Auld bawthrens grey, she kitten'd me here, Three threeds an' a thrum, Three threeds an' a thrum, Three threeds an' a thrum, An' syne she loe'd me muekle mair, Three threeds an' a thrum, For want o' her weans, near a' ta'en frae 'r, Three threeds an' a thrum, As I grew a cat, wi' look sae douse, Three threeds an' a thrum, Three threeds an' a thrum, She learnt me to catch the pilf'rin' mouse; Wi' the thief-like rottons I had nae truce, But banish'd them frae the maister's house, Three threeds an' a thrum, Three threeds an' a thrum. Mither got fushonless, auld, an' blin', Three threeds an' a thrum, Three threeds an' a thrum, The bluid in her veins was cauld an' thin; Her claws were blunt, an' she couldna rin, An' t' her forbears was sune gather'd in, Three threeds an' a thrum, Now I sit hurklin' aye i' the ase, Three threeds an' a thrum, Three threeds an' a thrum, The queen I am o' that cozey place; As wi' ilka paw I dicht face, my I sing an' purr, wi' mickle grace, Three threeds an' a.thrum, Three threeds an a thrum. ACCOUNT OF THE SINGULAR ANIMAL, THE DUCK-BILLED WATER-MOLE. (From the Amulet' for 1835,—an excellent number.) Ir was on a beautiful evening in the month of October, the commencement of summer in southern latitudes, that we arrived in a district lying to the southwest of Sydney, and distant about two hundred miles from that of the Colonial Government, I approached the banks of the Yas river, in the interior of Australia. The scenery here is of the most picturesque description: the open forest country and wooded hills; the neat cottage and garden, with the grain of a vivid green just bursting into ear: the tranquillity around being only occasionally disturbed by the lowing of cattle, bleating of sheep, or the gay and blithesome notes of the feathered tribe. The silver stream of the Yas continued its silent course, its banks adorned by the beautiful pendulous acacias, which, at that season, were profusely covered by their rich golden and fragrant blossoms; while the lofty and majestic gum-trees, the graceful manna, or the dark "swamp oak," added to the variety and beauty of the landscape. The sun was near its setting, when, at a more quiet part of the river, I sought the burrows of those shy animals the "water-moles," the ornithorynchus paradoxus of naturalists, known also as the platypus, or duck-billed animal. Those only who are accustomed to view and investigate the varying productions of nature-whether in the peculiar forms and habits of the animal, or the brilliant and animating varieties of the vegetable world-can appreciate the true feelings of enjoyment experienced on seeing in their native haunts creatures which before were known merely, from vague description. Perhaps no animal, on its first introduction into Europe, gave rise to greater doubts as to its being a production of nature, or excited deeper interests among naturalists respecting its habits and economy, than this paradoxical creature, which, from its external appearance, as well as internal anatomy, may be correctly described as forming a connecting link between the bird and the quadruped. The animal, when seen in a living state ronning along the ground, conveys to the spectator an idea of something supernatural, and its uncouth form produces terror in the minds of the timid: even the canine race (except those accustomed to bring them out of the water when shot) stare at them with erect ears, and the feline race avoid them; still, although of such a questionable shape," it is an animal of perfectly harmless, although restless disposition. Among the colonists in Australia, it is known by the name of "water-mole," from some resemblance it bears to the common European mole. By the aboriginal tribes at Rathurst, Goulburn Plains, Yas, Murrumbridgee and Tumat countries, it is designated by the two names mallangong and tambreet, the latter being more in use with them than the former. beaver. The body is depressed like the otter, mole, and It is covered by long and thick dark brown hair, underneath which is a short and very soft fur, resembling the two distinct kinds found on the seal and otter. On the abdomen, breast, and throat, the fur and hair is of much finer quality, and more silky in its nature. In young specimens, the under-surface of the tail is covered by hair of a beautiful silvery white; this is lost, however, in the adult; the under-surface of the tail, in such, having merely a few coarse hairs scattered over it. This circumstance induced many to suppose that the animal used its tail as a trowel, in a manner similar to the beaver; but from an examination of their burrows, I have no doubt that the hair is rubbed off by the attrition of the tail on the surface of the ground. The tail is flat, broad, and inclining on each side abruptly off at the termination, beyond which the long hairs project. The hair on the upper part of the tail is of a dark colour, long, and coarse, and destitute of the peculiar glossy appearance of the other parts of the body. There was no variation in the colour of the fur in all the specimens I have seen; the under short fur is of a greyish hue. The whole of the under surface of the body is of a ferruginous colour, varying in intensity according to age. The legs are short, feet pentadactyle, webbed, and in the fore-feet, the web extends a short distance beyond the claws, is loose, and falls back when the animal burrows. The head is flat; and from the mouth, two lips or mandibles project, resembling the beak of a Shoveller duck; the lower mandible is short and narrower than the upper, and its internal edges are channelled with numerous stria, resembling, in some degree, those seen in the bill of a duck. The colour of the superior mandible above, when seen in an animal recently taken out of the water, is of a dull, dirty, greyish black, covered with innumerable minute dots, and the cartilaginous continuation around the mandible is uniformly smooth and soft. The eyes are very small, but brilliant, and of a light brown colour; they are situated rather high up the head. The external orifice of the ear is situated at the upper part of the external angle of the eye; the orifice is easily discovered when a living specimen is examined, as the animal is then seen frequently, to open and close it; but remaining collapsed in dead specimens, it is not easily perceived by persons unacquainted with its exact situation. From this orifice a semicircular cartilaginous canal is continued, bably increases the intensity of sound, giving the which terminates at the base of the skull, and proanimal an aeute auditory power. but the males are usually found to be, in a small degree, larger than the females, the average length being from eighteen to twenty inches. The size varies ; the colonists call "ponds," on the surface of which It was at a tranquil part of the Yas river, which numerous aquatic plants grew, that I first beheld these animals. It is in places of this description that the water-moles are