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Such is not the same alarm as one feels who sees another person, between whom and himself there is a mutual thirsting for revenge, entering his chamber in the dead hour of the night when all is still, armed with an offensive weapon, and when nothing but a desire for vengeance could have prompted him to it; as in that case, although he might be greatly frightened, he feels that the object of his fear is a man-a human being like himself, who thus intrudes upon his rest, and that he has, though perhaps not an equal, still by no means that he is without a chance of escaping from his enemy, and he therefore makes haste to save himself; but just the reverse when you think that which alarms you is induced by other than human means; in this case, instead ofr ousing your courage, it sinks it, and you give yourself up to your fear, and await the result of that which you feel you are unable to avoid. In just such a disagreeable situation was Mortimer; he dared not to stir, and was in the momentary expectation of some awful truth flashing upon his senses; when, either from his absence of mind or purposely, it does not appear, he dropped the lock on the floor, and instantly, as if actually the charm, out flew an enormous black cat, which, springing through the window, was soon out of sight. Now, the only way to account for this is, that the cat must have crept in unperceived while the students were shutting up for the evening, and at the time that Mortimer came down the staircase, there is no doubt she was frightened, and in her hurry to escape, had brushed against one skeleton, which touching the other, had caused them both to swing to and fro in the manner described on his entry, and having concealed herself was imperceptible, till startled by the falling of the lock.

Thus was this explained, which, had it remained wrapt in mystery, might have been added to the many ponderous volumes of Ghost Tales and Legends, enough in themselves" to make cowards of us all," which have been handed down to posterity, as so many instances of the awful connection which exists between men and spirits.

TYRO.

AN UNGRACIOUS RELATION.-A boy threw a stone at a dog, but missed it, and killed his grandmother; "Well," said he, "the throw was not lost, how ever."-Plutarch's Morals.

INTERESTING HISTORY OF A SCOTCH EMIGRANT, AND BEAUTIFUL TRAIT OF INDIAN CHARACTER.

ABOUT twelve years ago a person of the name of M'Dougal, a native of Argylshire, who had emigrated to Upper Canada a few years before, wrote to his friends in Scotland, giving an account of his fortunes in the new world, and among other things failed not to make honourable and grateful mention of the following truly romantic incident. In a section of Argyleshire the story was told in every parlour, spence, and boothy, by the shepherd on the hill, and the fisherman on the lake; and a military gentleman who happened to be on the spot shortly after the news arrived, was so much struck with the circumstance that he collected the particulars from head-quarters, and is ready to vouch for their accuracy.

M Dougal, on reaching Upper Canada, from anxiety to make the most of his scanty capital, or some other motive, purchased a location where the price of land was merely nominal in a country thinly peopled, and on the extreme verge of civilization. His first care was to construct and plant a cabin in the wild, and this task finished, he spent his whole time, early and late, in the garden and the fields. By vi gorous exertion and occasional assistance he brought a few acres of ground under crop, acquired a stock of cattle, sheep, and hogs, made additional inroads on the glade and the forest, and though his toils were hard, gradually and imperceptibly became in a rough way 'well enough to live,' as compared with the poverty he had abandoned at home. His greatest discomforts were distance from neighbours, the church, markets, and even the mill; and along with these the suspension, or rather the enjoyment, after long intervals of time, of those endearing charities and friendly offices which lend such a charm to social life. His cattle depastured in the neighbouring forest, and after a little training returned in the evening of their own accord, particularly when they heard the well-known voice of their master and his dog. On one occasion M'Dougal had a melder of corn to grind, and as the distance was considerable, and the roads none of the smoothest, this important part of his duty could only be performed by starting with the sun and returning at the going down of the same. In his

