full of gentlest cheerfulness, they all sat down to the wedding-breakfast. Mrs. Smith poured out the tea, and Rose the coffee; Jem and his bride sat on one side of the table; and Mercy between Farmer Smith and William on the other. No pains had been spared in preparing the feast. A plum-cake, black with richness, was placed in the centre; it was not frosted over with snow, which the art of the confectioners alone can accomplishsuch borrowed skill was not needed at this wedding feast, nor would Mrs. Smith have seen the merit of crusting a cake with a coating of ice, for a table round which only affection could gather. Ornaments they had-Nature's own, and not wanting in taste of arrangement. Rose had gathered white lilies, and laid them over and in a circle round the cake, which her mother had made; and strewn on the white table-cloth, in long winding lines, lay the flowers of the season reposing; while round the plate of the bridegroom and bride bloomed a circle of nothing but heart's-ease. Among the frail flowers stood the solid mass of the dishes, a great pie filled with rabbits, a ham dressed for the occasion, a fresh-cut cheese from the dairy, with butter made in swans that floated in a lake of water, or reposed on green borders of parsley. Each corner dish was a large shining loaf, with a circle of smallest loaves in the plate round it. Cakes of every description-all home-made, with fruits from the garden; sweet wine in glass decanters; and a tankard for ale.

M. L. Charlesworth.

XXXII.

THE WIDOW'S MITE.

A WIDOW-she had only one !
A puny and decrepit1 son;

But day and night,

Though fretful oft, and weak and small,
A loving child, he was her all—

The Widow's Mite.

The Widow's Mite-ay, so sustain'd,
She battled onward, nor complain'd
Tho' friends were fewer;
And while she toil'd for daily fare,
A little crutch upon the stair

Was music to her.

I saw her then, and now I see
That, though resign'd and cheerful, she
Has sorrow'd much :
She has,-He gave it tenderly,
Much faith; and, carefully laid by,

A little crutch.

F. Locker.

XXXIII.

DORMOUSE: SINGULAR CAPTURE.

IN the year 1855, while engaged on the survey of the Camden Park Estate, where the ex-Empress of the French now resides, I was desirous of obtaining a squirrel. in one of the fir plantations on the estate, where these little animals abound. The lad who was employed in carrying the implements required in the work, volunteered to ascend one of the tall fir-trees, in the uppermost branches of which were several drays or nests belonging to these animals. When he reached the nearest dray he put his hand into it, when a little animal started out and fell to the ground (a height of about fifty feet) close to the spot where I was standing. I searched for it among the herbage with which the surface was covered, but failed in my endeavour to find it. When engaged about an hour afterwards in another part of the property, I felt in my left arm, near the elbow-joint, a sensation like the twitching of a muscle, to which at first I paid no attention; but as it occurred again a short time. afterwards with increasing violence, I put my hand to the spot, and was surprised to feel a large lump there. On taking off my coat, I found inside the sleeve a beautiful little dormouse, who had ensconced himself there without niy knowledge or

consent. I learned from my assistant that it is the habit of these little creatures, when alarmed, to make for the nearest tree; and in his fright, not being able to discern the difference between a man and a tree, he had run up my legs and under my coat-tail until he found access into my coat-sleeve. I brought the pretty little animal home with me in a tin flour-dredger which I obtained from one of the cottagers, and kept it for upwards of a year, feeding upon nuts and apples, of which it was extremely fond; after which, much to my sorrow, it died,

From "The Leisure Hour."

XXXIV.

SANDFORD AND MERTON.

JUST at this moment, their attention was engaged by a new and sudden spectacle. A bull of the largest size and greatest beauty was led across the plain, adorned with ribands of various colours. The majestic animal suffered himself to be led along, an unresisting prey, till he arrived at the spot which was destined for the theatre of his persecution. Here he was fastened to an iron ring, which had been strongly let into the ground, and whose force they imagined would be sufficient to restrain him, even in the midst of his most violent

exertions. An innumerable crowd of men, of women, of children, then surrounded the place, waiting with eager curiosity for the inhuman sport they expected. The little party which had accompanied Master Merton, were now no longer to be restrained; their friends, their parents, admonition, duty, promises, were all forgotten in an instant, and, solely intent upon gratifying their curiosity, they mingled with the surrounding multitude.

Harry, although reluctantly, followed them at a distance; neither the ill-usage he had received, nor the pain of his wounds, could make him unmindful of Master Merton, or careless of his safety. He knew too well the dreadful accidents which frequently attend these barbarous sports, to be able to quit his friend, till he had once more seen him in a place of safety. And now the noble animal, that was to be thus wantonly tormented, was fastened to the ring by a strongly-twisted cord, which, though it confined and cramped his exertions did not entirely restrain them. Although possessed of almost irresistible strength, he seemed unwilling to exert it; and looked around upon the infinite multitude of his enemies with a gentleness that ought to have disarmed their animosity.2

Presently, a dog of the largest size and most ferocious courage was let loose, who, as soon as he beheld the bull, uttered a savage yell, and rushed upon him with all the rage of inveterate animosity. With the coolness of deliberate courage, the bull suffered him to approach, but, just as the dog was

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