that it is to be hoped the selection has fallen inserting a wad in cach barrel, ram both well It is quite as strong a shooter home, giving one good solid blow at the finish to though this is denied by some authorities-drive the powder into the nipples; then returnas the muzzle-loader, and kills at quite as great a distance; and when we put into the balance the facility and despatch in loading, the freedom from such incumbrances as shotbelt, powder-flask, caps, wads, and ramrod, and the case and quickness with which the piece is cleaned after a day's shooting-the true sportsman will always clean his own gun-the comparison becomes odious. It is only necessary to provide oneself with suitable cartridges for the gauge of the barrel, and there you are, tramping along, free from all anxiety as to what is forgotten or left behind. ing the ram-rod to the pipe, pour in the shot, If these movements, requisite for the loading Whilst it is a most prudent course to carry the muzzles of the gun directed to the earth, great care should be taken that they never touch it. The muzzles are very sharp, and almost without one's knowing it, perforate soft turf, earth, and of course snow more readily than either, and the ends get stopped up. Should the piece be discharged in that condition, it is a thousand to one that the barrel bursts. Be careful, therefore, to remove any foreign substance from the barrels, however unimportant it may appear. Nover fire off the gun too near the surface of a river, or, in fact, of any body of water. A friend of mine was out one day fishing from a boat, with his two sons. They had a gun with them to knock over any head of game worth bagging. The water was very clear and deep, and one of the sons, seeing a moor-hen swimming some five or six feet below the surface, to escape their notice, snatched up the gun, and, in his eagerness to kill the fowl, submerged the muzzle of the barrel and pulled the trigger. The bird was not killed, but the father and brother were nearly so, the elder losing one eye, and the other having half his face smashed by the fragments of the burst barrel, to say nothing of the narrow escape from drowning of the whole party. [To be continued.] it. The friend arrived and found the philosopher NEWTON invited a friend to dinner and forgot in a fit of abstraction. Dinner was brought up for "one." The friend, without disturbing Newton, sat down and dispatched it. Newton recovered from his reverie, looked at the empty dishes, and said: "Well, really, if it wasn't for the proof before my eyes, I could have sworn that I had not yet dined." A selection of a gun having been made, the next point for consideration is, what are you going to do with it? I will tell you what you should do. For an hour or so for several days, take the piece-unloaded, of course-into your garden, or any other convenient plot of ground Should the wire cartridge form a part of the (it would be as well, perhaps, to avoid a crowded charge, of course it would follow the powder. thoroughfare: your actions might excite too much The wire cartridge is the charge of shot en- THE LUXEMBOURGERS, for whose city France attention), and walk about with it across your closed, with bone-dust to fill up all interstices, and Prussia wanted to fight, have a very popular left arm, occasionally raising it to your in a little wire basket. It leaves the barrel more amusement in their cat-races. Everybody who shoulder, and bringing it to bear upon, and like a solid ball than the loose shot, and sepa- has an animal of the feline race takes it cover, any object that may attract your at-rates as it travels. The advantage it possesses in a bag two miles from the city gates, where at tention. is that, retaining the form of a solid ball longer a given signal the bags are all emptied, and the Whenever a bird flies by or over you, do not than the loose shot, the range is materially in-cats start for home, frightened nearly to death. be in a hurry to present: watch its flight for a creased. The wire cartridge, as also the "uni- The cat that reaches the city first wins the race. A WORD INTRODUCTORY. THE First Number of THE GENTLEMAN'S JOURNAL is now in the hands of its readers; QUERIES AND REPLIES. NOTES and Queries on various matters of curious than Fiction. country. QUERIES. 1. In the account of the Queen's Drawing-room we What is an Exon-in-Waiting, whence the origin of the find mention of Major So-and-So, Exon-in-Waiting. term, and what is its meaning? While, however, prominence is given to the narration of daring and adventurous deeds, the brave, the learned, and the good will find fitting place in our columns; Curious Incidents of Every-day Life will be noted and described; Remarkable Facts in Natural History will be reported; and, in this manner, we shall gather together such a mass of information as cannot but prove interesting and delightful to readers of all ages. 4. What is the origin of All Fools' Day? 5.-Can any subscriber inform us what difference, if any, exists between the town-bred sparrow and the 6.