most commonly seen, seeking their food among the aquatic plants, whilst the steep and shaded banks afford them excellent situations for excavating their burrows. I readily recognized their dark bodies just appearing level with the water, the head slightly raised, by the circles made around them from their paddling motions. It is necessary at this time for the spectator to remain perfectly stationary, as the slightest noise or movement will cause the timid creatures instantly to disappear; and they seldom re-appear when frightened, so acute are their sight and hearing. But, if the spectator remain quiet while the animal is paddling about, he will have an excellent view of its movements; it, however, seldom remains longer than one or two minutes, but dives, and re-appears a short distance above or below the stream from the place at which it was observed to descend. Although the animal may rise close to the spot on which the sportsman patiently waits, it is useless to level the gun, as the action would cause its instant disappearance. Preparations must be made to discharge the gun on its re-appearance at the surface, which, when the animal descends unfrightened, is almost certain to take place in a short time. A near shot is requisite, a distant one being almost useless. When the fur is wet, the animal has a soiled and far from attractive appearance, resembling more a lump of dirty weeds which are often seen floating about the rivers than any production of the animal kingdom; it would therefore often escape observation but for its paddling motion in the water; such was its appearance, when lying dead on the surface, or when drifted by the stream against the stump of a tree, or among the reeds and bulrushes growing profusely near and upon the banks of the river. The animals are seen in the Australian rivers at all seasons of the year, but are most abundant during the spring and summer months; and I think a query may arise whether they do not hybernate. The best time for seeing them is very early in the morning, or late in the evening; during floods and freshes they are frequently perceived travelling up and down the rivers. When going down, they ap pear to allow themselves to be carried by the force of the stream without making any exertion, but when swimming against the stream, all their muscular power is exerted to the utmost to stem the force of the current. The opinion that so generally prevails, that these animals must be shot instantly dead, otherwise they will sink and not re-appear, I did not find correct in practice; if missed, this is likely to occur, but if the animal is wounded, although it sinks, it almost invariably afterwards ascends to the surface of the water, some distance from the place at which it had dived. Some require several shots before they are killed, or before they are so severely wounded as to secure their capture, which they frequently evade, even when wounded, by diving; and oftentimes, unless the sportsman is very vigilant, in rising they may come up amongst reeds and rushes (which are plentiful in some parts, extending out from the banks of the river), and thus escape observation altogether. When the ornithorynchus is captured, it makes great efforts to regain its liberty, and its loose integuments cause it to be retained with difficulty, for the animal feels as if it was contained in a thick fur bag, under which are very powerful cutaneous muscles. During its struggles to escape it makes no attempt to bite, but occasionally emits a low, growling noise. The aborigines use them for food. The methods employed in their capture are by digging them out of the burrows, or by spearing them. They dig up the burrows at certain seasons of the year, when the young are nearly full grown, and at the time they consider them excellent eating, and often capture the old animal at the same time. One morning I accompanied a native to inspect the burrow of one from which, the preceding summer, he told me the young had been taken. We availed ourselves of his assistance in seeking for the burrows. On a steep bank near that part of the Yas river where I first had the gratification of seeing these animals, and which I have before described as abounding in river weeds, and the banks decorated by overhanging acacias in full bloom, strewing the surface of the water with their golden blossoms shaken off by the wind, our keen-sighted guide pointed out to our uninitiated eyes the tracks of the animals on the moist earth close to the water; these tracks being followed up the bank, at a distance varying from two to five feet, the entrance of the burrows, concealed by the long grass and shrubs which grew profusely and luxuriantly in these situations, was soon discovered, and the tracks had evidently a very recent appearance. Following the same method he had adopted on similar occasions, the native placed his hand within the burrow, and took from its lower surface pieces of clay, on which impressions of the animals' feet were distinctly marked. situation of these burrows, and from being so conFrom the cealed by shrubs and long grass, as well as the height impossible to explore them. and steepness of the bank, I regarded it as next to Some of the burrows on this bank had also a second entrance under the water, communicating with the principal or largest entrance above it. Although this second entrance was found in several, we could not discover it in all. Often during this our first excursion of the kind, we mistook the holes of water-rats and other animals for those of the ornithorynchus, but our more experienced tawny companion always told us what they were, at the same time kindly pointing out the difference, so that, under such able guidance, there is but little doubt that, in course of time, we might have become expert "water-mole" hunters. Besides seeking for the habitation, we kept also an occasional look-out for the owners of these grave dwellings. them. Very late in the evening we perceived two paddling about in a small pond of the river, but they eluded all our endeavours to get a sufficiently near shot at I frequently heard a splash in the water at one particular part of the bank, whenever I approached it, as if the animal had retreated to the bank, but, unable to gain the burrow in time, had, on my approach, taken again to the water. As this occurred several times about the same place, and as darkness was setting in rapidly, I marked the situation of the spot. On the following morning, whilst the horses were saddling for a ride to Mount Lavinia, the farm and residence of Mr Henry O'Brien, on Yas plains, we went down, accompanied by the native, Darega, to that part of the river at which I had supposed the water-mole to have been attempting to regain its burrow. I was right in my conjecture, for, near the spot, tracks of one were very distinctly visible, and were traced up the bank, when, amongst some long grass, the entrance was discovered; the tracks continuing on the under surface