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THE TRAVELLING MUSICIANS.

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house no great way off, for I see a light." "If that be the case," said the ass, 66 we had better change our quarters, for our lodging is not the best in the world." "Besides," added the dog, "I should not be the worse for a bone or two, or a bit of meat." So they walked together to the spot where the cock had seen the light and as they drew near, it became larger and brighter, till they at last came close to a house where a gang of robbers lived. The ass, being the tallest of the company, marched to the window and peeped in. "Well, donkey," said the cock, "what do you see?" "What do I see!" replied the ass, "why I see a table spread with all kinds of good things, and robbers sitting round it making merry." "That would be a noble lodging for us," said the cock. "Yes," said the ass, "if we could only get in."

So they consulted together how they should contrive to get the robbers out; and at last they hit upon a plan. The ass placed himself upright on his hind legs, with his fore-feet resting against the window; the dog got upon his back; the cat scrambled up to the dog's shoulders; and the cock flew up and sat upon the cat's head.

When all was ready, a signal was given, and they began their music. The ass brayed, the dog barked, the cat mewed, and the cock screamed; and then they all broke through the window at once, and came tumbling into the room, amongst the broken glass, with a most hideous clatter ! The robbers, who had been greatly frightened by the opening concert, had now no doubt that some frightful hobgoblin had broken in upon them, and scampered away as fast as they could.

The coast once clear, our travellers soon sat down, and ate up what the robbers had left with as much eagerness as if they had not expected to eat again for a month. As soon as they had satisfied themselves, they put out the lights, and each once more sought out a resting-place to his own liking.

The donkey laid himself down upon a heap of straw in the yard; the dog stretched himself upon a mat behind the door; the cat rolled herself up on the hearth before the warm ashes; and the cock perched upon a beam on the top of the house. As they were all rather tired with their journey, they soon fell asleep.

But about midnight, when the robbers saw from afar that the lights were out, and that all seemed quiet, they began to think they had been in too great a hurry to run away; and one of them, who was bolder than the rest, went to see what was going on.

Finding everything still, he marched into the kitchen, and groped about till he found a match in order to light a candle; and then, seeing the glittering, fiery eyes of the cat, he mistook them for live coals, and held the match to them to light it. But the cat, not understanding this joke, sprang at his face, and spit at him, and scratched him.

This frightened him dreadfully, and away he ran to the back door; but there the dog jumped up and bit him in the leg; and as he was crossing over the yard the ass kicked him; and the cock, who had been awakened by the noise, crowed with all his might.

At this the robber ran back as fast as he could to his comrades, and told the captain how a horrid witch had got into the house, and had spit at him, and scratched his face with her long, bony fingers; how a man with a knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door, and stabbed him in the leg; how a black monster stood in the yard, and struck him with a club; and how an evil spirit sat upon the top of the house, and cried out"Throw the rascal up here!"

After this the robbers never dared go back to the house; but the musicians were so pleased with their quarters that they took up their abode there; and there they are, I dare say, at this very day.

A FABLE OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.-The gaping populace gapes over wood-cuts, or copper-cuts, where, for example, a rustic is represented convoking the poultry of his barn-yard with this opening address: "Dear animals, I have assembled you to advise me what sauce I shall dress you with;" to which a cock responding, "We don't want to be eaten," is checked by, "You wander from the point." (Vous vous ecartez de la question.)— CARLYLE'S French Revolution.

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The Life of Lord Nelson.

(ABRIDGED FROM SOUTHEY'S LIFE.)

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CHAPTER IV.

ELSON greatly distinguished himself in the battle with the Spanish fleet, off Cape St. Vincent. Although the victory was mainly owing to his exertions, the Admiral, Sir John Jervis, was made an earl, while he had only the Order of the Bath. Nelson's father was especially affected by hearing of his bravery and

heroism. "I thank my God," he said, "with all the power of a grateful soul, for the mercies He has most graciously bestowed on me in preserving you. Tears of joy have involuntarily trickled down my furrowed cheeks." The good old man concluded by telling him that the field of glory was still open, and by giving him his blessing.

About this time, Nelson, in a conflict with the Spaniards, was shot through his right arm. He thought little of the wound, and was anxious to return to the scene of action. "Let me alone," said he; "I have yet my legs left and one arm. to make haste and get his instruments. right arm, so the sooner it is off the better."

