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deeply interested in its contents, that he resolved to become an adept in the black art.

When twilight came, therefore, he would frequently retire to a solitary walk among some old trees at the back of his house, and endeavour to prepare for a trial, by inuring himself to recite the most profane and horrible incantations.

Near the town where Jacobus lived there was a deserted building, which had once been the residence of a noted sorcerer. The last act of this man's life was to raise a disagreeable smell in the public market place, a feat which he performed with the assistance of some dry wood, and much against his will, although it gratified a numerous body of spectators. As the fiends who had served him were still supposed to lurk about his former mansion, no person would approach it, even in daylight; and the magistrates of the burgh had repeatedly spoken of having it razed to the ground. Jacobus thought that in this building he would at least be sure of privacy; and, on that account, resolved to make it the scene of his first experiment.

Accordingly, one tempestuous evening, having wrapt himself in a cloak, he appeared in the presence of his wife. 66 My dear," said he, "I have just received a message, intimating that a certain friend of mine has received the extreme unction, and wishes to let me into a valuable secret before he dies. Do not be alarmed, therefore, although some time should elapse before I return. It will probably be morning before you see me again." Truly, husband, that will be no loss," replied his wife. Begone, and hunt after your good for nothing secrets; but beware of coming back in the middle of the night to knock up my servants. I will not allow them to be disturbed with impunity."

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Jacobus Aldrovandus departed without attempting to make any reply. Darkness had already gathered. The merchants were shutting up their stalls, and only a

scattered light gleamed here and there across the wet pavement. According to solemn usage, an official drummer was performing his evening rounds; while many a fat burgher hastened home to a comfortable repast, and enjoyed the pleasure of mentally counting over the profits of the day. This was more than Jacobus, or any other alchemist, could pretend to. He accordingly picked his steps as fast as he could, until he had left the citygates behind him, and saw the necromancer's house rising at some distance against the horizon.

It was a tall, frightful, and unornamented building. He found the door open, struck a light, and ascended the staircase. No spectre delayed his progress; no arm started from the wall; but he could not help feeling appalled at the silence of the place, and recollecting that the last sounds which had been uttered in that staircase, were the groans of the old wizard, as he was dragged away to his trial. Jacobus arrived at a large unfurnished apartment. One or two pictures hung on the walls, but their colouring was so very sombre that their subjects could not be unriddled. In the middle of the floor he saw the fragments of a wand, and at one end of the room was placed a death's head, wearing the cap of the departed magician.

Meantime, the wind howled in a most outrageous manner through the broken panes. Jacobus hastened to accomplish the object of his journey. With the tremulous caution of a novice, he unfolded and arranged the different implements which he had brought along with him, and endeavoured to collect his scattered thoughts, in order that no fiend, however quick-sighted, might be able to discover the least flaw in so delicate a process. When these things were accomplished, he read, recited, and paused for a reply. Finding, however, that some words of importance had been omitted, he was obliged to wipe his forehead, and begin a second time. Presently a low creaking spread over the room, the glass vials rung, and'

quivered in their places, and a smoke began to ascend from the magic circle. The hair of Jacobus Aldrovandus stood on end. At length there was a crash. A monstrous devil started from the floor, and asked him what was the reason of so pressing a summons. Jacobus drew backwards precipitately, and in so doing stepped out of his own circle. The demon followed up his advantage. Jacobus turned and ran; and after several doublings and windings, took the road to the city, and his pursuer, who was never far behind, emitted such a glare of light, that both parties were able to choose their way with equal precision as if it had been a summer's forenoon. They enter the city. Jacobus turns a corner and stumbles upon the watch, who endeavour to stop him. Presently the

fiend comes up, and makes a clear somerset over their heads. The watchmen roll into the kennel, and break their lanthorns; while Jacobus, pressing on towards his own house, reaches the door, and drives it open with a noise which brings his wife and the whole family to the head of the staircase. They came only to gaze and tremble; for no one would venture down to assist him. A solemn pause ensued. The demon stooped, and with his red-hot finger drew a circle round himself, which occupied the whole breadth of the floor, so that it was impossible for any one to pass without stepping into it. "Now," said he, "whoever comes here is mine. I am determined not to vanish without receiving something for my trouble."