of the interior, was sufficient to determine its being inhabited, which our black companion, Darega, consented to. The situa tion was one admirably calculated for digging up the burrow, as the bank gradually sloped, and was neither very high nor steep; so I came to the determination to explore it, not with the expectation of meeting with any young, for my dissected specimens induced a contrary opinion, but from a desire of examining the internal construction of the burrows themselves. Spades were consequently sent for. The entrance was large, particularly when compared to its size in the continuation, measuring one foot three inches in depth, and one foot one inch in breadth. Instead of laying the burrow intirely open from the entrance to the termination, which would have been a laborious undertaking, holes were opened at certain distances in its direction, according to the method adopted by the aborigines. The depth of these burrows beneath the surface of the earth may be from one foot to one foot and a half, but gradually tending towards the surface as it proceeds up the bank, so that the termination or nest is nearly superficial with the earth's surface. This burrow, as it receded from the entrance, became narrow, being about the usual size of the animal when uncontracted. We had traced the burrow for the distance of ten feet four inches, and had just dug a pit down upon it, and saw it still continuing its course up the bank, when the well-known beak and head of a water-mole was seen protruding for an instant from the upper part, as if it had been disturbed from its repose, and had, therefore, come down to see what we were about with its habitation. It did not remain an instant, however, appearing not to fancy our captivating physiognomies; for, as soon as it beheld us, it thought we could be there making such a noise for no very benevolent purpose, for it immediately turned up to take refuge in that part of the burrow not yet explored; but in turning it was seized by the hind leg, and secured as a lawful prisoner of the chase. proved to be a full-grown female. When I held the unfortunate platypus in my hands, its little bright eyes glistened, and the orifices of the ears were expanded and contracted alternately, as if eager to catch the slightest sound; its little heart palpitating violently with fear and anxiety. After it had been retained in the hands some time it became more reconciled to its situation. It The animal certainly appeared very much astonished when it was hauled out of its subterraneous dwelling. It uttered no sound when first captured, nor attempted to bite; in its struggles for liberty, the hind claws being sharp, would scratch the hand, but not sufficiently to be regarded. In the The ornithorynchus was placed in a cask, with grass, mud (taken from the river), and water, and all that could make it comfortable under existing circumstances. It ran round its place of confinement, scratching and making great efforts to get out; but finding them useless, it became quite tranquil, contracted itself into a small compass, and was soon buried in sleep. At night, however, it was very restless, and made great efforts to escape, going round the cask with its forepaws raised against the sides, the web turned back, scratching violently with the claws of the forefeet, as if to burrow its way out. morning, I found the animal fast asleep, the tail being turned inwards, the head and beak under the breast, and the body contracted into a very small compass. When disturbed from its sleep, it utters a soft growling noise, something like the growl of a young dog, but in a softer and more harmonious key. Although quiet most of the day, its efforts to escape continued with a growling noise during the night. The animal seemed a great curiosity to the Europeans about Yas, who had not before had an opportunity of seeing one alive. Although they have long been known to be burrowing animals, yet I believe this to be the first burrow explored, and the first living animal captured by an European. The female gives birth to from one to four young ones at a time, the usual number being two. The mother first suckles, but when her offspring are sufficiently old, feeds them with comminuted insects mingled with mud, until they are capable of taking to the water and providing for themselves. Another burrow, which we afterwards explored, near Goulburn Plains, continued up the bank in a serpentine form, and was very long; after a laborious task, from the hardness of the ground, the termination was attained at a distance of thirty-five feet from the entrance to the inhabited part; they have been found to extend even a distance of fifty feet. The arrival at the termination of this very extensive, burrow was made known by a growling being very distinctly heard to issue forth; this, at first, I thought proceeded from the old one, which I now expected of having an opportunity of viewing with her young; but recollecting, under similar circumstances, that the old one had forsaken her progeny, and during the course of laying open the burrow we had not seen her come down to ascertain why we destroyed her habitation, I could not tell what to think of it, more especially when at its termination the fur of the animal or animals was seen; and what then surprised me was, that although there was abundance of growling, yet there was no attempt of the animals to escape. On being taken out, they were found to be full-furred young ones, coiled up asleep, which growled exceedingly on being exposed to the "broad light of noon-day." There were two, a male and female, of the dimensions of ten inches from the beak to the extremity of the tail. These animals had a most beautiful sleek and delicate appearance, when compared with those of larger growth, and seemed never to have left the burrow. The nest, if it may be so termed, consisted of dry river weeds, the epidermis of reeds, and small dry fibrous roots of some kinds of plants, all strewed on the floor of the cavity, which was of sufficient size to contain the mother and her young. When awoke and placed on the ground, they would move about, but not make the wild attempts at escape we had perceived in the old ones when caught. Indeed, it was rather subject of surprise that we did not capture, or, at all events, see the old one escape; but, not long after, the black captured a female on the bank not far distant from the burrow, which, there is no doubt, was the mother of the young we had just taken, which had escaped in the intermediate spaces of the burrow which were left, when all were busily engaged in exploring its long and tedious windings. The old specimen was in a ragged and wretchedly poor condition, the fur was abraded in several places, the hind claws were also rubbed and wounded and she seemed to be in a miserable and weak state. In the young animals, the beak above was of a similar colour to the same organ in the old speci mens, but on their under surface it was a