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THE EPICURE AND THE PHYSICIAN.

Swift o'er the plain the hunters fly,
Each echoing out a joyous cry:
A forest next before them lay;
He, left behind, mistook his way,
And long alone bewildered rode,
He found a Peasant's poor abode
But fasting kept, from six to four,
Felt hunger, long unfelt before;
The friendly swain this want supplied,
And Joan some eggs and bacon fried.
Not dainty now, the Squire in haste
Fell to, and prais'd their savoury taste;
Nay, said his meal had such a goût
He ne'er in tarts and olios knew.
Rejoic'd to think he'd found a dish,
That crown'd his long unanswer'd wish,
With gold his thankful host he paid,

Who guides him back from whence he stray'd;
But ere they part (so well he dined)
His rustic host the Squire enjoin'd
To send him home next day a stock
Of those same eggs and charming hock.
He hoped this dish of savoury meat
Would prove that still 'twas bliss to eat ;
But ah! he found, like all the rest,
These eggs were tasteless things at best;
The bacon not a dog could touch,
So rank-he never tasted such!
He sent express to fetch the clown,
And thus address'd him with a frown:
"These eggs, this bacon, that you sent,
For Christian food were never meant;
As soon I'll think the moon's a cheese,
As those you dress'd the same with these.
Little I thought"-" Sir," says the Peasant,

THE EPICURE AND THE PHYSICIAN.

"I'm glad your worship is so pleasant;
You joke, I'm sure; for I can swear,
The same the fowls that laid them are;
And know as well that all the bacon
From one the self-same flitch was taken :
The air, indeed, about our green

Is known to make the stomach keen."
"Is that the case ?" the Squire replied;
"That air shall be directly tried."
He gave command-a house he hired,
And down he goes with hope inspired,
And takes his cooks-a favourite train;
But still they ply their art in vain.
Perhaps 'twas riding did the feat:
He rides, but still he cannot eat.
At last a friend, to physic bred,
Perceived his case; and thus he said:
"Be ruled by me, you soon shall eat,
With hearty gust, the plainest meat:
A pint of milk, each rising morn,
Procure from cow of sable horn;
Shake in three drops of morning dew
From twig of ever-verdant yew;
It must by your own hand be done,
Your face turn'd westward from the sun;
With this, ere half an hour is past,
Well crumb'd with biscuit, break your fast;
Which done, from food (or all is vain)
For twice three hours and one abstain ;
Then dine on one substantial dish,
If plainly dress'd, of flesh or fish."
Grave look'd the Doctor as he spake ;
The Squire concludes th' advice to take,
And, cheated into temperance, found
The bliss his former luxury drown'd.

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THE INFANT'S EVENING PRAYER.

THE day is over, my frolic child!
Thou hast left thy sports of glee;

With looks composed, and with accents mild,
Thou hast sunk on thy bended knee;
And the moonbeams play on thy hazel eye,
And shine on thy flaxen hair,

While thy voice is raised to the Power on high,
In a simple Evening Prayer.

Few are thy words, my gentle boy,

Thou art but of infant years,

Thou canst not tell of the world's vain joy,
Its temptations, toils, and years;

But thou still canst ask from the Lord above,
His protecting grace and care;

And each earthly friend who has won thy love,
Is named in thy Evening Prayer.

Ere thy lips could a lengthened sentence frame, Or utter a perfect tone,

We taught thee to lisp thy Maker's name,

And bow at his heavenly throne;
We bade thee gaze on the bright blue skies,
And told thee his home was there,

And he will not the simple words despise
Of our infant's Evening Prayer!

THE SNAIL AND THE BEES.

I WILL tell you a droll story of the manner in which some bees treated a snail who marched into their hive with his house upon his back, as if he really meant to take up his quarters with them. He fixed himself to the side of the hive, as you may often see these creatures sticking against a wall, waiting till a refreshing shower of rain invites them to put their heads out of the shell. The bees did not at all like the intruding snail's company; but finding that they could not pierce his hard shell, and sting him to death, they very cunningly bethought themselves of glueing him so fast that, when he had a mind to put his nose out, he should find himself a prisoner for life. So they went to work, so many at once, and so busily with their propolis, that before slow Mr. Snail had once thought of peeping out, they had fixed his shell fast to the side of the hive, and turned his house into his tomb.

WHEN you are disposed to be vain of your mental acquirements, look up to those who are more accomplished than yourself, that you may be fired with emulation-but when you feel dissatisfied with your circumstances, look down on those beneath you, that you may learn content.

SINGULAR ANECDOTE.

THE house of a Greek, living in the suburbs of Constantinople, had been set on fire: by the assistance, however, of a few janissaries, he had nearly saved all his goods; but by some fatal chance, one of his children, lying in its cradle, had been forgotten. No possibility was left of reentering the house, and the despairing father had. given up the babe as irrecoverably lost. At that very instant, a large mastiff, the property of the Greek, was seen coming out of the house, holding the child in its mouth by the body. Vain were the attempts to stop him, or to make him loose his hold; the sagacious creature ran through the crowd, and never stopped, till, reaching the house of his master's intimate friend, he dropped at the door the precious burthen. The gratitude of the father towards this excellent servant cannot be expressed! nor could you imagine what reward he resolved to bestow upon the faithful creature! The Greek killed the animal with his own hand, and had the carcase dressed, which was served up as a principal dish at an entertainment he had prepared to solemnize his child's providential escape from the devouring element, saying, "He has behaved too well to be left a prey to filthy worms, men alone should feed upon his remains; and ye, my guests, cannot but profit by it; you will grow more benevolent, feeling and virtuous,"

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