hinder one slipped; it ran into the forward one, breaking the fender, and both vehicles turned over down the hill with a tremendous crash; the learned gentleman describing a parabola, - one of his favorite figures, — and landing some rods away.

8. He rose from the earth a dirtier and wiser man; knees skinned, pantaloons torn, a piece of skin knocked off his forehead, and his best hat flat as a pancake underneath the hind carriage; and, looking round, he

exclaimed, "Is it possible I could have been so much deceived as to the momentum? It was prodigious!"

9. "I don't know anything about momentum,” replied Chandler, "but I do know something about horses. I know it makes a great difference about holding back a load on a steep hill, whether a horse has two legs or four, and whether a horse weighs a hundred and seventy-five or twelve hundred pounds."

It cost the professor thirty-seven dollars to ascertain how much horse power he represented.

HEADS FOR COMPOSITION.

I. BEGINNING OF THE ADVENTURE: the professor starts - the breakdown - sends for another horse and carriage.

II. JOURNEY RESUMED: lashing together the vehicles-the consultation—the professor's proposal to get into the shafts.

III. COLLOQUY BETWEEN THE PROFESSOR AND MR. CHANDLER: Chandler's reply to the professor's proposal-the professor's rejoinder - Chandler's reply—the professor assumes the responsibility.

IV. THE PROFESSOR AS A HORSE: he gets into the shafts the accident — change of posture — increase of velocity.

V. THE DISASTER

the professor's strategy-the smash-up appearance of the professor-his remark on "momentum -Chandler's reply-what the experiment cost the professor.

This interesting description of the deathbed of Washington is from Irving's "Life of Washington." George Washington was born Feb. 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and died Dec. 14, 1799, on his estate at Mount Vernon, situated on the Potomac, fifteen miles below the capital city of the United States which bears his name.

(6) Mrs. Washington. Mrs. Washington's maiden name was Martha Dandridge. When she married Washington, in 1759, she was the widow of Daniel Parke Custis.-(6) Mr. Lear: General Washington's private secretary.

1. Winter had now set in, with occasional wind and rain and frost: yet Washington still kept up his active round of indoor and outdoor avocations, as his diary records. He was in full health and vigor, dined out occasionally, and had frequent guests at Mount Vernon, and, as usual, was part of every day in the saddle, going the rounds of his estates, and, in his military phraseology, "visiting the outposts."

2. He had recently walked with his favorite nephew about the grounds, showing the improvements he intended to make, and had especially pointed out the spot where he purposed building a new family vault; the old one being damaged by the roots of trees which had overgrown it and caused it to leak. "This change,"

said he, "I shall make the first of all, for I may require it before the rest."

3. "When I parted from him," adds the nephew, "he stood on the steps of the front door, where he took leave of myself and another. It was a bright frosty morning: he had taken his usual ride; and the clear, healthy flush on his cheek, and his sprightly manner, brought the remark from both of us that we had never seen the General look so well. I have sometimes thought him decidedly the handsomest man I ever saw; and, when in a lively mood, so full of pleasantry, so agreeable to all with whom he associated, that I could hardly realize he was the same Washington whose dignity awed all who approached him." It was evident that, full of health and vigor, he looked forward to his long-cherished hope, the enjoyment of a serene old age in this home of his heart.

4. The morning of the 12th was overcast. About ten o'clock he mounted his horse, and rode out as usual to make the rounds of the estate. An ominous ring round the moon, which he had observed on the preceding night, proved a fatal portent. "About one o'clock," he notes, "it began to snow, soon after to hail, and then turned to a settled cold rain." Having on an overcoat, he continued his ride without regarding the weather, and did not return to the house until after three.

5. On the following morning the snow was three inches deep, and still falling, which prevented him from taking his usual ride. He complained of a sore throat,

and had evidently taken cold the day before. In the afternoon the weather cleared up, and he went out on the grounds between the house and the river to mark some trees which were to be cut down. A hoarseness which had hung about him through the day grew worse toward night, but he made light of it.

6. He was very cheerful in the evening, as he sat in the parlor with Mrs. Washington and Mr. Lear, amusing himself with the papers which had been brought from the post office. When he met with anything interesting or entertaining, he would read it aloud as well as his hoarseness would permit; or he listened and made occasional comments while Mr. Lear read the debates of the Virginia Assembly.

7. In the night he was taken extremely ill with ague and difficulty of breathing. Between two and three o'clock in the morning he awoke Mrs. Washington; who would have risen to call a servant, but he would not permit her, lest she should take cold. At daybreak, when the servant woman entered to make a fire, she was sent to call Mr. Lear. He found the General breathing with difficulty, and hardly able to utter a word intelligibly.

8. Says Mr. Lear, "The General said to me, 'I find I am going; my breath can not last long. I believed from the first that the disorder would prove fatal. Do you arrange and record all my late military letters and papers. Arrange my accounts, and settle my books, as you know more about them than any one else; and let