beautiful pink, from the minute blood vessels being distinctly seen through the delicate epidermis, like the bloom of rosy health on the cheeks of the infantile portion of our race; the legs, close to the feet, were fringed with fine silvery hairs, and the whole of the under surface of the tail had a similar covering, but coarser; the fur on the back, although of a more delicate nature, was similar in colour, as was also the under part of the chest and abdomen, but of a lighter tinge than that observed in full grown specimens. The young animals sleep in various positions, sometimes extended and often rol'ed up, like a hedge-hog, in the form of a ball. They formed an interesting group in the box in which I placed them, seemingly happy and content. One lay curled up like a dog, keeping its beak warm with the flattened tail brought over it; another stretched on its back, the head resting, by way of a pillow, upon the body of the old one, which lay on its side, the back resting against the side of the box, all fast asleep. At another time, one would be seen lying on the back, with outstretched paws, another on its side, and the third coiled or rolled in the form of a ball. They lie in various positions, shifting them as they may feel fatigued; but the most favourite position of the young animals is rolled up like a ball: this is effected by the fore paws being placed under the beak, the head and mandible bent down towards the tail, the hind paws crossed over the mandibles, and the tail being turned up to complete the rotundity of the figure. Although furnished with a good thick coat of fur, they seem particular about being kept warm and comfortable. They would permit me to smooth their fur, but if the mandibles were touched, they darted away immediately, those parts appearing to be remarkably sensitive. The young I permitted to run about the room, as they pleased, but the old specimen was so rest The less, and damaged the walls of the rooms so much by attempts at burrowing, that I was obliged to keep her a close prisoner in the box, where during the day she would remain quiet, but at night was very restless, and eager to escape from her place of confinement. food I then gave them, and afterwards continued, was bread soaked in water, chopped egg, and meat minced very small; although, at first, I presented them with milk, they did not seem to prefer it to water. The young were very tranquil; as they were not confined in the night, I heard them growling, and they seemed as if they were fighting, the saucer containing their food being upset in the scuffle; but, on the following morning, they were quietly rolled up fast asleep, side by side, in the temporary nest I had formed for them. The little animals often appeared to dream of swimming, as I have seen their little paws in movement as if in the act. If I placed them on the ground during the day, they ran about seeking some dark corner for repose; but if I placed them in a dark corner or box, they huddled themselves up, as soon as they became a little reconciled to the place, and went to sleep. I found they would go to sleep on a table, It has been observed with those curious birds, the penguins, that the parents become thin, and in a low condition, when feeding and rearing their young; which become very fat. Thus it was with the young moles, they were "cobbing fat," and in a plump condition, whilst the old one was miserably thin. sofa, or, indeed, any place, but, if permitted, would resort to that in which they had been accustomed to repose, but, although for days together they would sleep in the place made up for them, yet, on a sudden, from some unaccountable cause, they would seek repose behind a box, or some dark corner, in preference to their former habitation. They usually reposed side by side, like a pair of furred balls; and awful little growls issued from them when disturbed, but, when very sound asleep, they were handled and examined without any hint of the kind. This At first, I was inclined to consider them night animals; but I found that the time of their leaving the burrow was exceedingly irregular, both during the day and night; but they seemed more lively and more disposed to ramble about the room after dark, commencing about dark; yet all their movements in this respect were so very irregular that no just conclusions could be drawn, further than that they were both night and day animals, preferring the cool and dusky evenings to the heat and glare of noon. habit was not confined to the young specimens, for the old ones were just as irregular, sometimes sleeping all day, and lively at night, and sometimes the reverse. I have often found them asleep and running about at the same periods of the day, the male leaving the burrow alone, the female remaining asleep; he returns, curls himself up and sleeps, and then the female leaves. At this time, having fed from the saucer of food placed before them, they would paddle round the room, and return to their usual sleepingplace. Although they frequently left alternately, yet at other times they would suddenly go out together. One evening, when both were running about, the female uttered a squeaking noise, as if calling her companion, which was in some part of the room behind the furniture, and was invisible. He immediately answered her in a similar note, and, noting the direction the answer to her signal came from, she went to the place where he had secreted himself. It is very ludicrous to see these uncouth animals open their mandible-like lips and yawn, stretching out the fore-paws, and extending the web of their fore-feet to their utmost expansion. Although this was natural, yet, not being in the habit of seeing a duck yawn, it had the semblance of being perfectly unnatural. It often surprised me how they contrived to reach the summit of a book-case, or any other elevated piece of furniture. This, at last, was discovered to be effected by the animal supporting the back against the wall, and placing the feet against the book-case, and then, by aid of the strong cutaneous muscles of the back, and the claws of the feet, they contrived to reach the top very expeditiously. They perform this mode of climbing often, so that I had many opportunities of witnessing the manner in which it was done. When running, they are exceedingly animated; their little eyes glisten, and the orifices of the ears contract and dilate so as to catch the slightest sound; they struggle very much to escape, if taken up at this time for examination. Their eyes being placed so much above the head, they do not see objects well in a straight line, and consequently run against everything in the room, and spread "dire confusion" among all the light and easily overturnable articles. I have seen them now and then elevate the head, as if to regard the objects round or above them; but they more usually run head-foremost, without looking on one side or the other. Sometimes I have been able to play with them by scratching and