service on a Strasburg ham-were regular as a line of infantry, and no less dangerous. His forehead was large : his black hair waning into grey, save that one lock, which grew like the forelock of old Time, was raven still. His eyes were small, and so deep in his head, no man ever saw the whites of them : there they were, like black beads sunk in scarlet flesh. Such is the poor, weak picture of the glorious living face : and then every bit of it shone, as though it had been smeared with sacrificial fat. The Hermit's voice was deep and clear; and he had a sweet, heart-warming chuckle, which came like wine gurgling from a flask. The very pope of hermits was the Hermit of Bellyfulle. This worthy anchorite wore no weed of greynot he. He had a capacious gown of faded scarlet damask, worn-much worn : yet there were traces in it of past beauty ; goodly bunches of grapes, antique flagons, and Cupids flaying a buck. This robe was girded about the waist with a thick silken rope ; a relic, as he told us, picked up in a pilgrimage. had been a bell-rope in the best hostelry of Palestine. The nether anatomy of the recluse showed, as we thought, that all the vanity of the world had not died within him, for he wore black velvet breeches; and, moreover, seemed to throw an approving glance at his leg, cased in unwrinkled silken hose of ebon black. His feet were easily lodged in large slippers of cramoisy velvet, with here and there a glimmering of old gold lace. A hermit would be no hermit without a skull. The anchorite of Bellyfulle was fitly provided with such tangible aid to solemn reflection : for he had the skull of a heathen Paladin, in the which—for the top had been curiously sawn off, and hinged, and a silver box contrived in the cavity-in the which the Hermit of Bellyfulle kept his best tobacco. He moreover showed his horror and contempt for heathenism by sinking the basanet of a Saracen knight into a spittoon. The Cell of the Corkscrew revealed the magnanimity of its hermit indweller. Its walls were tapestried with sides of bacon, with hams smoked over fires of cedar and sandal-wood. Festoons of sausages hung from the roof, dazzling the eyes and melting the heart of the beholder. Frequent peering forth, with death-grim snout, a boar's head would show itself, to the ear of fancy grunting for the knife. And now, the eye would wander to a squab of flesh-a buffalo's hump—toothsome to rest upon. And then there were tongues, as many as at Babel, hanging on all sides ; tongues of deer, of antelope, of Indian ox, smoked and cured by Indian cooks. Glowing and beautiful were a hundred vitreous jars of pungent pickle, disposed about the cell with the finest consideration of colour and effect. There, too, was the delicious olive, in its mild, immortal green, for Bacchus in his afterdinner hour to dally with.-Douglas Jerrold, SONG OF LOVE. Welcome, welcome, happy pair, Thomas Nables. EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. Bring thy children up in learning and obedience, yet without outward austerity. Praise them openly, reprehend them secretly. Give them good countenance and convenient maintenance according to thy ability, otherwise thy life will seem their bondage, and what portion thou shalt leave them at thy death, they will thank death for it, and not thee. And I am persuaded that the foolish cockering of some parents, and the over-stern carriage of others, causeth more men and women to take ill courses, than their own vicious inclinations. Marry thy daughters in time, lest they marry themselves. And suffer not thy sons to pass the Alps : for they shall learn nothing there but pride, blasphemy, and atheism. And if by travel they get a few broken languages, that shall profit them nothing more than to have one meat served in divers dishes. Neither, by my consent, shalt thou train them up in wars ; for he that sets up his rest to live by that profession, can hardly be an honest man or a good Christian. Besides, it is a science no longer in request than use ; for soldiers in peace are like chimneys in summer.-Lord Burleigh. TOLERATION. I could never divide myself from any man upon the difference of an opinion, or be angry with his judgment for not agreeing with me in that from which within a few days I should dissent myself. -Sir Thomas Browne. THE WOODMAN'S WALK. From “England's Helicon,” 1600, where it is signed, "Shep. Tonie." Through a fair forest as I went, Upon a summer's day, Yet in a strange array. Whom I did know so well : His mind he 'gan to tell ; But list a while to me: What I shall show to thee. Till weary of my weal, As now I will reveal. Where beauty fed mine eyes ; Did mask in sly disguise : And friend to friend was coy : And then I found no joy. When crouching craft was fed : But none that stood in stead. Wit was employed for each man's own; Plain meaning came too short; All these devices, seen and known, Made me forsake the court. In hope of better hap; As set on Fortune's lap. Methought would ne'er be done; Friends flock'd about me more and more, As quickly lost as won. But when my purse did fail, Thus love with wealth doth quail. Although the world did frown: Together trod me down. They sought my quite decay: And thence I stole away. Lord bless me from the city : Without remorse or pity. Yet would I not give over so, But once more try my fate; And to the country then I go, To live in quiet state. |