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Then her long bony fingers closed over the handThe hand of the maiden, so soft, white, and fair; When she had drawn them within and shut to the door,

She mumbled a frightful incantation there.

The maiden turned white, and the youth shook with fear;

The witch's eyes glittered before them with fire; She brought forth a glass most mysteriously clear, To show them the future as they should desire.

"Incorrigible woman," brave Herbert he cried,
"Show me what in the world to me is most
dear,

To my sister the same, for courageous she is,
And can look her lover in face without fear."

And show," said the maiden, "to Herbert, my brother,

The face of the belle he loves dearer than life, Who enchains his affection, and say, will she be The guide of his future,-his beautiful wife."

"You shall see," said the witch, "the most wonderful sight;

I'll show my young master, engraved on this glass,

What he dreams of by night, what he worships each day,

And his love in the future before him will pass."

Then she polished the glass, and she breathed forth a spell,

The offered gold snatched at with miserly pelf; When the young man bent forward, his eager glance strained,

She lifted the mirror, and showed him-himself.

SNOW.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE LETTER WRITING COUNCIL.-A LETTER TO A FRIEND ON THE EVILS ARISING OUT OF PERSONAL TALK IN OUR SOCIAL MEETINGS.

DISSENSION.

The prickings of conscience when we strike into the downward path.-F. S. M.

The cause of the disturbances in St. George'sin-the-East.-ALINE.

The mainspring which keeps the law-courts agoing.-A. D. V.

A meeting between my wife's mother and my maiden aunt. - DAPHNE.

The attempt to give cabby his just fare.J. H. E.

"When children of one family fall out, and chide and fight."—AGNESE.

The blast that shakes society, and forms sects. -MARGUERITE.

The consequence of a loosely worded Will.— ESTELLE.

The music of enmity.-D. M. R.
The gudewife contradicting the

D. F. P.

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What can only be done by a gentleman when shown he has committed an error.-JAMES D. Galileo's words after his trial, "For all this the world does move."-AMELIA.

"I stand corrected."-ALPHA.

A homily on the fallibility of man, and the value of his oath.-J. S.

Casting off the evil, and taking to that which is good.-ADA AND EVA.

The alternative offered to the noble armyo martyrs.-G. A.

A painful ordeal which tests the honour and dignity of man.-W. Y. S.

The celestial flowers of to-day which spring from the penitentia! tears of yesterday.-J. C.

An appeal to human forgiveness to cancel the remembrance of a misdeed.-PINK.

The ever-rash Peter denying his Lord in a great crisis of His history.-ALEXANDER.

"Father! I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight."-J. T.

The noblest utterance of trusting, but erring man.-ELSPIE.

The reparation of an error.-S. D.

Going back to a religion that you have forsaken.-NARCISSA.

The last scene in a life of error.-RUTHENPHARL.

One good turn deserves another.-STEPHANIE.

PRETENSION.

Poverty assuming wealth.-F. T. M.

A disguise of the truth.-ALINE.

The pet folly of the upper half of the middle classes.-A. D. V.

The life of a hypocrite.-AGNESE.

Putting the best on the outside. - ESTELLE.
The ass in the lion's skin.-THE COMET.
The poetaster's perigrination.-J. R.
Living in masquerade.-D. M. R.

When Nobody says I am Somebody.-JAMES D. An old man with a brown wig and a new set of teeth.-ALPHA.

The mountebank's fame and the braggadocia's gudeman.-medal.-J. S.

A hypocrite wearing the cloak of religion.

The wedge of disunion driven into society by ADA and EVA. the hand of hate.-JAMES D.

Two dogs over a bone.-ALPHA.

Many masters, many laws, and a divided kingdom.-J. S.

A forged note on the bank of all that is noblest in man.-W. Y. S.

A speculator who never calculates on the discrimination of others.-PINK.

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14.

Alas! my second! what excuse hast thou
For all thy pride, thy vanity? I say,
That though 'tis true thou art my second now,
Into my first, ere long, thoul't pass away!