tickling them with my finger; they seemed to enjoy it, for they opened their mandibles, biting playfully at the finger, and moving about in the same manner as we see a young dog enjoy similar treatment. As well as combing their fur to clean it, when wet, I have also seen them often peck it (if the term may be allowed) with the beak, as a duck would clean its feathers. What with this, and the combing of the hind feet, it is a curious sight to view them engaged in the occupation of the toilette. When I placed the animals in a pan of deep water, they were eager to get out; but, when the water was shallow, with a turf of grass placed in one corner, they enjoyed it exceedingly; they would sport together, attacking one another with their mandibles, and rise one against the other with their fore feet, as if in mock combat, and roll over in the water in the midst of their gambols; they then retired, having had a plenitude of fun, to the turf, where they would lie combing themselves, from which process their fur had an additional bright and sleek appearance; this they appeared to enjoy exceedingly, lying on the back, and in various positions, for the purpose of bringing the hind claws into action over every part of the body. It was most ludicrous to observe the uncouth looking little beasts running about, overturning and seizing one another with their mandibles in "sportive gaiety;" and then, in the midst of their fun and frolic, coolly incline to one side, and scratch themselves in the gentlest manner imaginable. After the cleaning operation was concluded, they would perambulate the room for a short time, and then seek re pose. It is seldom they remain longer than ten or fifteen minutes in the water at a time. One evening both the animals came out about dusk, went and eat food from the saucer, and then commenced playing like two puppies, attacking with their mandibles, and raising their fore-paws against each other. In the scuffle one would get thrust down, and when the spectator would expect it to rise again, the animal would commence scratching itself; its antagonist looking on, and waiting for the other to rise and renew the combat. Some time after, to my great regret, my little favourites became meagre; their coats lost the sleek and beautiful appearance which before caused them to be so much admired, and they ate very little; yet they ran about, and appeared lively. But these external symptoms were much against their being in a state of health. When wet, their fur became matted, and never appeared to dry so readily as before; the mandibles, and, indeed, every part of the animals, indicated anything but a condition of health. How different was their appearance now from the time I removed them from the burrow; then, their plump and sleek appearance excited even the apathetic blacks, now, the poor creatures could only excite commiseration for their reduced condition. The female died on the 29th of January, 1833, and the male on the 2nd of February, having been kept by me during the space of nearly five weeks. Thus my expectations of conveying them to England were frustrated. THE WEEK. From Wednesday the 24th to Tuesday the 30th December. CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS. SELECTED FROM BRAND, FOSTER, AND HONE. Singular Devonshire Customs on Christmas Eve.A superstitious notion prevails, in the western parts of Devonshire, that at twelve o'clock at night, on Christmas Eve, the oxen in their stalls are always found on their knees, in an attitude of devotion; and that (which is still more singular), since the alteration of the style, they contrive to do this only on the Eve of old Christmas Day. An honest countrymen, living on the edge of St Stephen's Downs, near Launceston, Cornwall, informed me, October 28th, 1790, that he once, with some others, made a trial of the truth of the above, and watching several oxen in their stalls at the above time, at twelve o'clock at night, they observed the two oldest oxen only fall upon their knees, and as, he expressed it in the idiom of the country, make "a cruel moan, like Christian creatures;" I could not but with great difficulty keep my countenance: he saw, and seemed angry that I gave so little credit to his tale, and, walking off in a pettish humour, seemed to "marvel at my unbelief." There is an old print of the Nativity, in which the oxen in the stable, near the Virgin and Child, are represented upon their knees, as in a suppliant posture. This graphic representation has probably given rise to the above superstitious notion on this head. Christmas Day, in the primitive Church, was always observed as the Sabbath-day; and, like that, preceded by an Eve, or Vigil, hence our present Christmas Eve. On the night of this, our ancestors were wont to light up candles of an uncommon size, called Christmas Candles, and lay a log of wood upon the fire, called a Yule Log, or Christmas Block, to illuminate the house, and, as it were, to turn night into day. This custom is, in some measure, still kept up in the North of England. [And in the South say others. In truth, it is a custom lingering, or revived, more or less, in all parts of the country.] Old English Hospitalities.—A writer in the Gentleman's Magazine' for February, 1795, p. 110, gives the following account of a custom which takes place annually, on the 24th of December, at the house of Sir Holt, Bart., of Aston Jureta, Birmingham: "As soon as supper is over, a table is set in the hall; on it is placed a brown loaf, with twenty silver threepences stuck on the top of it, a tankard of ale, with pipes and tobacco; and the two oldest servants have chairs behind it, to sit as judges if they please. The steward brings the servants, both men and women, by one at a time, covered with a winnow-sheet, and lay their right hand on the loaf, exposing no other part of the body, the oldest of the two judges guesses at the person, by naming a name, then the younger judge, and lastly, the oldest again. If they hit upon the right name, the steward leads the person back again; but if they do not, he takes off the winnow-sheet, and the person receives a threepence, makes a low obeisance to the judges, but speaks not a word. When the second servant was brought, the younger judge guessed first and third; and this they did alternately, till all the money was given away. house the preceding night, forfeited his right to the money. No account is given of the origin of this strange custom, but it has been practised ever since the family settled there. When the money is gone, suits. the servants have full liberty to dance, sing, and go which occasionally determine the directions of pur- Christmas Boxes or Presents.