ing besides a copse, which stretched its belt from the adjacent wood, he listened to the matchless song of the bird of night, the exclamation of honest Izaak Walton came across his mind, with increased power:-" He that at midnight should hear, as I have often done, when the weary labourer sleeps securely, the clear airs, the sweet descants, the natural risings and fallings, the doubling and redoubling of the nightingale's voice, might well be lifted above earth and say 'Lord! what music hast thou provided for the saints in heaven, when thou affordest bad men such music upon earth!'"

In the course of a short time, he left that part of the country, and departed no one knew whither. But he also left behind, if it could have been appreciated, a striking example of the simplicity and the dignity of high-bearing under an accumulated load of sorrows and

misfortunes.

འ

THE BANKER, NAVIGATOR,

OR EXCAVATOR.

Dykers and delvers diggeden up the balkes.

PIERS PLOUHMAN.

Irthe effects of industry in all its ramifications, the great source of national wealth, as well as of national greatness, were presented before the eye at one glance, such a picture would be exhibited, as would be deemed not only strange, but almost marvellous.

We are surrounded by the wonders of science and of labour; and we have continually presented before us the most striking contrasts. There is certainly a wonderful difference between the finest sewing needle plied by the hand of female beauty, and the gigantic steam-engine of three-hundred-horse power, which, to make short of the matter, can forge the largest anchor for the first-rate ships of war, and per

fect the silver eye of the aforesaid needle. There is also a marvellous difference between one stroke of the pick-axe, one plunge of the spade or "tool," and the perfection of a canal, the embankment or the cutting of a railway, or the formation of the tunnel. What are the marvellous instruments which accomplish these great purposes? Let us leave the giant stroke of the engine-beam, the fearful whirl of wheel and spindle, and dwell upon the mortal instrument, with its muscles, and tendons, and thews, and sinews-the NAVIGATOR, the BANKER, or EXCAVATOR.

To a mere stranger, the term "Banker" or "Navigator," would be somewhat inexplicable, seeing that he who bears these significant terms, has, in the one instance, neither stock, capital, deposit, bullion, nor "rest," and, in the other, neither ship, compass, nor sextant. In the one case, therefore, he is ignorant of the rate of exchange, as well as of the application of the "screw;" and, in the other, of the many dangers which may lie on his weather-bow. The term Excavator is the most applicable; but it has fallen into desuetude, by the adoption of that of Banker, or the more elegant cognomen of that of "Navvy."

These Bankers are divided into various sections, as the case may require. Thus in any extensive undertaking, a portion of the cutting is contracted for, by, perhaps, one individual, at a certain sum per square yard, varying in amount according to particular circumstances, as to locality, the nature of the soil, or otherwise, working as the term is by "floors." This perhaps small contractor, who employs a certain number of Bankers under him, is called the

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gangsman." This "gangsman" superintends the work, a certain part of which is apportioned out to be accomplished daily by the whole lot; and, in order to effect this, he can point out the greatest facilities for the speedy and efficient completion of the contract, for a very good reason -his pocket is concerned. Marvellous thing, that pocket! If a gang is joined by a stranger, who, in search of work, is unknown, wholly or in part, to the body of the fraternity, he is immediately put to the test. Indeed, his strength, spirit, and resolution have to undergo a severe trial. The laden wheel-barrow, which he has to wheel up, very probably, a long inclined plane, is piled up as high as possible with, in all likelihood the densest and heaviest wet clay, weighing upwards of thirty stones-a Herculean task,

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which is fully calculated to try the stoutest man living, making the knees tremble and the muscles quiver. If, after repeated trials, he can successfully accomplish this dreadful horsework, by a resolute and enduring spirit, he becomes a free and an accepted member of the honourable body corporate. If, on the contrary, he should unfortunately fail, even after the expiration of several days—and this practice, it should be remembered, is called “running" him—he is expelled from the fraternity, and literally compelled to "run;" and the amount of money which he has thus earned becomes forfeited, and is spent for the benefit of the privileged proficients. Some degree of justice however, is attached to this severe test; for if, in the case of the failure of the novice, the man who has laden the wheel-barrow, cannot wheel the load himself, he is subject to a fine also, if he is fortunate enough to escape other more serious consequences.

It sometimes happens, that the labour of wheeling immense weights, especially up the inclined planes already alluded to, will occasion a dreadful pain between the blades of the shoulder, a torture which will last through several days, making it even painful to move.