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Whate'er thy station in this life may be,
Be humble; govern thy ambitious soul.
Both king and slave are but my last, and he
Who bears the humble title of my whole.
W. H. H.

15.
I'm of every size and shape,
And of every colour too,

am down in the sea, and up in a tree,
And am sometimes found in your shoe.
Cut off my head, and you see me no more,
Yet still I am to be heard,

In the sounding bells, in the wild sea's roar,
And the voice of the sweet singing bird.
Remove now my tail, 'tis easily done,
When wonderful to relate,

To your surprise, tho' smaller in size
I am greatly increased in weight.
To show you another great power I possess,
If you'll just turn me round,
You soon will find, by an easy guess
That now I am not to be found.

16.

CHARLES THOXAS

Life If Nor

Be.. Of While

Never

Half

Which

13.-HISTORICAL ENIGMA.

..high.

W. H. H.

a. I would have you that great university name, From whence many scholars have risen to fame; b. Then where William the Conqueror rested in peace,

When all his vexation in this world did cease; c. Then tell me that river on whose verdant sides The noble, the merchant, the trader resides; Whose opulent stream wild meandering flows, Well laden with riches to proud London goes; d. Then where the best medicine is to be had, For those who are bit by dogs raving mad: e. The famed wells in Derbyshire which we are told,

Tho' close to each other, one's hot and one cold!

f. That commotion which troubles the bowels of the earth.

And causes confusion when'ere it bursts forth; g. Then a place name in Berkshire where Henry the First

Lays quietly resting, that Fate's done her

worst;

Now join the first letters and soon they will make

A month when 'tis pleasant a ramble to take.

I'm a little well-known word,
By each running stream I'm heard,
And I also serve to show,
Signs of discontent and woe;
If you cut my form in twain,
Just alike each part remain;
These reversed will, plain and true,
Twice a liquor bring to view.
IAGO FFYNONAU.

17.

My 4, 5, and 8, is seldom up late,
And almost the first to turn out;
My 5, 8, and 9-transposed-will define
The best time for walking about;
My 6, 2, and 5, rauk gossips contrive
To let people fancy is true;
My 12, 10, 11, makes six out of seven,
Quite seven six six and fresh too;
My 11, 2, 4-reversed-is a store,

For corn and choice liquors as well;
My 8, 6, and 10, is one of those men
Who suffered his sons to rebel;
My 7, 2, 1, you have frequently done,
At a sale-room I'll venture to say;
The 5, 9, 2. 6, disposed, in a fix,

Are forced, as it were, to display
A relish for sin, and daily take in
Mankiud, till at last they are caught
And sent out to sea, by Government, free,
Though my total the good they were taught.
G. M. F.G.

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19.

Come, solve my riddle if you can, sir,
You'll quickly find it, I've no doubt-
But if you give my first, the answer
I'm sure you never will find out.

My second, then; to work at once, sir,
And try to bring this word to light:
If you don't find it, you're a dunce, sir,
At least you can't be very bright.

If now you wish to know my whole, sir,
It is a quarrel or a row;
And I shall think it rather droll, sir,
If you can't tell the answer now.
W. H. H.

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I am of great service to man, and am of a quiet and very reflective disposition, although I confess I sometimes get a little ruffled, and am ever heard to murmur, but I soon recover my wonted placidity; I have no legs, but I often run for many miles, and am even sometimes seen to dance. I have a mouth, but never take any food, and though I never sleep, yet I am provided with a bed, and I always rise regularly. I confess I sometimes am very dirty, and in consequence much abused, but I am generally clean, and though oftimes rather rough, yet it is my nature to be calm and yielding; you have often seen aud admired me. Now teli me what I am ?

24:-TOWNS IN AMERICA ENIGMATICALLY EXPRESSED.

a. One of the sons of Noah; a French pronoun; a weight.

b. A wild bull.

c. Not old; a town in the North of England. d. A man's name; the French for a town. e. A globe; a nickname; a mineral.

f. A rivulet; and a waterfall.

25.

MARIE and ELISE.