absence the care of the cattle devolved prepared for supper, and Mrs. M'Douon his spouse, and as they did not re- gal, though still alarmed at the novelty turn at the usual hour, the careful ma- of her situation, found the viands detron went out in quest of them. Be- licious, and had rarely, if ever, paryond its mere outskirts, the forest was taken of so savoury a meal. Aware that to her terra incognita in the most em- she was wearied, the Indian removed phatic sense of the term, and with no from their place near the roof two beaucompass or notched trees to guide her, tiful deer-skins, and by stretching and it is not to be wondered at that she fixing them across, divided the wigwam wandered long and wearily to very into two compartments. Mats were little purpose. Like Alps on Alps, also spread in both, and next, the tall trees rose on every side-a bound- stranger was given to understand that less continuity of shade; and fatigued the farther dormitory was expressly inwith the search, she deemed it prudent tended for her accommodation. But to retrace her steps while it was yet here again her courage failed her, and time. But this resolution was much to the most pressing entreaties she reeasier formed than executed; return- plied by signs as well as she could, ing was as dangerous as going o'er," ," that she would prefer to sit and sleep and after wandering for hours, she by the fire. This determination seemsunk on the ground, her eyes swollen ed to puzzle the Indian and his squaw and filled with tears, and her mind sadly; often they looked at one anoagitated almost to distraction. But ther, and conversed softly in their own here she had not rested many minutes language, and at last the red took the before she was startled by the sound of white woman by the hand, led her to approaching footsteps, and anon an her couch, and became her bed-fellow. Indian hunter stood before her "a In the morning she awoke greatly restoic of the woods, a man without a freshed, and was anxious to depart tear." Mrs. M'Dougal knew that In- without farther delay; but this the Indians lived at no great distance, but dian would on no account permit.as she had never seen a member of the Breakfast was prepared-another satribe, (omre ignotum pro magnifico,) voury and well-cooked meal-and then her first emotions were those of terror; the Indian accompanied his guest and quickening, it may be said, every pulse, conducted her to the very spot where and yet palsying every limb. But the the cattle were grazing. These he Indian's views were more comprehen- kindly drove from the wood, on the sive; constantly on the out-look in verge of which Mrs M'Dougal descried search of the quary, and accustomed to her husband running about every make circuits comprising the superfices where, hallooing, and seeking for her of many a Highland mountain and in a state of absolute distraction.glen, he had observed without being Great was his joy, and great his gratiobserved himself; knew her home, re- tude to her Indian benefactor, who was cognised her person, comprehended invited to the house and treated to the her mishap, divined her errand, and best the larder afforded, and presented immediately beckoned to her to rise on his departure with a suit of clothes. and follow him. The unfortunate woman understood the signal, and obeyed it in as far as terror left her power; and after a lengthened sweep, which added not a little to her previous fatigue, they arrived at the door of an Indian wigwain. Her conductor invited her to enter by signs; but this she sternly refused to do, dreading the consequences, and preferring death in the open air to the tender mercies of cannibals within. Perceiving her reluctance and scanning her feelings, the hospitable Indian darted into the wigwam and communed with his wife, who in a few minutes also appeared, and by certain signs and sympathies known only to females, calmed the stranger's fears, and induced her to enter their lowly abode. Venison was instantly

In about three days he returned, and endeavoured by every wile to induce Mr. M'Dougal to follow him into the forest. But this invitation the other positively declined, and the poor Indian went on his way obviously grieved and disappointed. But again he returned, and though words were wanting, renewed his entreaties, but still vainly and without effect; and then as a last desperate effort he hit upon an expedient which none save an Indian hunter would have thought of. Mrs. M'Dougal had a nursling only a few months old-a fact the Indian failed not to notice-and after his pantomimic eloquence had been completely thrown away, he approached the cradle, seized the child, and darted out of the house with the speed of an

antelope. The alarmed parents instantly followed, supplicating and imprecating at the top of their voices ;but the Indian's resolves were fixed as fate; and away he went, slow enough to encourage his pursuers, but still in the van by a good many paces, and far enough a-head to achieve the secret purpose he had formed-like the parent bird skimming the ground when she wishes to wile the enemy from her nest. Again and again, Mr. M'Dougal wished to continue the chase alone; but maternal anxiety baffled every remonstrance, and this anxiety was if possible increased when she saw the painted savage enter the wood, and steer, as she thought, his course towards his own cabin in the heart of the wild. The Indian, however, was in no hurry; occasionally he cast a glance behind, poised the child almost like a feather, threaded his way with admirable dexterity, and kept the swaddling clothes so closely drawn around it, that not even the winds of Heaven were permitted to visit it too roughly. It is, of course, needless to go into all the details of this singular journey, farther than to say, that the Indian at last called a halt on the margin of a very beautiful prairie, teeming with the richest vegetation, and extending to several thousand acres. In a moment the child was restored to its parents, who, wondering what so strange a proceeding could mean, stood for some minutes panting for breath, and eyeing one another in silent and speechless astonishment. The Indian, on the other hand, appeared overjoyed at the success of his manœuvre, and never did a human being frisk about and gesticulate with greater animation. We have read or heard of a professor of signs, and supposing such a character were waited, the selection could not, or at least should not, be a matter of difficulty, so long as even a remnant remains of the aborigines of North America. All travellers agree in describing their gestures as highly dignified, eloquent, and intelligent; and we have the authority of Mr. M'Dougal for saying, that the hero of the present strictly authentic tale, proved himself to be a perfect master of the art. The restoration of the child, the beauty and wide extent of the prairie, and various other circumstances combined, flashed across our countryman's mind, operating conviction where jealousy and distrust had lurked before; and as the Indian stood before him, his eyes beaming with be