-The custom of annual donations at Christmas and on New Year's Day is very ancient, being copied by the Christians from the Polytheists of Rome, at the time the public religion was changed. These presents, now-a-days, are more commonly made on the morrow of Christmas. From this circumstance, the festival of St Stephen has got the nick-name of Christmas Boxing Days, and, by corruption, Boxing Days. In London, and in many other parts of Europe, large families and establishments keep regular lists of tradesmen's servants, apprentices, and other persons who come about making a sort of annual claim on them for a Christmas Box on this day. This practice, however, is declining; and, in many places, is now confined to children. The parish boys and children at schools bring about their samples of writing, and ask for money; and the Bellman, the Watchman, the Waits, and the Church-Band, still repeat their wonted annual calls on the hospitable feeling with which a smoking Christmas board of turkey, plum-pudding, and minced-pies, inspires the pious head of an old fashioned family mansion. We are told in the Athenian Oracle,' vol. 1, p. 360. money, that they, too, might be enabled to pay the the Christmas Carols.-Bishop Taylor observes, that Gloria in Excelsis,' the well-known hymn sung by the angels to the shepherds at our Lord's Nativity, was the earliest Christmas Carol. Bourne cites Durand, to prove that, in the earlier ages of the churches, the bishops were accustomed, on Christmas Day, to sing Carols among their clergy. He seems perfectly right in deriving the word carol from cantare, to sing, and vola, an interjection of joy. This species of pious song is undoubtedly of most ancient date. "From a carol (says Mr Hone) called Dives and Lazarus,' I annex an amusing extract. However whimsical this may appear to the reader, he can scarce conceive its ludicrous effect when the metre of the last line is solemnly drawn out to its utmost length by a Warwickshire chaunter, and so solemnly listened to by the well-disposed crowd, who seem without difficulty to believe that Dives sits on a serpent's knee. The idea of sitting on the knee was, perhaps, conveyed to the poet's mind by old wood-cut representations of Lazarus seated in Abraham's lap. More anciently, Abraham was frequently drawn holding him up by the sides, to be seen by Dives in hell. In an old book now before me they are so represented, with the additions of a devil blowing the fire under Dives with a pair of bellows. On the continent (continues the same inquiring and sincere writer) the custom of carolling at Christmas is almost universal. During the last days of Advent, Calabrian minstrels enter Rome, and are to be seen in every street saluting the shrines of the Virgin mother with their wild music, under the traditional notions of charming her labour-pains on the approaching Christmas. Lady Morgan observed them frequently stopping at the shop of a carpenter. In reply to questions concerning this, the workman who stood at the door said, that it was done out of respect to St Joseph! I have an old print of this practice. Two Calabrian shepherds are represented devoutly playing, at Christmas, in a street of Rome, before a stone shrine containing a sculpture of the Infant Jesus in the Virgin's arms, lighted up by candles, with a relief under it of supplicating souls in A purgatorial fire, inscribed Dite Ave Maria. young female, with a rosary, is praying on her knees before the sculpture. The shepherds stand behind and blow the bagpipes and a clarionet. If one there be, who has proceeded until now without tiring, he will know how much pleasantness there is in pursuits like these. To him who inquires of what use they are, 1 answer, that I have found them agreeable I love an old MS. recreations at leisure moments. and a ballad in print, and I know no distance that I would not travel to obtain Autolycus's “Ballad of a fish that appeared upon the coast, on Wednesday the forescore of April, forty Since this sheet was at the printer's, Gilbert Davis, Esq., F. R.S., F.A.S., &c. has published eight Ancient Christmas Carols, with the tunes to which they were formerly sung in the west of England. This is a laudable and successful effort to rescue from oblivion some carol melodies, which in a few years will be no more heard." Mr Davies says that, "On Christmas Day these carols took the place of psalms in all the churches, especially at afternoon service, the whole congregation joining; and, at the end, it was usual for the parish clerk to declare, in a loud voice, his wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy new year." A sentiment similar to that of the parish clerk's in the West of England, was expressed last year in a way that leaves little doubt of its former general adoption at the same season. Just before Christmas Day, I was awakened in London, at the dead of the night, by the playing of the waits: on the conclusion of their solemn tunes, one of the performers exclaimed aloud, "God bless you, my masters and mistresses, a merry Christmas to you, and a happy new year.” We conclude our "Week" with the finest Christmas Carol ever written by Englishman. It is an Ode or Hymn of Milton's, on the Nativity, written when he was a youth,-not, of course, one of his best, but with almost as fine things in it here and there as he ever produced, particularly in stanzas 4, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, and many of the closing lines in the others. Milton was always Milton. was lofty from the first. The stature of his mind The stars with deep amaze Whatever servant had not slept in the thousand fathoms above water, and sung this And will not take their flight ballad against the hard hearts of maids.” I can rarely tell why collectors have almost overlooked Carols as a class of popular poetry. To me they have been objects of interest, from circumstances For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warned them hence, But in their glimmering orbs did glow, Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. While the red fire and mouldering clouds out brake: The aged-earth aghast, With terror of the blast, Shall from the surface to the centre shake; The dreadful Judge in middle air shall spread, his XVIII. And then at last our bliss Full and perfect is, But now begins; for from this happy day, The old Dragon, under ground In straiter limits bound, Not half so far casts his usurped sway; And, wrath to see his kingdom fail, Swindges the scarely horror of his foulded tail. The oracles are dumb; No voice or hideous hum XIX. XXVII. But see! the Virgin blest Time is our tedious song should here have ending; Heaven's youngest-teemed star, Hath fixed her polish'd car, Her sleeping Lord with handmaid lamp attending; And all about the courtly stable Bright harness'd angels sit in order serviceable. ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE. NO. L.MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE AT THE MAURITIUS. [FROM Recollections of Seven Years' Residence at the Mauritius, by a Lady,'-a truly feminine book, full of natural feeling and description, and evincing a liberal spirit of allowance for other countries in spite of party education.] A young married gentleman lived on an estate in a very retired and lonely part of the country, at a great distance from town. At that time the island was covered with thick forests and impenetrable jungles. Runs through the arched roof in sounds deceiving: Estates were far apart and divided from each other With hollow shrieks the steep of Delphos leaving. xx. The lonely mountains o'er, And the resounding shore, A voice of weeping heard and loud lament; The parting Genius is with sighing sent; The Nymphs in twilight shade of tangled thickets mourn. In consecrated earth, And on the holy hearth, XXI. The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight. plaint; In urns and altars round A drear and dying sound Affrights the Flamens at their service quaint; And the chill marble seems to sweat, While each peculiar Power foregoes his wonted seat. by deep ravines, high mountains, rapid rivers, or pathless woods; communication was very difficult in consequence; narrow footpaths, and devious tracts over the mountains and along the brink of precipices were the only medium of intercourse between the inhabitants, instead of the fine broad roads over which the carriages of the English now roll so smoothly. This gentleman's family consisted only of his wife, her sister, and himself; both the ladies were very beautiful and attractive. It happened, unfortunately, that some troops were stationed in the neighbourhood of the estate, commanded by a man of the most infamous character. The army of revolutionized France was of a very different order from that which Condé and Turenne had led into the field; and of that army the regiments stationed at the colonies were the worst specimens, and composed of the most abandoned-characters. The colonel of the military party stationed near this estate, was of this description, but had plausible manners and handsome features; yet it was said that there was a certain fearful expression in his eyes which seemed to tell of evil passions and wicked deeds. It was the misfortune of the young Madame Bto attract the attention of this bad man; he soon took an opportunity of declaring his sentiments to her. Shocked and alarmed, she shrunk with horror from the passion she had inspired in this desperate and daring man, of whom she always had an unconquerable dread. After his declaration she shunned his presence, but refrained from mentioning his declaration to her husband, fearing that the impetuosity of his feelings would hurry him to a meeting with the colonel, which would doubtless prove fatal to him, and thereby throw her completely in the power of their mutual enemy. The The colonel continued to visit at the estate, and was always attended by a junior officer, who, being the professed admirer of this lady's sister, became a frequent guest, and it was not considered extraordinary that the colonel should accompany his friend. unhappy lady, in the meantime, endured great uneasiness of mind, and confided to an elderly female friend, who sometimes came to visit her, the cause of her disquiet; adding, that she had a presentiment of some approaching evil which she could not banish from her mind. Some urgent business obliging her husband to go to town for a day or two, the lady, alarmed at the thought of being at the estate without him, expressed a wish that she and her sister should accompany him. He strongly opposed her desire, alleging that the fatigue of the journey would be injurious to her, as she was then expecting to be a mother. In vain she urged her entreaties; he at first laughed at her extraordinary wish to visit the town, and then felt surprised at the more than common grief she evinced at parting for so short a time. Bidding her keep up her spirits, he gaily bade her adieu, and, as he told his friend afterwards, saw her, on turning his head to look back, weeping bitterly where he had taken leave of her. When his swift-footed bonniquet had borne him through the avenue of trees, and turned into the narrow road he was so travel along, he looked back at her for the last time-it was indeed the last timehe never saw her again. On the evening of his departure she was particularly anxious and uneasy, and started at every sound (as her favourite maid afterwards related), and expressed a desire that the house should be shut up at a much earlier hour than usual, and that every one should retire to bed, requesting her sister to sleep with her that night. As she was not naturally fearful, her restlessness, and evident terror that evening excited the surprise of her sister and her maid. On being rallied on her timidity, she burst into tears, saying, that a great calamity, she was sure, was hanging over her, and she should never see her husband again. All these terrors and forebodings were attributed to weakness of nerves, and the delicacy of her situation at the time, and it was agreed that they should go to bed; before she retired to her room, however, she carefully examined every door and window, to be sure of all being secured. Towards the morning of the following day, the blacks on the estate, aroused by the outery of the watchman, beheld their master's house a blaze of flames, and, by sunrise, a heap of ruins alone was seen where that happy dwelling once stood. All efforts to extinguish the fire had been in vain; it had been burning too long, and had too surely penetrated into every part of the mansion before it was discovered, for any endeavour to prevail against it. A slave was despatched to town with the dreadful tidings for his master, whose anguish at hearing the misfortune that had befallen him may be more easily imagined than described. It was at first supposed that the fire had accidentally happened, and that the two ladies had been burned to death in the house; but a small silk shoe, which was at once recognized as belonging to Madame, having been found in a narrow path leading to the river, it was then conjectured that some horrible act of violence had been perpetrated, and that the two females had been murdered in some part of the ground. Search was made for the bodies, but they were never found. After a careful investigation of the matter, it was discovered that the waiting-maid, who slept in the room adjoining her mistress's apartment, had admitted a soldier into the house, who was immediately followed by two other men, wrapped up in cloaks. The woman, not expecting the two latter, and seeing them approach her lady's room, was about to scream out, when the soldier seized her, and throwing a thick great coat over her head, prevented her from moving or speaking, and hurried her into the house. When at length he released her from his grasp, she saw the building in flames. Such was her account; she protested that she had no knowledge of the intentions of the men who accompanied the soldier, and expressed the greatest grief at the catastrophe. Her assertions, however, were not credited, and she was taken into custody: the soldier was also taken up, and confessed having entered the house at the command of Colonel ―, who, with