I am an article of daily consumption, and yet I last almost for ever. I am of all colours and sizes. Take off my head and tail, and then I form a curious animal; cut off my two last letters, then I name what all of us have partaken of when W.C. young.

26.

a. A useful conveyance; curtail it, and you Another conveyance will then have in view. b. That which you will meet with alone in the night;

Transpose, and a mischievous band comes to sight.

c. The ruin of many a gambler I've been; Behead, on the water I often am seen.

d. Now search for a member of any man's face; Transpose, and a measure will then take its place.

e. I may venture to say I'm what all men possess; Transpose, and I'm vulgar and low, I confess. f. Tis true that mankind daily toils for me; g. What often is trod on, beheaded, will show That which in a garden is useful, I know. h. I'm done at a concert and at a church, too;

Curtail, and I'm that which the best of us do. i. Curtail what at dinner-time some people take, I'm what you desire when a wager you make. j. I'm just what the doctor professes to do; Curtail, and an animal then comes to view. W. H. H.

27.-ACROSTIC ENIGMA.

a. First, a seaport of France to you is shown; b. Next, an ugly bird, rather large, when full grown;

c. A graceful animal, next descry,

d. And a mass of stony substance high;
e. A person insane is my next, you'll agree,
f. And a town in Russia now you shall see;
g. My last a town in England will reveal,

Famous for articles manufactured of steel;
The "initials" downwards, "finals" upwards,
Will give you the name

Of a "celebrated author"
Well known to fame.

EMILY A. CTH.

28.-NUMBERED CHARADE.

I am composed of ten letters. My 1, 8, 5, 9, 10, is a place where milk is kept; my 10, 8, 9, 1, a measure; my 4, 2, 7, 10, is small, puny; my 6, 9, 2, 6, 7, a constellation of the southern hemisphere; my 3, 8, 9, 9, 6, 4, a garden root: my 3, 8, 9, 4, a kind of carriage; my 1, 8, 7, one of the twelve tribes; my 1, 6, 7, a Spanish title; my 8,1, 6, 9, 7, to ornament; my 6, 9, 3, a sea-fish; and my whole a very useful book,

29.-HISTORICAL ENIGMA.

The initials will form the name of a popular Athenian general, celebrated for his love of the fine arts.

a. A celebrated Roman general, whose ambition led to his country's slavery, and his own premature fall.

b. The paradise of the ancients.

c. A powerful King of Egypt, who conquered Ethiopia and Persia.

d. A celebrated country of Europe.

e. One of the Muses.

f. The celebrated Spartan Lawgiver.

g. A tragic poet of high celebrity, who composed 92 tragedies.

h. The wise reformer, and improver of the Athenian laws.

GILBERT ASHTON.

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LADIES' NAMES ENIGMATICALLY DESCRIBED. a. A copper coin used in India.

b. A domestic animal, male gender, and pickle beheaded.

c. A Vehicle, an exclamation, and part of a railroad.

d. A place of commerce, and food for animals curtailed.

e. A foreign country and two consonants. f. A fish caught in one of the English lakes, one of the Patriarchs, and a useful beverage curtailed.

g. A profit, a small bird curtailed, and a vowel. h. A measurement and a vowel.

i. A great prophet, half of a fool, a nick-name for my whole, and a consonant.

j. One of the months in the year, and a vowel. J. C. L. 36.-ACROSTIC CONUNDRUM.-A FLOWER. a. A dependent. b. An apostate. c. Omission of business. d. To blindfold. J. N.

37.

My first is a likeness, taken even after death; my second the person speaking; and my third you meet in nearly every country road. My whole is sometimes considered a necessary act in the education of the young. MARGUERITE.

38.

My whole is a word of four letters, expressive of time; divide me and you will find I read backwards and forwards alike, and am at once negative and progressive.

39.

A BATCH OF POETS.

a. O perplex a dean. b. Born but errs. c. And tax her smile, d. U let us ramble. e. Oh that comet rants. f. Ma I will throw sword. J. G.

