longest nights—­in the intervals between the Scotch Novels.  Form the circle round the fire—­when winter crimps and freezes—­or round the open bow-window, now that summer roasts and broils, and get her whose voice is like a silver bell to read it up, right on from beginning to end, only skipping a few lists of names now and then, and we pledge our credit on the prediction, that you will be delighted as on a summer ramble, now in sunlight and now in moonlight, over hill and dale, adorned with towers, turrets, pinnacles of halls and churches, and the low roofs,—­blue or brown, slated or strawed.—­

  “Of huts where poor men lie!”

Blackwood’s Magazine.

* * * * *

THE GATHERER.

“A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles.” 
SHAKSPEARE.

* * * * *

IAMBICS.

Iambe was a servant-maid of Metanira, wife of Celeus, king of Eleusis, who tried to exhilarate Ceres when she travelled over Attica in quest of her daughter Proserpine.  From the jokes and stories which she made use of, free and satirical verses have been called iambics.—­Apollod, i._c_. 5.  HALBERT.

* * * * *

BISHOP AND NEGUS.

Two dustmen were lately disputing the difference between bishop and negus.  “Don’t you know?” said one of them; “I vonders at your ignorance—­ vy bishop is made all vine vithout no vater vatsomever; vereas negus is made with vine and vater mixed—­that’s the difference, to be sure.”

* * * * *

POLITE EVIDENCE.

At the Wells assizes, the other day, a butcher’s wife, in giving her evidence, repeatedly turned towards the prisoner at the bar, and designated him as “that gentleman!” The judge at last lost all patience, and exclaimed, “Old woman, you are become quite offensive.”  This exemplifies Steele’s speaking of “sin as a fine gentleman.”

* * * * *

Baron Garrow lately observed at Monmouth, that a respected friend of his, in the city of London, would sign his name on the outside of letters, in such a way as to defy the skill of every man in the court, even if assisted by the greater sagacity of the other sex, in finding out what his signature could possibly be meant for.  The post-offices indeed, knew that a certain number of straight strokes, up and down, meant W. Curtis; but probably that was not because they could read the signature, but because nothing else at all like it ever came there.

* * * * *

Dr. Solo, on hearing of the glorious victory obtained by Bolivar, was determined that every bird and beast that he possessed should get drunk on this glorious occasion.  For this purpose he gave the horses, cows, pigs, and poultry and birds as much juice of the sugar-cane as they could drink; and it was very amusing to see the pigs jump about in the most frolicsome manner.—­Hutchinson’s Travels in Colombia.