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On hearing these words, the domestics fell a sobbing bitterly round their master and mistress, and began to consider who should be the victim. The cook endeavoured to shove in the butler, and the butler, on the other hand, gave a sly push to the chambermaid. dear wife," said Jacobus, "is there no dog or cat about the house, which might be given him for a bribe. What is become of the black pointer which used to sleep every night at the foot of your bed?"

So saying, he ran to open the door of his wife's bedchamber; but the good woman not having expected that her husband would come so speedily back, and being conscious that an unpleasant truth would come to light if Jacobus went any farther, endeavoured to retard his entrance. Jacobus would not be hindered, but pushed in. Forthwith a sort of jostling is heard. Instead of a black pointer, out rushes Father Joseph, the confessor, with his gown wrapped about his head, in order to conceal his features. So great is his confusion, that he dares not look around, to see who is present, but glides off towards the staircase. In so doing, he approaches the circle which had been drawn by the demon, and the domestics utter a loud cry. Jacobus's wife runs after him, and takes hold of his gown; but the friar, imagining that he is detained by her husband, gives a violent spring, which carries them both into the circle, and the fiend immediately vanishes with his prey.

Such was the lucky hit by which our worthy necromancer got quit of a disagreeable wife. Her gallant at the same time found the reward of his treachery; and Jacobus Aldrovandus, having cautioned his servants to beware of circulating idle tales, which might attract the notice of the Inquisition, gave out that Friar Joseph had eloped with his wife to a foreign country.

THE GOOSE WITH ONE LEG AND THE GANDER WITH TWO.

A wealthy gentleman in somewhere shire,

With a much better furnished house than skull,

Yet an exceeding worthy country squire,

And as the race goes, not of the most dull,-
Lived on his own estate a quiet life,

Far from the noise of town, and trade, and wife.
He loved his pipe; on Sundays went to church;

Played well at bowls, at which he oft was winner;
Gave his half crown at times at the church door;
Took during sermon time a noiseless snore;
And then walked comfortably home to dinner.
If there be any, as perchance there may,

Who into such affairs have never looked,
I think I'd better mention by the way,

That dinners, ere they're eaten, should be cooked;
At least our Squire's were so, before he took 'em,
And consequently he'd a cook to cook 'em :
This Queen of Ladleland, this maid of Greece,
(Of country beauty quite a masterpiece,)
Of course had lovers, but not one

She loved like the young gardener John.

A goose one day was ordered for the Squire,
And Peg at once placed it before the fire.
At half-past two the cloth was laid,

The plates were warm, the sauce was made,
When John, attracted by the savoury scent,
Entered the kitchen, upon mischief bent:

"What, Cookee, got a goose! well, come, that's nice!
"Faith, Cookee, I should like to have a slice !—
"And apple sauce too! there's a darling, Peg,

"Do take a knife and cut me off a leg.'

"

"Cut off a leg! that would be pretty fun :

"What! serve it up to Squire with only one?"

"Aye, to be sure; why, master wouldn't kill you:
"F'll cut it off."-" Ha'done, you fool-now, will you?"
What arguments he used I cannot say;

But Love, whom cooks and countesses obey,
Ordained it so, that spite of all her reasoning,

John got the leg, with lots of sauce and seasoning!
Though Peg, poor wench, was rather puzzled,
To think of telling how the rogue had guzzled,
She was not quite so posed at this disaster
As you might think; for she'd been used to gull
The Squire, and knew the thickness of his skull
To a hair's breadth; so, if the worst befell,

She who could do a goose so well

Would not be troubled much to do her master!

Home came his Squireship-sharpset, cold, and blue,
And rang for dinner in a hurry;

She browned the mutilated side anew,

And put it on the table in a flurry.

"Why, what the devil do you call this, Peg? "Zounds, hussy, where is t'other leg?"

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