another officer, had accompanied him. The colonel denied the charge, but the man most solemnly declared the truth of what he affirmed, at the same time acknowledging his guilt, and expressing great contrition for what he had done in obedience to his officer's commands. No doubt of the colonel's guilt remained in the minds of any; so much evil was known, and so much more suspected of him, that all were ready to believe the evidence against him; yet, such was the general fear entertained of the military, and so little was justice understood or attended to, that this man was acquitted, and the far less guilty accomplice of his crime was executed, calling on heaven to testify to the truth of his allegation, and accusing the colonel of having drawn him into sin, and then leaving him to his fate: the woman also suffered death. Finding the law did not punish the author of his misfortunes as he deserved, the unhappy husband challenged his enemy to combat, and, as was to be expected in so unequal a combat, he fell beneath the blows of the practised swordsman. The mystery of this transaction has never been cleared up, and it remains unknown how the unfortunate females met their death. Bright Vesta, hail! Hence murky Care! Evaporate in fog! Look on our little Summer there He scorns thee, base sojourner! His cheerful chimney-corner! Steals lightly through the air- What art can paint its whiteness? Or can Spring's sweetest dew bestow The icicle's pure brightness? Now Molly innocently trips Beneath the Misletoe,- Were little short of treason; Now Youth with dance and mirthful song Joy mingles with the merry throng And old age loves the lively noise Each happy youthful face His eye has beam'd as brightly, -Come, pass the Wassail bowl about! He cares not for the cold without A. M. P. FINE ARTS AND MUSIC. highly comic: so are Old Mike and Mrs Rowley Eighth and last Volume of Cunningham's Burns.'; This concluding volume of the completest and most explanatory edition of Burns yet published, contains a view of the Harbour and Town of Ayr, and of Leith Pier and Harbour, both from the pencil of Mr D. O. Hill. We could wish that they hall been more clearly and distinctly engraved; but they are good, bustling, trafficking, sailor-frequented portraits of those places. Leith, the only one of the places we have seen, we recognized immediately. How many anxious, how many hopeful, encouraging friends did we see coming down the pier, following the parting steamer, as far as they might into the strange waters, keeping company with its hundred passengers to the last extent of land, trying, perhaps, to persuade themselves that they were going part of the way! There is a great improvement which the more recent views of towns present; and that is a due attention to the degree of populousness peculiar to the place. In the older views, the streets of London were deserted, a pointing man with his arm projecting at right angles from his hips, and his hand on a stick, looking like a humanized h, a gawky woman in a parasol, were all that were necessary to represent the souls of the place; a dog was a gratuitous gift; a child running by the woman showed the artist to be a liberal man; a man and horse, was a prodigality; a coach added a shilling to the price. Now-a-days, a view in London would be considered very meagre and trivial, that did not convey also an idea of the bustle, and crowding, that gives life and character to the seene, more than the mere shapes of the buildings. The Musical Library, Part IX. Charles Knight. It is now some time since we suggested to a young musician, who had opened a music-warehouse, that the increased demand for music called for a cheaper and more general supply; that now it was not only the more affluent who required music, but the poorer portions of the middle classes, and even others still poorer than those, felt the want of it, and that a reduction in the price of music would amply repay the speculator, by an increase of sale. He admitted the reasoning; but was afraid of the jealousy of the trade. Sixpence was the minimum charge, according to the orthodox rules. It has been reserved for Tough Yarns, by the Old Sailor, illustrated by George speculators out of the trade to anticipate the market Cruikshank. For the illustration of jest and drollery, there is none going like George Cruikshank; his etchingneedle brings before us the scenes we read of, as fresh, as lively, as real as when they first occurred. What can be more full of life and character than the smoking party of Greenwich pensioners? Cruikshank hits a nice point; in his best things, the action and expression are highly seasoned, to the verge of caricature; but, though eccentric and grotesque, his faces have the character of portraits, from their exceeding truth and reality. So every one of the old gentlemen before us has a distinct and exclusive ideality—we should know him again, if we met him in the streets. The sailor misleading the custom-house officer is, in the spirit of nautical adventure, a headlong scramble for life and death, between jest and earnest. The fat sailing-master, Old Soundings, driving the three dismounted French dragoons before him is admirable; it is an excellent specimen of that power of drawing in which Cruikshank need yield to no one; and the individual character of the man so sailorly, respectable, fat, waddling, puffing, and commanding, so flustered in person, so cool in courage-is another of his idealities that are as real to us as flesh and blood. The kicking pas de deux, between Captain Troubridge and the cowardly Neapolitan Count, is that exists for cheap music. Books had grown cheap; prints had proved the advantage of many small, over fewer and larger profits music alone held back, and measured its price according to the demand for it in former times. It was out of all proportion with the advance in other articles of refinement, and many a piece of music has mouldered unbought upon the shelves, or straggled forth in small, uncertain numbers, of which a large sale, at a small price, would have better paid the music-seller, have redounded to the advantage of the composer, and, by aiding to spread the public taste, have added still farther to a demand for fresh publications. The musical taste, such as it is, among our countrymen, exists in spite of many difficulties; possessing naturally a less degree of capacity for it than many of our continental neighbours, obliged to devote a greater portion of their time to labour, and obliged to pay an enormous tax for its gratification. In spite of these difficulties do musical professors obtain large salaries; and the practice of music in domestic parties is everywhere gaining ground; and yet the trade, who should supply these private parties with music, hold back from accommodating the price to the means of all, the only way in which a general supply can be afforded. These things are beginning to be amended. The Musical Library' has broken the ice; other works, |