-When were guns first mentioned in history, and by whom were firearms invented? in "King John," Shaks- pere speaks of the cannon's roar. Were cannons known Another important feature in THE GENTLEMAN'S JOURNAL will be descriptions of all in the time of King John? kinds of Sports, Pastimes, Games, and Amusements-Angling, Boating, Cricket, Croquet, Fencing, Gymnastics, Riding and Driving, Skating, Swimming, Shooting, &c., among the outdoor recreations; Backgammon, Billiards, Bagatelle, Chess, Card Games, Draughts, and so forth, among the amusements for winter evenings; so that each month will have its ap- propriate game thoroughly and faithfully explained by well-known Professors and practised To these will be added chapters on the Keeping and Rearing of Domestic Pets-Dogs, Rabbits, Pigeons, Poultry, Song Birds, Squirrels, White Mice, Bees, Butterflies and Silkworms, Science will also be included in our programme. Plain and untechnical instructions in Considerable space will also be found for Card Tricks, Conjuring Tricks, and curious facts Nor shall wo neglect those amusements of the Home and the Firesido which tend to lighten long evenings. Here will be found a rare and curious collection of Charades, Enigmas, Double Acrostics, Rebuses, Logogriphs, Conundrums, Paradoxes, and Puzzles, intermingled with some higher Exercises for Ingenuity, in the shape of Arithmetical and Mathematical Pro- blems. Prizes will be offered for Contributions and Solutions to this section of THE GENTLE- All these Subjects will be carefully, abundantly, and beautifully illustrated by the Best Artists. We contemplate the insertion of occasional articles on Manufactures and Processes of Manufacture, for which purpose especial visits will be made to the great centres of working England; the descriptive articles to be accompanied by graphic designs. There is one other feature of our Journal to which we invite attention; namely, that of In this Department we propose to supply a want long and seriously felt by those who reside at a distance from the metropolis, or in neighbourhoods which are ill-supplied with Libraries 1.-The first mention of Photography as an art occurs in a pamphlet published in 1852 on the Talbotype pro- cess, so called after Mr. Talbot, the improver of the 1851, there were no photographs or sun-pictures on then system of Daguerre. In the Great Exhibition of 2. What are known and sold as kid-gloves are made of calf-skin, sheep-skin, rat-skin, and lamb-skin; in each case split or shaved down very fine. 3. The natural day is from dawn to darkness; tho twenty-four hours' long. A few years ago, Mr. A. Novello, astronomical day includes the night, and is consequently the musician, suggested a clock of twenty-four hours: gratulate us on the announcement of our Journal. J. A. HARRY GURR is the champion swimmer of England, YOUNG CRICKETER.-W. G. Grace is certainly our first BENJAMIN. It is doubtful whether any public match was ever played between John Roberts, the English pro- fessional billiard player, and M. Berger, the French challenged the American champion; but we believe the R. A. and others are requested to read our "Word In our CORRESPONDENTS' COLUMN replies will be given to all questions of general import- Introductory." In the AGENCY DEPARTMENT we propose to obtain for our friends and subscribers whatever We desist. THE GENTLEMAN'S JOURNAL will in future speak for itself. Our task is an We hope, as no unwelcome guest, At your warm firesides when the lamps are lighted, J. MATHEWS. There is no way of getting on to the you possessed great talent, much has to be learned before performances and private theatricals. R. W.-There is really a character in handwriting, H. W.-Your poem is pretty, but hardly up to our mark. We shall, however, be happy to receive original poems from you and others, and, if they are good enough, cipal sellers. Avoid toy-shop balls. Literary Contributions, Books and Music for | judgment, but he cannot undertake to return rejected communications, unless stamps be forwarded for that purpose. All Letters on the business of the Publish- WITH wind and rain I have no part, But I dwell in the fleecy snow, And my form you'll find if you search for it Hid away in the ground below; The trees, the grass, or the waving grain Can never claim my care, But there's not a flower that decks the plain, But you're sure to find me there. In obscurity I take a part, And in glory, and pomp, and noise Of the cannon's roar and the clash of the sword And the shouts of victorious boys. In the hospital too, I have a place, And the pillow is softer I ween For my presence there, and if I should go No soldier would ever be seen. Very old am I, but I never was known In church or hall to be; But a song, a book, or a childish toy Have a singular charm for me. 2.-CHARADE. C. M. C. My first always implies increase; 8.-METAGRAM. W. L. S. WHY is this horse above all accidents of for tune ? FOUR feet have I, but never walk, |