Tell the surgeon I know I must lose my

When he came to England he was received with distinction. Letters were addressed to him by the First Lord of the Admiralty, and by his steady friend the Duke of Clarence (afterwards William IV.), to congratulate him on his return, covered as he was with glory. The freedom of the cities of Bristol and London were conferred upon him, and he received a pension of £1000 a year.

The sufferings caused him by his arm being taken off, were long and painful. He had constant pain, day and night, for nearly three months after his return to England. At the house where he was lodging, one night the family were disturbed by a mob knocking loudly and violently at the door. Admiral Duncan had lately gained a great victory, and the city was being illuminated; the people were therefore angry that this house showed

no signs of rejoicing. But when the mob were told that Admiral Nelson lay there in bed, badly wounded, the foremost of them made answer: "You shall hear no more from us to-night ;" and, in fact, the feeling of respect and sympathy so passed from one to another, that the house was not molested again.

Early in the year 1798, Sir Horatio Nelson hoisted his flag in the Vanguard, and was ordered to join Earl St. Vincent (formerly Sir John Jervis). Upon his departure, his father addressed him: "I trust in the Lord that He will prosper your going out and your coming in. I earnestly desired once more to see you, and that wish has been heard." He was sent to search for the French fleet, which, it was supposed, was bound for Egypt. He went to Alexandria in search of it, but returned without finding it, and thus gave occasion for some people in England to distrust his judgment. He set sail for Alexandria a second time, however, and came up with the French fleet, and the Battle of the Nile ensued, which was the greatest victory Nelson had yet gained.

In this battle Nelson received a severe wound on the head from a piece of shot. Captain Berry caught him in his arms as he was falling. The great effusion of blood led to a fear that the wound was mortal, and would lead to his death. Nelson himself thought so. A large flap of the skin of the forehead, cut from the bone, had fallen over one eye; and the other being blind, he was in total darkness. When he was carried down, the surgeon left the sailor he was attending, that he might go to the admiral. "No!" said Nelson, "I will take my turn with my brave fellows." Nor would he suffer his own wound to be examined till every man who had been previously wounded was attended to.

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Shortly after, one of the French ships, the Orient, was seen to be on fire, and shortly afterwards blew up. About seventy of her crew were saved by the English boats. Of the French fleet, comprising thirteen sail of the line, nine were taken and two burnt. The British loss in killed and wounded amounted to 895. Of the French, 3,105 were taken prisoners and 5225 perished.

As soon as the victory was completed, Nelson sent orders through the fleet to return thanksgiving in every ship for the victory with which Almighty God had blessed his Majesty's

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arms. Nelson was now at the summit of glory. The first congratulation which he received was from the Turkish Sultan, who, as soon as the invasion of Egypt was known, had called upon "all true believers to take arms against those swinish infidels, the French, that they might deliver these blessed habitations from their accursed hands." He gave Nelson several valuable presents. The Czar of Russia presented him with his portrait set in diamonds, in a gold box, accompanied with a letter of congratulation written with his own hands. The King of Sardinia also wrote to him, and sent him a gold box, set with diamonds.

At home, he was created Baron Nelson of the Nile, with a pension of £2,000 for his own life and those of his two immediate successors. When the grant was moved in the House of Commons, General Walpole expressed an opinion that a higher degree of rank ought to be conferred. Mr. Pitt made answer that he thought it needless to enter into that question. "Admiral Nelson's fame," he said, "would be co-equal with the British name; and it would be remembered that he had obtained the greatest naval victory on record, when no man would think of asking whether he had been created a baron, a viscount, or an earl." A grant of £10,000 was voted to Nelson by the East India Company; the Turkish Company presented him with a piece of plate; the city of London presented a sword to him and to each of his captains.

Shortly afterwards, Nelson was concerned in some transactions at the court of Naples that cast a stain on his reputation. He became attached to Lady Hamilton, wife of Sir William Hamilton, and was so devoted to the interests of the King of Naples as to annul a treaty that one of his officers had concluded with some Neapolitan rebels. Southey remarks upon this event: "A deplorable transaction! a stain upon the memory of Nelson and the honour of England! To palliate it would be vain; to justify it would be wicked: there is no alternative for one who will not make himself a sharer in guilt, but to record the disgraceful story with sorrow and with shame." Other events followed, which it is painful to dwell upon, and which serve to show how the greatest of men have their follies and their crimes.

Nelson was welcomed on his return to England with every mark of popular honour. At Yarmouth, where he landed, every

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