public administration, and are a part of sovereign power! No, sir, that low forehead, this timid look, this uncertain gait, only announce to me the titled slave of an elector."

CXVI.

THE SACRISTAN AND FREDERIC THE GREAT.

A sacristan of the cathedral-church at Berlin wrote one day to Frederic the Great the following letter:

6.

Sire, I beg to inform your majesty,

"1st, That hymn-books are wanting for the royal family.

66

I beg to inform your majesty,

"2d, That some wood is wanting to heat properly the royal pew.

"I beg to inform your majesty,

"3d, That the railing which is over the river, behind the church, threatens to fall down.”

"SCHMIDT,

"Sacristan of the Cathedral."

To this epistle the King replied :—

"I beg to inform the sacristan Schmidt, "1st, That those who wish to sing can buy books.

"I beg to inform the sacristan Schmidt,

"2d, That those who wish to warm themselves can buy wood.

"I beg to inform the sacristan Schmidt, "3d, That the railing which is over the river does not concern him.

"I beg to inform the sacristan Schmidt, “4th, That I do not wish to have any further correspondence with him.”

CXVII.

THE HEAD CARRIED OFF.

A Scotchman and an Irishman, soldiers in the same regiment, had promised each other, on the morning of a battle, mutually to help one another in case of misfortune. In the midst of the mêlée, the Scotchman, who had had his leg carried off by a cannon-ball, calls his friend.

The Irishman hastens, and takes up the Scotchman on his shoulders; but at the moment of arriving at the ambulance, another cannon-ball carries off the poor Scotchman's head. The Irishman continues on his way.

A surgeon who meets him asks him where he is going. "I am going to get my friend's wounds dressed," replies the soldier. "But, you stupid fellow, his head is carried off.” "His head! See that liar, who told me it was only his leg "

CXVIII,

INVINCIBLE PATIENCE.

Madame Necker relates of M. Abauzit, a Genevese old man, a trait which deserves to be related, and which proves the coolness of this philosopher.

It was said that he had never been in a rage; and his servant, who had been thirty years in his service, attested the fact. She was promised some money if she could succeed in making him angry; she consented to it, and knowing that he was very fond of a soft bed, she did not make his bed.

M. Abauzit perceived it, and mentioned it to her the next day; she replied that she had forgotten it. He said nothing more, and the bed was still not made. The same observation the next day she only answered by a bad excuse. At last, on the third time, he said to her, "You have not yet made my bed; apparently you have made up your mind about it, and that appears too fatiguing to you. Moreover, it does not matter much, and I am beginning to get accustomed to it." The old servant threw herself at his feet and confessed all.

CXIX.

TROUBLESOME FELLOW.

The comedian Armand, being at Lyons, and enjoying himself with some of his friends, a bore came unexpectedly, who, after having supped at their expense, asks them even for a bed also for that night. Each one excused himself as he retired.

Armand, left alone, knowing the mood of the fellow, and wishing to avoid a quarrel, promises to allow him to share his bed. It was a fine night in summer.

Armand takes the bore for a walk, puts his shoes in his pocket, climbs up into a tree, and settles himself there as quietly as in the most comfortable apartment.

"What are you doing there?" said the troublesome fellow, whom this manoeuvre was beginning to make impatient. "I live here," replied Armand; "I invite you to do the same."

CXX.

THE EMPEROR TSI.

The favourite horse of the Emperor Tsi having died through the negligence of the master of the horse, the emperor, in a rage, wished to kill this officer with his sword. The mandarin Yent-se warded off the blow, saying, "My

lord, this man is not yet convinced of the crime for which he must die." "Well, make it known to him." "Learn, wretch," said the minister, "the crimes thou hast committed. In the first place, thou hast allowed a horse to die which thy master had confided to thy care; then thou art the cause of our prince getting into such a rage that he wished to kill thee with his own hand; in fine, thou art the cause of his having been on the point of dishonouring himself in the eyes of the whole world in killing a man for the sake of a horse. Thou art guilty of all that, wretch." "Let him go," said the emperor; "I pardon him his crime."

CXXI.

FOR GOOD WINE, GOOD LATIN.

The first President of the Parliament in Paris was in need of a librarian; he applied for that to Mr. Hermant, principal of the university, who recommended to him M. Baillet, his fellow-countryman.

The President wished to make his acquaintance. He had him invited to dinner. Baillet repairs there, but perceiving that he is surrounded by pedants, who wish to pass for learned men with him, he only replies by monosyllables to the different questions that are put to him.