mending his father to say grace over a whole barrel of beef at once; and of his disgust with a favourite whistle, the moment he found he had paid too dear for it, are well known. When at school, (which was only between the ages of eight and ten years) Franklin soon distinguished himself among his playfellows, by his strength and address, and he was generally the leader in all their schemes. Their great delight was, fishing for minnows; and as their constant trampling had made the edge of the pond a quagmire, Franklin's active mind suggested the idea of building a little wharf for them to stand upon. Unluckily, a heap of stones was collected, at no great distance, for building a new house; and one evening, Franklin proposed to his companions to make free with them, after the workmen were gone home. The project was approved, and executed with great industry but the next morning the stones were missed, and inquiry was made, and the consequence was, a complaint against the boys. Franklin pleaded, in excuse, the utility of the work; but his father wisely took the opportunity of inculcating the excellent maxim, that what is not honest, cannot be useful.

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SWEARING AND PROFANITY.

THERE is nothing so low, vulgar and wicked, as swearing, and it is surprising that men, who wish to be considered as wise and polite, should be found so much in the habit of it. It is not, however, peculiar to the inferior circles of life, but prevails among the great and honourable, so called. Wise and suitable reproofs of this sin have, however, had a good effect, as the following instances show:

Mr. John Howe being at dinner with some persons of fashion, a gentleman expatiated largely in praise of Charles I. and made some disagreeable reflections upon others. Mr. Howe, observing that he mixed many horrid oaths with his discourse, took the liberty to say, that in his humble opinion, he had omitted one great excellence in the character of that prince; which, when the gentleman pressed him to mention, and waited with impatience to hear it, he told him this: "that he was never heard to swear an oath in common conversation." The gentleman took the reproof, and promised to break off the practice.

Another time he passed two persons of quality who were talking with great eagerness, and damned each other repeatedly. Upon which, taking off his hat, he said to them, I pray God save you both;" for which they both gave him their thanks.

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At the time when the Conformity Bill was debated in Parliament, Mr. Howe passed a noble Lord in a chair in St. James's Park, who sent his footman to call him, desiring to speak with him on this subject. In the conversation speaking of the opponents of the dissenters, he uttered an imprecation on them. Mr. Howe, who was no stranger to the nobleman, expressed great satisfaction in the thought, that there is a God who governs the world, who will finally make retribution to all according to their present characters; "And he, my Lord, has declared, he will make a dif ference between him that sweareth and him that feareth an oath." The nobleman was struck with the hint, and said, “I thank you, Sir, for your freedom. I take your meaning, and shall endeavour to make a good use of it." Mr. Howe, replied, My lord, I have more reason to thank your lordship for saving me the most difficult part of a discourse, which is the application."

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An Elector of Cologne (who was likewise an Archbishop) one day swearing profanely, asked a peasant, who seemed to wonder, what he was so surprised at? "To hear an archbishop swear," answered the peasant. "I swear," replied the Elector, "not as an archbishop, but as a prince." "But, my lord," said the peasant, "when the prince goes to the devil, what will become of the archbishop?"

Prince Henry, son of King James I. being at a hunting match, the stag, almost spent, crossed a road where a butcher was passing with his dog. The stag was instantly killed by the dog; at which the huntsmen were greatly offended, and endeavoured to irritate the prince against the butcher. But his highness answered coolly, "What, if the butcher's dog killed the stag, how could the butcher help it?" They replied, that, if some princes had been so served, they would have sworn dreadfully. "Away," cried the prince; "all the pleasure in the world is not worth an oath."

As Mr. Romaine was one day walking in the street with another gentleman, he heard a poor man call upon God to damn him. Mr. R. stopped, took out half-a-crown, and presenting it, said,

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"As

My friend, I will give you this if you will repeat that oath.' The man started: "What! sir," said he, "do you think I will damn my soul for half-a-crown?" Mr. R. answered, you did it just now for nothing, I could not suppose you would refuse to do it for a reward!" The poor creature, struck with this reproof, as Mr. R. intended he should be, replied, "God bless and reward you, sir, whoever you are. I believe you have saved my soul: I hope I shall never swear again while I live.”

The late Dr. Gifford, as he was once showing

the British Museum to strangers, was very much vexed by the profane conversation of a young gentleman who was present. The doctor, taking an ancient copy of the Septuagint, and showing it to him, "O!" said the gentleman, "I can read this." "Well," said the doctor, "read that passage," pointing to the Third Command. Here the gentleman was so struck, that he immediately desisted from swearing.

CAPTURE OF PARIS.

WHEN Paris was attacked in 1814 by the allied armies, the Parisian artillery placed on the heights of Montmartre was served by the pupils of the Polytechnic school, who were principally from twelve to fifteen years old. They, of course, were inexperienced in war; yet they rivaled in ardour the veterans with whom they associated; and their well-directed fire filled the approaches to the positions with the dead bodies of the enemy. Thus transformed into disciples of war, they served the batteries with all the enthusiasm of valour, and never shrunk from their post whilst it could be retained. Several hundred of these youths fell in the conflict.