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nevolence and intelligence, his arms extended, and, along with his body, thrown into the most varied and speaking attitudes, he became more and more satisfied that his speech, if given in broken English, would have run very nearly as follows:- "You doubt Indian; you think him treacherous; you think him wish to steal the child. No, no; Indian has tribe and child of his own; Indian knew you long ago; knew you when you first came, and saw you when you not see Indian; saw you poor but hard-working man; some white men bad, and hurt Indian; you not bad; hurt no one, but work hard for your wife and child; saw you choose bad place; Indian pitied you; never make rich there; saw your cattle far in forest; thought you come catch them; you not come; your wife come; Indian find her faint and weary; Indian take her home; fear go in; think Indian kill and eat her; no, no; Indian lead her back; Indian meet you; very sad, then very glad to see her you kind to Indian; give him meat, drink, and better clothes than your own; Indian grateful; wish you to come here; not come; Indian go again; not come; Indian very sorry; take the child; not run fast; know you would follow child. Look round! plenty ground-rich, rich; Indian love the deer, and the birds and beasts of the field; the chase make him strong; his father loved the chase; if Indian farm, Indian farm here; look round! plenty of ground-rich, rich; many, many cattle feed here; trees not many on that side; make road in less than half a moon; Indians help you; come, come-Indian your friend-come, live here." Mr. M'Dougal in a trice examined the soil, and immediately saw the propriety of the advice given by the untutored, but by no means unintelligent or unobserving savage-if savage, in deference to custom, he must still be called. By a sort of tacit agreement a day was fixed for the removal of the materials of our countryman's cabin, goods, and chattels; and the Indian, true to his word, brought a detachment of his tribe to assist in one of the most romantic “ flittings" that ever was undertaken, whether in the new or old world. In a few days a roomy loghouse was fashioned, and a garden formed in a convenient section of the beautiful prairie, from which the smoke was seen curling, and the wood-pecke heard tapping at no great distance.Mr. M'Dougal was greatly pleased with

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The wrestling of the Greeks, if we may judge from their bas-reliefs and coins, was neither elegant nor scientific: it appears to resemble the manner of the Switzers of the present age, who depend not upon the dextrous use of the legs, but endeavour to lift each other from the ground, when he who is lifted, may of course, be easily thrown on his back by the other.

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the change; and no wonder, seeing that he could almost boast of a body guard as bold as the bowmen of Robin Hood. His Indian friend speedily became a sort of foster-brother, and his tribe as faithful as the most attached tail of gillies that ever surrounded a Highland chieftain. Even the stupid kine lowed on finding themselves suddenly transported to a boundless range of the richest pasture, and, up to the WOMEN. Your cynic philosophers date of the last advices, were improving affect to speak contemptuously of worapidly in condition, and increasing men, but even the cold calculating in numbers. The little garden was Chancellor, he whom Pope justly styles smiling like a rose in the desert; grass, the "wisest, brightest, meanest of manover-abundant, gradually giving way kind," has done them justice. A more to thriving crops; and the kine so well elegant compliment, however, could satisfied with their gang, that herds not be paid them than that of Corneand inclosures were alike unneeded to lius Agrippa, who, in his curious tract keep them from the corn. The Indians "De laudibus feminarum," thus speaks continued friendly and faithful, occa- of the constancy of women:-When sionally bringing presents of venison our Saviour rose from the dead, he apand other game, and were uniformly peared first to women, not to men ; and rewarded from the stores of a dairy it is also manifest that, after the death overflowing with milk, butter, and of Christ the men forsook the faith, but cheese. Attached as the red man was it has not been proved that the women to his own mode of life, he was at length ever abandoned the Christian religion. induced, with his wife, to form part of * * * Our Saviour was the establis ment in the capacity of betrayed, sold, bought, accused, congrieve or head shepherd-a duty he un- demned, suffered, was crucified, and fidertook the more cheerfully, as it still nally given to death by no others than left him opportunities of meeting and by men. He was renounced by St. communing with his friends, and re- Peter, forsaken by the rest of his connoitring the antlered denizens of disciples, and was accompanied solely the forest. Let us hope, therefore, by women to the cross and to the that no untoward accident will occur to tomb." Shall a quality for which we mar this beautiful picture of sylvan most prize the dog be overlooked in life; that the M'Dougal colony will our own species? wax stronger and stronger, till every section of the prairie is forced to yield tribute to the spade and the plough; and that future generations of the clan will be able to say for themselves, and impress upon their children,

'Happy the man whose highest care A few paternal acres bound; Content to breathe his native air

In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,

Whose flocks supply him with attire:
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter fire.

Thus let me live unseen, unknown,
Thus unlamented let me die;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie!'

Table Talk.

FOR THE OLIO.

WRESTLING.-Homer has treated us to an account of the Greek mode of wrestling, but he has evidently taken the license usually allowed to poets.

