favoured Bessy in the morning ; which made him start up, to the astonishment of all present ; and I added, as he sat down again, not quite in such brotherly proximity, “A Gloucestershire cheese as big as a beerbarrel ; a chine methinks, or a gammon, or both ; then either some rashers with eggs, black puddings-possibly a piggy has lately died-A cold pork pie, or a griskin. Then a flagon of ale for the male visitors, and some mulled elder-berry wine for Bessy." Devil a bit of any one of them. The warmth of the fire and a light heart had caused my imagination to fly back to olden times, when such things were as ne'er may be again, Behold a maid of all work-God help the class! from my heart I feel for them, much as their presence is unpleasing; for I think it is painful to see the daughters of Eve turned into dirty slaves. Well, be it as it may, enter a maid of all work, with hands as black as coals, and eyes to match, who placed on the table a tray, forsooth, and a tray cloth-which for aught I know to the contrary was occasionally a towel and on the tray appeared a bottle of “ red wine" and a bottle of “ white." But whether the so-called red wine was Port, and the white intended for Sherry, I cannot say; as I did not attempt to taste. There were also some sweet biscuits, and (believe it who can) some oranges ; and the only thing eatable was a piece of cold roast veal and some baker's bread. However, it was doubtless all very kind and all very genteel ; but imagination never could have pictured such an entertainment under such a roof, had not eyes seen it and throats swallowed. I attacked the veal ; and having refused the offer of either “red wine” or “white,” declared I preferred the home-brewed malt on the sideboard ; but fancy, alas ! was again running wild, for it turned out sour cider.

No doubt all this change from hearty or natural warm-hearted hospitality, to attempts at absurd finery and aristocratio efforts, is attributed to Free-trade. Be it so. I am no Protectionist, save as regards foxes and the unexampled heartiness which was wont to reign in the homes of our English yeomen. But como, Bessy, finish that red wine of yours ; and do you, Barleycorn, introduce us to your stud, for I am dying to see the nag. Be of the party, gentlemen sportsmen, who will -the more the merrier.

(To be continued.)

“PUSS IN A CORNER.”

ENGRAVED BY J. B. HUNT, FROM A PAINTING BY E. CORBET.

“ S-t! cat! Loo at her, Midge ; and fetch her out of it, old girl.”

But Miss Midge does not see exactly how to get in ;" and Smut, that most gallant of gentlemen, wouldn't think of taking precedence on such an occasion.

So w-u-r-r-r-r, goes poor Puss as she chatters out a most trepida

ting defiance, and growl go the terriers in a short significant sort of undertone, that scarcely brings one to believe they reverence Mr. Cobden enough to make an arbitration case of it.

W-u-r-r-r-r. See her coiled snugly up, high and dry on the back of sixteen-stonecarrying Cyclops; and happy is the life of the stable cat. See her take her own place, the very snuggest corner by the saddle-room fire, petted by all the lads, getting her daily allowance of milk from the hands of the head groom himself, and" good again” is the destiny of poor puss. Or view her in all the pride of doing something for herself with the last tiny mouse accounted for in the granary, or the cock sparrow so cleverly out-generalled in the yard ; and sweet, still, are the triumphs of the favourite.” Spoilt, and made much of by every living creature about the place

W-4-r-r-r-r.

No! not by every one, either. There never was a favourite at court yet but had an enemy on some side or other; and poor puss, alas ! finds hers on every side. Look, now, at that rakish, mischiefmaking couple, always too ready for a turn-up, and but too happy to meet with a scrimmage so near home. One might almost wonder else what caused the honoured one to move so cautiously in her own dominions, or to be so perpetually keeping an eye to what's round the corner. Egad ! though, it is lucky she does, or there might have been an end to this exciting game long before now. As it is, her best friends appear to forget her; as many friends will “ under the circumstances.” The very lads loo on little fiery Midge, and that deep villain Smut, in all the ecstacies of a set-to-wist-right round the yard—in over the half-open door, and up on the bin—just for a moment's

But Midge is up after her, as close as a sheriff's officer; while Smut is as ready as his follower to receive her below. There must be " a scratch" for it surely, now. In goes the bitch for a tastedown comes Puss—and before Master Smut or his inhuman abettors -as the Society people would call them-can tell how, has found refuge in a bucket, and breathing-time enough for another defiant

W-14-7-1-r-f, at the whole party.

Of course the bucket is soon upset, and then confusion-some moments supposed to elapse"-and with a ruffled coat and a beating heart, Pussy finds herself once again on the back of her best friend, big Cyclops ; who has earned the credit of “ lifting” a little, and taught people to appreciate the meaning of “ war horse!”.

With well-rounded arms to catch at you, and bright smiling eyes to watch you, there are few pleasanter games at this merry season than “ Puss in the Corner.” There is greater danger in it still than you may be at first inclined to fancy; and with Puss' narrow escape to warn you, take care how, like her, you venture to play it for life.

There may be more of the W-X-r-7-7- hereafter than you perhaps may want.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PHEASANT.

EDITED BY SARON, FROM AN ORIGINAL MS. IN HIS POSSESSION.

CHAP. III.

" And the sportsman beats
In russet jacket ; lynx-like is his aim ;
Full grows his bag, and wonderful his feats.”

BYRON.

Another attack on my life-Dreadful mortality in the family-Inglorious end-My

sister and myself fall victims to the Major and his batman-Pigeon and the poet Pye!-The ladies—The haystack-Awful destruction- Murder and arson - A dinner of the olden time—“The days that we were tipsy in, a long time ago"The Major's triumphant entree into Chichester-Jeers of the rabble--The recruiting party " Smelling a rat"-Grand finale at the barracks.

Our last chapter left the gallant Major Skittowe in an awful state of anger at the practical joke that had been played off upon him, and that redoubtable character vowed vengeance against the perpetrator of this practical joke; but happily it was never known out of the precincts of Dean's Yard, where the young Westminster who had got it up amused his schoolfellows with a full, true, and particular account of the origin of it.

To return to myself and my sister. We were delighted to witness the annihilation of two of our enemies, members of the Fox Club, but our happiness was a little alloyed by the knowledge that our territory was to be invaded the following week by the noble Duke and some of his merry men. To quit our retreat was therefore our first object, and upon the next morning we paid a flying visit to an adjacent wood called the Valdoe, where information reached us that we should be able to remain in safety. Here we took up our temporary quarters, and managed to “ rough it" on buckwheat and barley, as the young guardsman is said to have done on “ beef steaks and port.”

The morning of the day appointed for the shooting arrived, and while we were congratulating ourselves upon our absence from the scene of slaughter, we were most disagreeably surprised at finding that the keepers and beaters had assembled in the wood where we were “ located,” and were waiting for the Duke and his party. At an early hour his Grace, and five other guns, including Major Skittowe and Captain Coxwell, reached the rendezvous at the back of the dog-kennel.

“ Happy to see you, Major, and your friend, Captain Coxwell," said the good-humoured nobleman.

The officers tendered their acknowledgments. Here be it said that 80 grateful was the Major for the kind manner in which his friend Coxwell had relieved him from his difficulty in mounting Snowden, that he had asked for a day's shooting for him, and which request had readily been responded to.