“ It is an entire day of relaxation, play, and festivity. On the evening preceding Candlemas Day, the schoolmaster gives notice that to-morrow is their annual festival. The formal announcement is received with joy, and they hasten home to their fathers for their donations to the schoolmaster, called "Candlemas, bleeze," that all may be ready on the morrow. On the morrow all is anxious bustle and conjecture. Who is to be king? Who is to be queen? It is the only day in the year in which they hurry to school with eager pleasure. ”

“ But age and his pampered life greatly disqualified the uoble mastiff for such a struggle. In every thing but courage he was only the vestage of what he had once been. A higher bound than ever raised the wary and furious beast far beyond the reach of the dog, who was making a desperate but fruitless dash at her, from which she alighted in a favourable position on the back of her aged foe. For a single moment, only, could the panther remain there, the great strength of the dog returning with a convulsive effort. ”

“ After the enthronement, the schoolmaster gives each scholar a glass of punch and a biscuit, and they all drink "long life, and a prosperous and happy reign to their most gracious sovereigns," at the same time making obeisance with their best bows. As long as the whisky holds out, these testimonials of loyalty and attachment are repeated. The young ones get full of mirth and glee, and, after receiving their master's thanks for their kindness, they are finally dismissed with merry hearts, to relate their adventures at home. ”

“ This ceremony over, the candles are lighted, the pope is mounted in his chair and carried in procession, with hymns chaunting, round the antichapel; the throne is stripped of its splendid hangings; the pope and cardinals take off their gold and crimson dresses, put on their ordinary robes, and the usual mass of the morning is sung. ”

“ Several mighty efforts of the wild cat to extricate herself from the jaws of the dog followed, but they were fruitless, until the mastiff turned on his back, his lips collapsed, and his teeth loosened; when the short convulsions and stillness that succeeded, announced the death of poor Brave.
Elizabeth now lay wholly at the mercy of the beast. There is said to be something in the front of the image of the Maker that daunts the hearts of the inferior beings of his creation ”

“ The utmost personal cleanliness is to be maintained by frequent washing. Every room should be ventilated by opening the doors and windows frequently in the daytime. Under the proper observance of cleanliness and ventilation, this disease seldom spreads in families, and rarely passes to those about the sick under such favourable circumstances, unless they happen to be peculiarly predisposed. Gentle exercise in the open air is highly useful to preserve the general health of persons exposed to the risk of infection. ”

“ A long and well supported chace put Mag in turn to his shifts. 'Twas in vain that he shrieked, "Oho! man o' th' leather—leather—leather—man o' th' leather!" The Carrickman was resolute, and after an hour's hard running, Mag reluctantly betook himself to a hole in the garret wall. Darby was close upon him, and thrust his hand into the cavity before the bird's tail had disappeared. Judge of his surprise, when, instead of the pie, he pulled forth a well-remembered little bag of his own, containing the exact price of the Cashelman's leather. ”

“ It is of the utmost importance to pay particular attention to these early indications of the disease.
When the most alarming part of the disorder has actually commenced, the patient complains first of giddiness and nervous agitation, and is extremely feeble; his features become sharp and contracted; his lips, face, neck, hands, and feet, blue; the fingers and toes are contracted; the pulse is so small as to be almost extinct; the skin is deadly cold and shrivelled; the voice nearly gone; breathing quick ”

“ As it is easier to prevent than to cure this dangerous disease, the following cautions should be observed:— Great moderation in diet, and in the use of fermented and spirituous liquors. Raw vegetables and unripe fruit should be carefully avoided; a diet of light animal food is the best. ”

“ The only preventives are a healthy body and a cheerful mind.
In most cases, a day or two days before a person is seriously affected by the disease, he has some disorder of stomach, giddiness, and a loose state of bowels, with frequent calls to go to stool. ”

“ A person so seized should take immediately, as an emetic, two tea-spoonfuls of common mustard in half a tumbler of warm water. He should be wrapped in hot blankets; and friction all over his body with camphorated spirit or oil of turpentine and warm flannel should be used. Bottles of hot water or hot bricks should be placed at the back and feet. ”

“ A Killer.—Little Maggy Smith of Balcaskie, the daughter of the game-keeper there, is a first rate shot. It is not unusual to see Maggy, on a morning, trudging to school with her fowling piece over her shoulder, followed by a number of dogs, who are exceedingly fond of their little mistress, and who regularly participate with her at dinner time, the allowance of bread and cheese with which her pockets are usually plentifully supplied. Maggy is a general favourite in the neighbourhood ”

“ The state of the skin should be particularly attended to, so that perspiration be not checked suddenly. The feet should be kept dry and warm. Flannel should be worn next the skin, or at least a flannel bandage round the body. ”

“ It is important to add, that when the patient's shirt or the sheets of his bed are changed, which should be done as frequently as possible, the dirty linen is to be plunged immediately into cold water. ”

“ She has not uttered a word since, and when spoken to by any person, takes not the slightest notice, but will continue sitting in one position, gazing vacantly for eight or nine hours at a time. It has been necessary to use force to compel her to take sufficient nourishment. ”

“ Prepare ground for potatoes, onions, and other roots. Gather fresh horse dung to prepare for making up hot beds for cucumbers and melons. Water may be given in small quantities to such plants as want it, picking off all decayed leaves. ”