All this would have done very well if I had not had a business to mind; but the misfortune was, that it took me off from trade—­unsettled my thoughts; my shopmen were too much left to themselves, they were negligent of my business, and plundered me of my property.  I drew too often upon the till—­made no reserve for the wholesale dealers and manufacturers—­could not answer their demands upon me—­and became—­Bankrupt.

Reduced now to live upon a chop and a draught of porter, I feel my wants more than ever; my wife’s genteel notions having upset her, she has lost her spirits.  We do little but upbraid each other, and I am become despicable in my own opinion, and ridiculous in that of others.  I once was happy, but now am miserable.

* * * * *

THE GATHERER.

A snapper up of unconsidered trifles. 
SHAKSPEARE

* * * * *

GUDE NEWS.

Copied from an inscription over the fireplace of a public-house in Edinburgh, the frequent resort of Burns.

Willie Christie tells them wha dinna ken, that he has a public house, first door down Libbertown Wynd, in the Lawn Market, whaur he keeps the best o’ stuff; gude nappy Yill frae the best o’ Bruars in big bottels an’ wee anes, an’ Porter frae Lunnon o’ a’ sorts; Whuske as gude as in the Toun, an o’ a’ strength, an’ for cheapness ekwall to ony that’s gaun.  Jinger Beer in wee bottells at Tippence, an’ Sma’ Beer for three bawbees the twa bottels out of the house, an’ a penny the bottel in.

N.B.  Toddy cheap an’ unco’ gude if ’tis his ain mackin.

S.H.

* * * * *

EPIGRAM.

  Whilst Mary kissed her infant care,
  “You like my lip,” she cried, “my dear.” 
  The smiling child, though half afraid,
  Thus to her beauteous mother said: 
  “With me, mamma, oh, do not quarrel,
  I thought your lip had been my coral.”

E.A.W.

* * * * *

AN EXPLETIVE.

A newspaper tells us that an old woman died April 26, at Wolverhampton, aged 150 years.

* * * * *

LIMBIRD’S EDITION
of the Following Novels is already Published:

                                       s. d. 
  Mackenzie’s Man of Feeling 0 6
  Paul and Virginia 0 5
  The Castle of Otranto 0 6
  Almoran and Hamet 0 5
  Elizabeth, or the Exiles of Siberia. 0 6
  The Castles of Athlia and Dunbayne 0 6
  Rasselas 0 8
  The Old English Baron 0 8
  Nature and Art 0 8