Taken By Beigands

detained by the father of the lady , and feared a scandal . So he meant to ride over boldly , that vera clay , to call at the house and make inquiries , and the brigands meant to take him on his way . But as ] ie was still rather lame , and would not he able to march up into the mountains sae

fast as could be wished , it was intended that he should write his letter for ransom soon after his capture , and before the climbing began , sae is no to lose time , and as I was to take the letter to Palermo at ainne , it was necessary that I should

wans with them . I canna tell you how vexed I felt during that walk down fra the mountain . It seemed so traitorous to make one of an ambush against the mon whose pay I was taking , and who had treated me with confidence .

I thought and thought how I could give him warning . Perhaps I might have a chance of breaking away , and running along the high road , when we came to it . I didna know whether my countenance betrayed what was passing in my mind , but when we came to a rock , which looked

sheer down upon the road , I was stopped , and had to remain there with two men , who drew and cocked their pistols . The remainder dived into the brushwood , and lay concealed and still . After a long waiting , I saw a hired carriage coming along the road , and as it got nearer- , I recognized Laird Goldfinch alaue inside it . A low whistle was

responded to , and then , in a moment , the brigands had stopped the carriage , the driver of which rolled off his box and darted into the bushes . I saw Laird Goldfinch crouch down at the bottom of the carriageover the side of

, which spirted two little jets of flame and one of the brigands fell over . A gun was fired , and replied by more shots from a revolver . Then a volley was poured into the carriage , and all was still .

Whether my guards slipped off when tlie shooting began , I dinna ken , nor how I got clown into the road ; but there I found mysel ' , while the smoke still floated in the sir . As for the brigands they had vanished .

Parental Affection.

PARENTAL AFFECTION .

THERE jumps on grassy lawn the thrush , With prying eye , intent on worm , Whilst on the bough of an adjacent bush Another thrush is seen of lighter form . A gentle shower had just distill'd A balmy fragrance from shrub and flower , The air was stillby softest zephyr fill'd ;

, No leaf was mov'd on tree or bower ; 'Twas just the thrush's dining time ; Oh ! God of nature , how sublime ! The parent bird went hopping on ( For , surety , they were mother and son ) In quest of food for dinner :

The luckless , helpless worm , poor sinner ! Was ready prey ; and , truly , the moral taught Is one that should not be forgot ;

Hov many a worm did the parent thrush Convey to its offspring on the adjacent bush . Sweet bird of song I I love thy notes right well , So musical , so gladsome , aud so thrilling , When perched on some high tree , aud

trilling Thy Heavenly Maker ' s praise . Ah ! who can tell How much do Heaven ' s symphonies combine , Mellifluous melodies such as thine ! B . S . Heugh Folds , Grasmere , Aug . 9 , 1876 .

Our Archaeological Corner.

Our Archaeological Corner .

WE have taken the liberty to collect these little " strata" of information from our contemporary ' ' Hand and Heart . " A book has just been published , entitled " Old Words and Modern Meanings , " which is worth reading and criticising . Its author is dead , its editor is Mr . T . Whitcombe

Greene , and its publishers are Messrs . Longmans . Archbishop Trench , Mr . Washington Moon , or the late Dean of Canterbury might be the author , but that it was a lady . By " whiskers" Addison meant " moustache" when speaking of a certain "Sir Boger ' s head" —not any ancestor of tlw " Sir Boser" be it noted ; the Saxon