by using a small portion of fine corned emery, and afterwards finishing with flour of emery or rotten stone, all of which may be had at any ironmonger's. This last very simple method will perhaps render any other superfluous. 44. To clean Marble.-Take a bullock's gall, a gill of soap lees, half a gill of turpentine, and make it into a paste with pipe clay; then apply it to the marble, and let it dry a day or two; then rub it off, and if not clean, apply it a second or third time until it is clean. 45. Best method of cleaning fine Block-tin Dish Covers, Patent Pewter, &c. -- Where the polish is gone off, let the articles be first rubbed over the outside with a little sweet oil on a piece of soft linen cloth; then clear it off with dry pure whitening, quite free from sand, on linen cloths, which will make them look as well as when new. The insides should be rubbed with rags moistened in wet whitening, but without a drop of oil. Always wiping these articles dry when brought from table, and keeping them free from steam or other damp, greatly facilitates the trouble of cleaning them. 46. Mixture for cleaning Stone Stairs, Hall Pavements, &c. &c. Boil together half a pint each of size and stone blue water, with two table-spoonfuls of whiting, and two cakes of pipemaker's clay, in about two quarts of water. Wash the stones over with a flannel slightly wetted in this mixture, and when dry, rub them with flannel and a brush. Some persons recommend beer, but water is much better for the purpose. 47. To clean Mahogany Furniture.-Three pennyworth of alkanet root, one pint of cold drawn linseed oil, two pennyworth of rose pink; put these into a pan, and let them stand all night; then take some of this mixture, rub it over the tables or chairs, and let it remain one hour; then take a linen cloth and rub it well off, and it will leave a beautiful gloss on the furniture. If the pinky shade occasioned by the alkanet root and pink is disagreeable, they may be omitted in part or entirely. 48. The virtues of Sage.-This valuable herb was held in such high esteem among the ancients, that they have left us a Latin verse, which signifies, "Why should a man die while he has Sage in his Garden ?" It is reckoned admirable as a cordial, and to sweeten and cleanse the blood. It is good in nervous cases, and is given in fevers with a view to promote perspiration. With the addition of a little lemon juice it is very grateful and cooling: some choose to take it dry, alleging that the surface of the leaves of green sage abound with animalculæ, which are very visible through a microscope; and so there are in many articles of common food: but we may be assured, even if this is the case, that as they are nourished with the sage, they are of no harm, and at all events a little hot water will destroy them. 49. To prevent Steel or Iron from Rust.-Take one pound of hog's lard free from salt, one ounce of camphor, two drachms of black lead powder, and two drachms of dragon's blood in fine powder; melt the same on a slow fire until it is dissolved, and let it cool for use. 50. For the Destruction of Insects.-Put into a sugar hogshead a small barrel of tar, pour upon it a pail or two of boiling water, stir it, and then fill it up with cold; with this, water the ground where the bushes stand, and it will destroy all worms, grubs, and other larvæ, which are within a considerable distance of the surface of the soil. Should any escape and make their appearance in the caterpillar state, immediate recourse should be had to a strong infusion of bruised elder tops or leaves, the moment the elder becomes green: this will effectually check the advance of these and all other sorts of insects upon the bushes. March is the proper month for watering the ground with tar-water. April is the time to wet the branches frequently with the elder liquor; for, during March, the larvæ remain in the ground, and in April and May they change into the caterpillar state, when they may be seen ascending in small groups the stems of the bushes, spreading themselves afterwards gradually over the whole tree. 51. Sagacity of a Dog.-A farmer near Albany (in America) was attacked with insanity, and in a fit of this dreadful malady, attempted to put an end to his existence. Every precaution to prevent such a catastrophe was adopted by this afflicted family; but one morning he escaped from the house, taking with him a razor. His relations used every effort to discover him, but in vain. The dog of the unfortunate man quitted the house shortly after his master, and remained absent. This circumstance was regarded as a certain proof that the master was dead, and that the dog had remained by the body. At night, to the surprise and joy of the family, the two fugitives returned. The man, whose fit of insanity had left him, stated, that he was joined by his dog at the moment when he was about to cut his throat, when the faithful animal caught hold of his arm and prevented it. The same thing was repeated several times with success, and towards night, when his mental derangement had completely left him, the grateful master caressed his dog, and returned with him to cheer his desponding family. 52. Remarkable Occurrence.-The Rev. Mr. Gould, Rector of Axbridge, in Somersetshire, had in the earlier part of his life been preaching the doctrine of the new birth, in such forcible language, as to give offence to three neighbouring clergymen, insomuch that they lodged a complaint against him with the bishop, who appointed a day for the private hearing of all parties at the palace. The first fell sick, and died in a fortnight; the second waited on the third to acquaint him with the misfortune, and as he was returning home, received a particular injury from a sudden jolt of his horse, of which he died in a week; the third persisted in attending the bishop, but, before he came to Wells, his horse threw him and broke his neck. Mr. Gould appeared alone, and the bishop presented him to the Rectory of Axbridge, which he enjoyed for upwards of thirty years. 53. Handsome Reward.—A clergyman in the west, who had unfortunately quarrelled with his parishioners, had the misfortune to have a shirt stolen from the hedge where it hung to dry, and he posted handbills offering a reward for the discovery of the offender. Next morning the following lines were found written at the foot of the copy posted against the church door: Some thief has stolen the parson's shirt, To skin nought could be nearer : The parish will give Five Hundred Pounds 54. Highwayman outwitted.—It is recorded of a noble earl, that he was suddenly awakened at night in his carriage by a highwayman, who ramming a pistol through the window, and presenting it close to his heart, demanded his money, exclaiming at the same time, that he had heard that his lordship had boasted that he never would be robbed by a single highwayman, but that he should now be taught to the contrary. His lordship, putting his hand into his pocket, replied, "Neither would I now be robbed, if it was not for that fellow who is looking over your shoulder." The highwayman turned round his head, when his lordship, who had drawn a pistol from his pocket, instead of a purse, shot him on the spot. 55. Filial Piety rewarded.—A merchant of considerable trade, being by a train of losses and disappointments reduced to negociate a letter of license from his creditors, all consented to give it him, except one, who not only peremptorily refused to join with the rest, but sued for his debt, which was about three hundred pounds, and threw the unhappy petitioner into a jail. His son, who was then out of town, on the news of this misfortune, without seeing his father, posted directly to the house of this severe creditor, and implored in the most moving intercessions for a discharge. But these producing no effect, he begged him to accept of his person as a ransom for his father's, and offered to go joyfully to prison in his stead. This too being refused, the youth in a transport of despair, embraced the knees of this inflexible creditor, and declared he would not stir, till he was either torn from them, or had obtained his suit. The creditor, struck to the heart with so much resolution, in so worthy a cause, changed his purposes as if by miracle, and raising him gently up, told him that so good a son could not make a bad son-in-law; and that he hoped he would forgive his severity for the reparation he was disposed to make for it, which was not to be confined to the release of his father, but to be extended to the bestowing upon him his only daughter, with a fortune that would amply make up the losses of his family. The joy of the son may be more easily imagined, than that which was felt by the father at the news of his deliverance, the retrieval of his affairs, and above all, the evidences filial piety from which all this good was deri 56. The Spectacles. A certain artist, I forget his name, Had got for making spectacles a fame, Or helps to read-as when they first were sold Contrive to please you, if you want a pair. And book produced, to see how they would fit; No, but they don't.-Well, come, sir, if you please, In short, they tried a whole assortment thro,' |