"Blood and ages, do you want me to fire berries and sloes, and other disguises, he never next?" With that the general drew a pistol from his holster and took deliberate aim at my father, and there they both stood for five minutes looking at each other, the orderly all the while breaking his heart laughing behind a rock; for, ye see, the general knew av he retreated that my father might fire on purpose, and av he came on that he might fire by chance, and sorra bit he knew what was best to be done. "Are ye going to pass the evening up there, grand round?" says my father; "for it's tired I'm gettin' houldin' this so long." "Port arms!" shouted the general, as if on parade. "Sure, I can't till yer passed," says my father, angrily, "and my hand's trembling already." "Zounds! I shall be shot," says the gen eral. "Be gorra, it's what I'm afraid of," says my father; and the words wasn't out of his mouth before off went the musket, bang! and down fell the general, smack on the ground, senseless. gun, Well, the orderly ran out at this, and took him up and examined his wound; but it wasn't a wound at all, only the wadding of the for father-God be kind to him!-ye see, my could do nothing right, and so he bit off the wrong end of the cartridge when he put it in the gun, and by reason there was no bullet in it. Well, from that day after they never got sight of him, for the instant the general dropped he sprung over the bridge wall and got away; and what between living in a limekiln for two months, eating nothing but black returned to the army, but ever after took to a civil situation and driv a hearse for many years.' Ο CHARLES LEVER. THE DIFFERENCE. NLY a few more notes, And, lo! the world bows down Only the same old thoughts Only a finer ear, Only a swifter skill, Only a tint or line, Only a subtler grace, Yet, though so slight the cause For which men call us great, For few may wield the power Whose spells uplift or thrill; GRACE S. WELLS. A BEAUTY. THING of beauty is a joy for ever; Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness, but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams and health and quiet breathing. Therefore on every morrow are we wreathing That for themselves a cooling covert make And such too is the grandeur of the dooms We have imagined for the mighty dead— All lovely tales that we have heard or read, An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring unto us from the heavens' brink. Nor do we merely feel these essences For one short hour. No! Even as the trees Haunt us till they become a cheering light They alway must be with us, or we die. JOHN KEATS. แ MOLLIE MEADE. A STORY WITH TWO SIDES. I. COME right in! How are you, Fred? Find a chair, and have a light." Well, old boy, recovered yet From the Mathers' jam last night?" Didn't dance: the German's old." "Didn't you? I had to lead. Awful bore! But where were you?" "Sat it out with Mollie Meade : Jolly little girl she is. Said she didn't care to dance'D rather have a quiet chat; Then she gave me such a glance! So, when you had cleared the room And had captured all the chairs, Having nowhere else, we two Took possession of the stairs: I was on the lower step, Mollie on the next aboveGave me her bouquet to hold, Asked me to draw off her glove. Then, of course, I squeezed her hand, Talked about my wasted life, 'Oh, horrid! Where were you? you Wasn't he an awful goose? Most men must be caught, but he Ran his neck right in the noose. I was almost dead to dance I'd have done it if I could- And I promised ma I would; hand! ANON. your cradle, your home and your bier? Its passions will rock thee As the storms rock the ravens on high; Bright reason will mock thee Like the sun from a wintry sky; From thy nest every rafter Will rot, and thine eagle-home Leave thee naked to laughter When leaves fall and cold winds come. PERCY B. SHELLEY. MAGNA CHARTA. REIGN OF KING JOHN. DEMANDS OF THE BARONS. T HE barons appeared in London on the day appointed (January 6, 1215), and demanded of the king that in consequence of his own oath before the primate, as well as in deference to their just rights, he should grant them a renewal of Henry's charter and a confirmation of the laws of St. Edward. The king, alarmed with their zeal and unanimity, as well as with their power, required a delay, promised that at the festival of Easter he would give them a positive answer to their petition, and offered them the archbishop of Canterbury, the bishop of Ely and the earl of Pembroke, the mareschal, as sureties for his fulfilling this engagement. The barons accepted of the terms and peaceably returned to their castles. INSURRECTION. On the approach of the festival of Easter, when they were to expect the king's answer to their petition, they met by agreement at Stamford, and assembled a force consisting of above two thousand knights, besides their retainers and inferior persons without number. Elated with their power, they advanced in a body to Brackley (27th of April), within fifteen miles of Oxford, the place where the court then resided; and they there received a message from the king, by the archbishop of Canterbury and the earl of Pembroke, desiring to know what those liberties were which they so zealously challenged from their sovereign. They delivered to these messengers a schedule containing the chief articles of their demands, which was no sooner shown to the king than he burst into a furious passion and asked why the barons did not also demand of him his kingdom, swearing that he would never grant them such liberties as must reduce himself to slavery. No sooner were the confederated nobles informed of John's reply than they chose Robert Fitz-Walter their general, whom they called the mareschal of the army of God and of holy Church, and they proceeded without further ceremony to levy war upon the king. They besieged the castle of Northampton during fifteen days, though without success. The gates of Bedford Castle were willingly opened to them by William Beauchamp, its owner. They advanced to Ware (24th of May) in their way to London, where they held a correspondence with the principal citizens; they were received without opposition into that capital, and, finding now the great superiority of their force, they issued proclamations requiring the other barons to join them and menacing them, in case of refusal or delay, with committing devastation on their houses and estates. In order to show what might |