It was a rough-looking vessel, made of the common earthen ware of the country; and to show there was nothing peculiar about it, it was broken in our presence, and the pieces handed round for inspection.

A man then took a small bag full of brass balls, which he threw one by one into the air, to the number of thirty-five. None of them appeared to return. When he had discharged the last, there was a pause of full a minute. He then made a variety of motions with his hands, at the same time uttering a kind of wild chant. In a few seconds, the balls were seen to fall, one by one, until the whole of them were replaced in the bag. This was repeated at least half a dozen times. No one was allowed to come near him while he was playing this curious trick.

The next performer spread upon the ground a cloth, about the size of a sheet. After a while, it seemed to be gradually raised; and upon taking it up, there appeared three pineapples growing under it, which were cut and presented to the spectators. This is considered a common juggle, and yet it is perfectly inexplicable.

A tall, athletic man now advanced, and threw himself upon the ground. After performing several strange antics, he placed his head downwards, with his heels in the air, raised his arms, and crossed them over upon his breast, balancing himself all the while upon his head. A cup, containing sixteen brass balls, was now put into his hands; these he took and threw severally into the air, keeping the whole sixteen in constant motion, crossing them, and causing them to describe all kinds of figures, and not allowing one of them to reach the ground. When he had thus shown his dexterity for a few minutes, a slight man approached, climbed up his body with singular agility, and stood upright upon the inverted feet of the performer, who was still upon his head. A second cup, containsmaller man, who com

ing sixteen balls, was handed to the

menced throwing them until the whole were in the air.

Thirty-two balls were now in motion, and the rays of the

sun falling upon their polished surfaces, the jugglers appeared in the midst of a shower of gold. The effect was singular, and the dexterity displayed by the men quite amazing. They were as steady as if they had been turned into stone; and no motion, save that of their arms and heads, was visible. At length, the upper man, having caught all his balls, and replaced them in the cup, sprang upon the ground, and his companion was almost as quickly upon his legs.

After a short pause, the man who had before exhibited himself with his body reversed, planted his feet close together, and standing upright like a column, the smaller juggler climbed his body as before, and placing the crown of his own head upon that of his companion, raised his legs into the air; thus exactly reversing the late position of the two performers. At first they held each other's hand until they were completely balanced, when they let go; the upper man waving his arms in all directions to show the steadiness of his position.

The legs were kept apart sometimes, one being bent, while the other remained erect; but the body did not seem to waver for a single instant. After they had been in this position for about a minute, the balls were again put into their hands, and the whole thirty-two kept in motion in the air as before. It was remarkable that during the entire time they were thrown, no two of them ever came in contact a proof of the marvellous skill displayed.

When they had done with the balls, the upper man took a number of small cylindrical pieces of steel, two inches long. Several of these he placed upon his nose, producing a slender rod full a foot in length, which, in spite of his difficult position, he balanced so steadily that not one of the pieces fell. He then crossed the taper column with a flat bar of copper, half an inch wide, and four inches long. Upon this he fixed one of his little cylinders, and on the top of that a slight spear; the whole of which he balanced with perfect steadiness, finally taking off every separate piece, and throwing it upon the

ground. Thus concluded this wonderful performance. Grasping the hands of his companion as before, the little man sprang upon his feet, and made a parting bow to the gallery.

LXV. THE REAPER AND THE FLOWERS.

LONGFELLOW.

THERE is a reaper, whose name is Death;

And, with his sickle keen,

He reaps the bearded grain at a breath,
And the flowers that grow between.

"Shall I have nought that is fair?" saith he;
"Have nought but the bearded grain?
Though the breath of these flowers is sweet to me,
I will give them all back again."

He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes,

He kissed their drooping leaves;

It was for the Lord of paradise

He bound them in his sheaves.

"My Lord has need of these flowerets gay,"
The reaper said, and smiled:

"Dear tokens of the earth are they

Where he was once a child.

"They shall all bloom in fields of light,
Transplanted by my care,

And saints, upon their garments white,
These sacred blossoms wear."

And the mother gave, in tears and pain,
The flowers she most did love;

She knew she should find them all again
In the fields of light above.

* In the above poem Death is personified as a reaper, who cuts down grain and flowers with a sickle. By "bearded grain," persons of mature age are meant; for, when wheat, and rye, and barley are ripe, little threads, like bristles, or hair, grow out between the grains in the ear. But the flowers are young children; and the reaper is made to say that when he takes them away, he carries them to heaven, where they will live happily with God, and saints, and angels.

+ Glebe, literally, turf; used here for fields covered with turf.

My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook* shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.

Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious, lonely wilds I stray,
Thy bounty shall my wants beguile,
The barren wilderness shall smile

With sudden flowers and herbage crowned,
And streams shall murmur all around.

LXVII.—THE CHAMOIS AND CHAMOIS HUNTING.

THE animals which lend the greatest charm to the mountains are the chamois those beautiful swift-footed goats of the rock, which wander in small herds through the loneliest districts of the Alps, people the highest ridges, and course rapidly over leagues of ice fields. Though much resembling the goat, it is distinguished from it by longer and larger legs, a longer neck, a shorter and more compact body, and especially by its horns, which are black and curved like a hook. These horns are much used in ornamenting those ingenious fabrics which the Swiss peasants make, and which travellers bring back as memorials from that country.

They live together in herds of five, ten, or twenty. Their grace and agility are very remarkable. They bound across wide and deep chasms, and balance themselves on the most difficult ledges; then, throwing themselves on their hind legs, reach securely the landing place, often no bigger than a

* Crook, a staff curved at one end, used by shepherds in managing their flocks. It is employed here in a figurative sense, meaning the care or assistance of God, who is represented as a shepherd watching over his flock, that is, mankind.