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In very

HUMAN STATURE.-Were the human race constantly decreasing in stature as novelists and poets would have us believe, what a race of pigmies would the present generation be! large cities and towns, a decay of physical strength and a smallness of stature must be obvious, but this is not the case in the country. There are thousands in England at this day, who are little inferior in bodily strength to their barbarous ancestors, when they opposed the Roman invader, and the peasants of Italy; if they possess not their courage and spirit, they have frames as well knit as the soldiers of Cæsar's legions. Examine the defensive armour of the English, and you will find that not one suit in twenty is too large for a well-formed man of the present day. The skeletons which have been discovered at Pompeii are not of larger dimensions than those of the modern Italians. The huge bones found sometimes in this island are the remains of antediluvian animals, or,

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perhaps, of the elephants brought him ther by the Emperor Claudius. *** RETRIBUTION.-Those who hate cruelty will find consolation in the fact, that the inventors of barbarous punishments, and of instruments for the destruction of mankind, have been the victims of their inhuman contrivances. Philaris was roasted to death in the brazen bull, which his refined cruelty had prompted him to fabricate, to please a tyrant. Richard the First of England taught the French the use of the cross-bow, and was himself slain by a shot from that engine. The carcass of him who erected the gibbets of Montfaucon, was not long after suspended upon one of them; and, if I mistake not, the inventor of the 'Maiden," a description of guillotine formerly used in Scotland, perished by his own invention.

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ROMEO AND JULIET.-This play has ever been accounted among the best of Shakspeare's works. It is, however, we believe, not generally known, that it is founded on a tragedy of real life, that happened about the beginning of the fourteenth century. The story, with all its circumstances, is given us by an Italian novelist, named Bandello, as also by Gizolome da Corte, in his History of Verona. The young lover, as this historian relates, was called Romeo Montecchio, and the lady, Juliet Capello. Captain Breval, in his travels, relates that when he was at Verona he was shewn an old building, in which the tomb of these ill-fated lovers had formerly been broken up, and that he was informed by his guide in all the particulars of the history. The castle of Montecchio, situate between Vicenza and Verona, anciently belonged to the illustrious house of that name, that was the head of a faction against the Capellos. Our immortal bard has made that quarrel the subject of his affecting tragedy, and as the story is founded in truth, it will ever have that effect upon the mind, that no fiction, be it ever so highly wrought, can create.

WRITING." It is curious to observe how writing has had to struggle against power. At first, the feudal baron was ashamed of being able to write, and the signing his name was like putting on his armour, service to be done by an inferior; however, writing became general, and barons were obliged to learn to write in self-defence. The next stage was printing; it was long ungenteel to have printed a book, a kind of blemish on nobility, and indulged in

by the youth, apologized for by the old ; but, at length printing became universal, the people felt it a weapon of their own. -New Mon. Mag.

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THE CHOLERA.-A resident at Paris thus describes the effects of the Cholera in that City:-"I have traversed a good portion of the City; it is difficult to describe it now. The Boulevards, formerly the promenade of the idlers and the fashionables, of the wealthy and the swindlers, are now thinly sprinkled with a few melancholy persons, walking as it were, in fear of the malady, of which every one is talking. No carriages, no splendid liveries, even the diplomatic corps conceal themselves. The druggists' shops are, in some places, thronged by persons, each to ask a remedy for a father, a mother, a wife, a husband or a child, or a relation who is dying. In some houses there are several dead at the same moment; and one sees a coffin lying in the passage and covered with a white sheet with a candle lighted at the head, waiting until the black cart approaches, to carry the deceased to a place of burial. It is indeed, a dreadful visitation, which desolates a city, causes the ruin of families, and leaves many a forlorn orphan to weep in misery, or to beg a pittance in the streets."

BRANDING.-The manner in which Naylor, convicted of blasphemy in the time of the Commonwealth suffered his punishment, is thus described by Burton in his diary. The writer was one of the members named to see a part of the sentence carried into execution. "He put out his tongue very willingly, but shrinked a little when the iron came upon his forehead. He was pale when he came out of the pillory, but high coloured after tongue-boring. He was bound by a cord by both arms to the pillory; Rich, the mad merchant, sat bare at Naylor's feet all the time. Sometimes he sung, and cried, and stroked his hair and face, and kissed his hand, and sucked the fire out of his forehead. Naylor embraced his executioner, and behaved himself very handsomely and patiently. A great crowd of people there; the sheriff present, 'cum multis,' at the Old Exchange, near the conduit."

ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE-A correspondent of the "Gentleman's Magazine" for the present month, speaking of a Roman amphitheatre discovered at Lillebone in Normandy, says, When I was there in last October, about fifteen labourers were at work under the per

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