CXXXI.

SPIRIT OF WINE.

It was by the inflammability of spirit of wine that, a short time after the conquest of Canada, an officer secured for ever his enfeebled power, and made some revolted savages return to their duty.

After having assembled them, "Do you know," said he to them, "what master you dare to defy? Do you know what my power is? You are going to see the effects of it. Let a bucket of water be brought to me."

His men, who were in the secret, gave him a bucket filled with spirits of wine. He sets fire to it. The astonished savages fall at his feet.

"Wretches!" he adds, "it is thus that I shall burn your river St. Lawrence, if you have the intention to swerve from the obedience which is due to me."

CXXXII.

THE SOUL OF THE LICENTIATE.

Two scholars, going from Segovia to Salamanca, saw a tomb upon which was engraved this inscription: "Here is buried the soul of the licentiate Peter Garcias."

One of the two laughs much at the absurdity of these words-"As if a soul," he said, "could be buried!"

His comrade conceived that they might conceal a more rational meaning. He allowed his companion to proceed on his way, raised the stone upon which the inscription was engraved, searched the ground, and found there a treasure, and another inscription, upon which he read these words: "Be my heir, you who have had sufficient penetration to unravel the meaning of the words of the inscription, and make a better use than I have done of my money."

The scholar, very much pleased, replaced the stone, and went away with the soul of the licentiate.

CXXXIII.

INCURABLE MELANCHOLY.

The physician B......, one of the best doctors of Venice, one day sees entering his house a man very well dressed, expressing himself in correct language, but with languor depicted on his countenance. This person comes to complain of an illness which nothing can cure.

"What is the matter with you?" said the doctor to him.

"Profound melancholy."

"Melancholy sometimes arises from contrary or ungratified passions." "Sir," said the patient, "that is not my case. "From deceptions of the heart," resumes the doctor. The patient makes a sign in the negative, and adds: "I have, in a word, a vague weariness." "In this case you must send for the best wine, and use it, but with moderation."

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Doctor, I have in my cellar the best wines; they have no effect on my disease." "Then you must travel." "I have run over every country uselessly. Weariness follows me everywhere."

"The case is serious; you must hear good music." "I hear some every day; my illness remains, and increases at night."

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Then I see no other means than of going in the evening to the theatre to hear the celebrated singer Velutti, whose charming gaiety communicates itself to all." "Alas! sir," said the poor patient, "I am Velutti."

CXXXIV.

THE INVALID.

An old soldier of the Empire, who had left his arms and legs on the battle-field, replaced them artificially. Every night the old invalid took off his artificial limbs before going to bed.

One day he took to his service a new servant: this girl did not know all the infirmities with which her master was afflicted. Evening having come: "Here," said he, stretching out to her his arm, "draw off this arm for me," and the arm was left in the hands of the girl; it was a wooden arm. But judge of her astonishment, when the invalid, presenting all his limbs one after the other, did not cease saying to her, "Draw off this leg for me; draw off the other."

The poor girl trembled with fear at finding herself before a man of wood. But this was not all: the old soldier, wishing to enjoy to the utmost the terror that she felt, stretched out his neck, saying to her, "Now draw off my head." This time the unhappy servant, terrified, uttered a cry of terror and fled.

CXXXV.

PRECOCIOUS ENERGY.

The king, Frederick, was very fond of children, and allowed the sons of the prince-royal to enter his apartments at all times. One day, when he was working in his study, the elder of these princes was playing at shuttlecock around him the shuttlecock fell on the king's table, who took it, threw it to the child, and went on writing.

The little prince continues his game, the shuttlecock falls again on the king's table, the king again throws it back, and gives a severe look to the young player, who promises that it shall happen no more. At last, for the third time, the shuttlecock falls on the paper on which Frederick was writing; then the king took the shuttlecock and put it into his pocket.

The little prince humbly asks for his shuttlecock. The king refuses him: he redoubles his entreaties; they are not listened to. At last, tired of begging, the little prince advances proudly towards the king, puts his two arms akimbo, and says with a threatening air:

"I ask your majesty if you wish to give me back my shuttlecock; yes, or no.

The king began to laugh, and drawing the shuttlecock from his pocket, he returns it to him, saying, "Thou art a brave boy; they will not take back Silesia from thee.”

CXXXVI.

THE MENDICANT FRIAR.

A mendicant friar from the monastery of the Capuchins of Meudon, returning to his monastery with his wallet well filled, and having taken a bypath in the wood in order to shorten his