eating fire, and I know not what? what have you got there, I say?"

"O father, the pig, the pig! do come and taste how nice the burnt pig eats."

The ears of Ho-ti tingled with horror. He cursed his son, and he cursed himself that ever he should beget a son that should eat burnt pig.

Bo-bo, whose scent was wonderfully sharpened since morning, soon raked out another pig, and fairly rending it asunder, thrust the lesser half by main force into the fists of Ho-ti, still shouting out, "Eat, eat, eat the burnt pig, father; only taste!" cramming all the while as if he would choke.

Ho-ti trembled in every joint while he grasped the abominable thing, wavering whether he should not put his son to death for an unnatural young monster, when the crackling scorching his fingers, as it had done his son's, and applying the same remedy to them, he in his turn tasted some of its flavour, which, make what sour mouths he would for pretence, proved not altogether displeasing to him. In conclusion (for the manuscript here is a little tedious), both father and son fairly sat down to the mess, and never left off till they had despatched all that remained of the litter.

Bo-bo was strictly enjoined not to let the secret escape, for the neighbours would certainly have stoned them for a couple of abominable wretches, who could think of improving upon the good meat that God had sent them. Nevertheless, strange stories got about. It was observed that Ho-ti's cottage was burnt down more frequently than ever. Nothing but fires from this time forward. Some would break out in broad day, others in the night-time. As often as the sow farrowed, so sure was the house of Ho-ti to be in a blaze; and Ho-ti himself, which was the

8

more remarkable, instead of chastising his son, seemed to grow more indulgent to him than ever. At length they were watched, the terrible mystery discovered, and father and son summoned to take their trial at 'Pekin, then an inconsiderable assize town. Evidence was given, the obnoxious food itself produced in court, and verdict about to be pronounced, when the foreman of the jury begged that some of the burnt pig, of which the culprits stood accused, might be handed into the box. He handled it, and they all handled it; and burning their fingers, as Bo-bo and his father had done before them, and nature prompting to each of them the same remedy, against the face of all the facts, and the clearest charge which judge had ever given to the surprise of the whole court, townsfolk, strangers, reporters, and all present--without leaving the box, or any manner of consultation whatever, they brought in a simultaneous verdict of Not Guilty.

The judge, who was a shrewd fellow, winked at the manifest iniquity of the decision; and when the court was dismissed, went privily, and bought up all the pigs that could be had for love or money. In a few days his lordship's town house was observed to be on fire. The thing took wing, and now there was nothing to be seen but fires in every direction. Fuel and pigs grew enormously dear all over the district. The insurance offices one and all shut up shop. People built slighter and slighter every day, until it was feared that the very science of architecture would in no long time be lost to the world. Thus this custom of firing houses continued, till in process of time, says my manuscript, a 'sage arose, who made a discovery, that the flesh of swine, or indeed of any other animal, might be cooked (burnt, as they called it) without the necessity of consuming a whole house to dress it, Then first began the rude form of a

gridiron. Roasting by the string or spit came in a century or two later, I forget in whose dynasty. By such slow degrees, concludes the manuscript, do the most useful and seemingly the most obvious arts make their mankind

way among

Without placing too 10 implicit faith in the account above given, it must be agreed that if a worthy pretext for so dangerous an experiment as setting houses on fire (especially in these days) could be assigned in favour of any 11 culinary object, that pretext and excuse might be found in ROAST PIG.

12 The Essays of Elia, by CHARLES LAMB.

'Abyssinia, a country in Africa, west of the Red Sea, and south of Nubia. 2mast, the fruit of the oak, beech, or other forest trees; nuts; acorns. 3antediluvian, before the deluge; pertaining to the time before the flood. In this instance it means simply very old. 'premonitory, giving previous warning or notice. The smell of something nice to eat caused the saliva to flow from his mouth. Snether, lower; that which is beneath. retributory, pertaining to retribution, or making a return suitable to the merits or deserts of an action. With the cudgel the father intended to punish his son for his mischief. 'Pekin, the capital of the Chinese Empire, situated on a sandy plain about a hundred miles from the sea (see App.). assize town, a town where the judges of the superior courts make periodical visits, for the purpose of trying criminals. 9sage, a wise and learned man. 10 implicit, trusting to the word of another without doubt or reserve. The account is not

to be taken as really accurate. "culinary, belonging to the kitchen, or to cookery. 12 The Essays of Elia, by Charles Lamb, were originally published in the London Magazine. Charles Lamb's essays and criticisms are of the highest order, some of them being considered among the finest in the language. (See "Charles Lamb" in the Appendix).

THE SOLDIER'S REPRIEVE.

me-chan'-ic-al-ly sol'-emn-ly

jus-ti-fi-ca'-tion straight-for-ward

“I THOUGHT, Mr. Allan, when I gave my Bennie to his country, that not a father in all this broad and made so precious a gift,-no, not one. The dear boy only slept a minute, just one little minute, at his post: I know that was all, for Bennie never dozed over a duty. How prompt and reliable he was! I know he only fell asleep one little second; he was so young, and not strong, that boy of mine! Why, he was as tall as I, and only eighteen and now they shoot him because he was found asleep when doing sentinel duty! Twenty-four hours, the telegram said,-only twenty-four hours. Where is Bennie now?"

"We will hope, with his heavenly Father," said Mr. Allan, soothingly.

"Yes, yes; let us hope: God is very merciful."

"I should be ashamed, father,' Bennie said, 'when I am a man, to think I never used this great right arm'— and he held it out so proudly before me- -'for my country, when it needed it. Palsy it rather than keep it at the plough!'

"Go then, go, my boy,' I said, 'and God keep you!' God has kept him, I think, Mr. Allan." And the farmer repeated these last words slowly, as if, in spite of his reason, his heart doubted them.

"Like the apple of His eye, Mr. Owen; doubt it not." Blossom had sat near them, listening with blanched cheek. She had not shed a tear. Her anxiety had been so concealed, that no one had noticed it. She had occupied herself mechanically in the household cares. Now she answered a gentle tap at the kitchen door, opening it

to receive from a neighbour's hand a letter. "It is from him," was all she said.

It was like a message from the dead. Mr. Owen took the letter, but could not break the envelope, on account of his trembling fingers, and held it towards Mr. Allan, with the helplessness of a child.

The minister, opened it, and read as follows:

"DEAR FATHER,--When this reaches you, I shall be in eternity. At first it seemed awful to me; but I have thought about it so much now, that it has no terror. They say they will not bind me, nor blind me; but that I may meet my death like a man. I thought, father, it might have been on the battle-field, for my country, and that, when I fell, it would be fighting gloriously; but to be shot down like a dog for nearly betraying it,-to die for neglect of duty! O father, I wonder the very thought does not kill me! But I shall not disgrace you.

I am going to write to you all about it; and when I am gone, you may tell my comrades. I cannot now.

"You know I promised Jemmie Carr's mother I would look after her boy; and when he fell sick, I did all I could for him. He was not strong when he was ordered back into the ranks, and the day before that night I carried all his luggage, besides my own, on our march. Toward night we went on in double quick, and though the luggage began to feel very heavy, everybody else was tired too; and as for Jemmie, if I had not lent him an arm now and then, he would have dropped by the way. I was tired out when we came into camp, and then it was Jemmie's turn to be sentry, and I would take his place; but I was too tired, father. I could not have kept awake if a gun had been pointed at my head; but I did not know it until-well, until it was too late."