near our coasts. In the Mediterranean, especially in the spring and autumn, they are numerous; as they are also in the tropical seas.

The shark in which the watch was found, however, is not to be compared with those which are found on the coasts of Ceylon and Mexico. A fullgrown shark in these parts will measure upwards of thirty feet in length, and the circumference of its mouth nearly seven feet. The throat is proportionately wide; so that it is not difficult for a man to be swallowed, after its triangular teeth have done their work. It is no unusual thing to find in the stomachs of these fishes entire animals or fishes.

LESSON 33.

PEPPER-BOX AND SALT-CELLAR. ar-o-mat-ic, spicy, perfumed | jon-quils, plants having rush col-ics, pains in the stomach

cul-in-ar-y, kitchen

dough-ty, brave

fric-as-sees, dish made of fowls cut in pieces and fried

leaves

spright-li-ne 83

ter-res-tri-al

squabble

vas-sal

The squire had dined alone one day,

And Tom was called to take away :

Tom cleared the board with dext'rous art,

But, willing to secure a tart,

The greedy youth had made a halt,

And left the pepper-box and salt

Alone upon the marble table;

Who thus, like men, were heard to squabble :-

Pepper began: 'Pray, sir,' says he,

'What business have you here with me?

Is it fit that spices of my birth

Should rank with thee, thou scum of earth?
I'd have you know, sir, I've a spirit
Suited to my superior merit.

Though now confined within this caster,
I serve a northern Gothic master;
Yet born in Java's fragrant wood,

To warm an eastern monarch's blood;
The sun those rich perfections gave me,
Which tempted Dutchmen to enslave me.
'Nor are my virtues here unknown,
Though old and wrinkled now I'm grown;
Black as I am, the fairest maid

Invokes my stimulating aid,

To give her food the poignant flavour,
And to each sauce its proper savour.
Pasties, ragouts, and fricassees,
Without my seasoning, fail to please;
'Tis I, like wit, must give a zest
And sprightliness to every feast.

'Physicians, too, my use confess;
My influence sagest matrons bless;
When drams prove vain, and colics tease,
To me they fly for certain ease.

And when of dullness wits complain,
I brace the nerves, and clear the brain.
'But to the squire here I appeal;
He knows my real value well;

Who with one pepper-corn content,

Remits the vassal's annual rent.

'Hence then, Sir Brine, and keep your distance;

Go lend the scullion your assistance;

For culinary uses fit,

To salt the meat upon the spit;

Or just to keep its meat from stinking,
And then-a special friend to drinking!'
'Your folly moves me with surprise,'
The silver tripod thus replies;
'Pray, Master Pepper, why so hot?
First cousin to the mustard-pot!
What boots it how our life began?
'Tis breeding makes the gentleman;
Yet would you search my pedigree,
I rose, like Venus, from the sea;
The sun, whose influence you boast,
Nursed me upon the British coast.

'The chymists know my rank and place,
When nature's principles they trace;
And wisest moderns yield to me
The elemental monarchy.

By me all nature is supplied
With all her beauty, all her pride.
In vegetation, I ascend;

To animals their vigour lend;
Corruption's foe, I life preserve,
And stimulate each slackened nerve.
I give jonquils their high perfume;
The peach its flavour, rose its bloom;
Nay, I'm the cause, when rightly traced,
Of Pepper's aromatic taste.

'Such claims you teach me to produce;
But need I plead my obvious use
In seasoning all terrestrial food,

When Heaven declares that salt is good?

'Grant, then, some few thy virtues find;
Yet salt gives health to all mankind;
Physicians sure will side with me,
While cooks alone shall plead for thee.

H

In short, with all thine airs about thee,
The world were happier far without thee.'

The squire, who all this time sat mute,
Now put an end to their dispute:
He rang the bell, bade Tom convey
The doughty disputants away.
The salt, refreshed by shaking up,
At night did with his master sup;
The pepper Tom assigned his lot
With vinegar and mustard-pot,
A fop with bites and sharpers joined,
And to the sideboard well confined.

MORAL.

Thus real genius is respected!
Conceit and folly thus neglected!
And, O my Shenstone! let the vain,
With misbecoming pride, explain

Their splendour, influence, wealth, or birth,—
'Tis men of sense are men of worth.

LESSON 34.

W. SHENSTONE.

Born 1714. Died 1763.

STORIES OF ANIMALS.

I. THE DONKEY.

am-bling, between walking do-cil-i-ty, teachableness

ca-par-i-soned, decked out, quote, repeat the words

and trotting

ga-zelle, species of antelope

ONKEYS are, perhaps, the worst abused

animals in Eng

land. The very

name has now be

come expressive of

what is dull, stub

born, and lazy. The animals we see in our streets, and on the sands at seaside places, are but poor specimens of the real donkey. The ass is an Eastern animal, and if we would see him in his beauty and strength, we must go to Egypt and Arabia.

Hear what a few travellers in these parts

say about the animals whose cousins we see ill-treated every day in the streets of our own towns. Says done: The best asses are those of

Arabian blood. Their coat is ok smooth and clean; they carry the head elevated, and have fine and well-formed legs, which they throw out gracefully. They are used only for the saddle, and for dare imported in vast numbers bloy into Persia, where they fetch a mooup ow high price, are richly caparisoned,