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THE EDITOR TO HIS FRIENDS. ADDRESS: 122, FLEET STREET, E.C., LONDON. IT has been suggested by a contributor to our Pastime, that we should take upon ourselves an additional labour, that of pointing out wherein the solutions sent us are wrong. Now we do not object to any labour that would in the least contribute to the benefit or pleasure of our friends: but that now pointed out would, indeed, be useless. By publishing the correct solutions, we give everybody an opportunity of seeing for themselves how far they are accurate. This is the only sensible course. Any other would hold out a premium to indolence, and would defeat our object, which is to make our Pastime conducive to the healthful

exercise of the intellectual faculties.

In consequence of the increased number of competitors to the Classes, we find it absolutely necessary to request our correspondents to favour us with their communications by the 12th of each month. FIRST CLASS.

Little Giggie (we must trouble you for the enigma and solution together).-Everard.-Rifleman (we are proud to find a rifleman in our firstclass). Agnese.-T. B. Dover. Reformer.Estelle (necessity demanded the alteration; we should, indeed, be sorry if it prove inconvenient to our friends; we are obliged for your good wishes). - Lizzie E. R.-The Comet.-D. M. R.-Captain J. R. (very good poetical solutions). W. Garbutt.-Julius.-Alpha.- Lucinda B. (your poems are not lost sight of).-Nareissa.-Marie and Elise (it was an oversight). Jacob.-Jupiter (whenever you like to send).W. McGregor (we are glad that you acquiesced in the soundness of our reasons).--Henri (you are mistaken; the lines were written by Keats, not Shelley).-Vandyke.-Egifrof.

SECOND CLASS.

J. S. Mills (you are not often found wanting).Anna Grey (we have no doubt it is kept by the opticians of Bristol).-Irene.-Jane Thomasina.Marguerite.-Wilberforce. Mary Anne.-Hopscotch. Amelia.- Fanny.-Alexander (very good, send address.-Ada and Eva (our best thanks to you).-W. H. H. (it is glorious to forgive!).G. A.-Annie Linton.-Penlaleach.-Star-fish (we shall be glad to hear of peace having been established between you and your cousin).-Ruthenpharl (we are proud of your approbation).-R. D. Harlowe.-Eliza (your request has been forwarded to the work-table).- Oliver. Littlegood. In Terrorem.

--

QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

11. L.M.P.-JERUSALEM did not continue in the hands of the Christians more than a hundred years after it had been won by the Crusaders at the price of countless human lives. The celebrated Saladin wrested it from the hands of its possessors, and since that time it has never been regained by any Christian community, although many crusades have been undertaken for that purpose, costing the lives of some sovereigns. No doubt the eyes of the world are more and more being attracted towards the sacred city as the strange events which seem to auger its final destiny become more marked in the eyes of the world.

12. J. S. E.-ORIGIN OF EXCHEQUER BILLS. -In the years 1696 and 1697, the silver currency of the kingdom being, by clipping, washing, grinding, filing, &c., reduced to about half its nominal value, Acts of Parliament were passed for its being called in and re-coined, and whilst the re-coinage was going on, exchequer bills were first issued, to supply the demands of trade.

13. J. HARDING.-PASTE FOR SHARPENING RAZORS. Oxide of tin levigated, vulgaily termed prepared putty, one ounce, saturated solution of Oxalic acid, a sufficient quantity to form a paste. the strap, and, when dry, a little water may be This composition is to be rubbed over the top of added. The oxalic acid having a great attachment for iron, a little friction with this powder gives a fine edge to the razor.

14. MATILDA.-SIEDLESS ORANGES are often met with. Sometimes this is owing to a high degree of cultivation, sometimes to the age of the tree, for it is well ascertained that while the trees are young they have a great number of seeds and thick skins, yet when the same trees grow old they produce fruit with thin skins and without seeds."

15. CUCUMBERS contain ninety-seven per cent of water, and water-melons ninety-four. Onions are remarkably nutritious. In Spain and Portugal they form one of the common supports of life.

16. AMBERGRIS used both as a perfume and It melts like wax with a moderate a cordial. degree of heat. It is usually found on the coasts in warm climates, especially by the sea-shore in Africa, and by the Red Sea.

17. PARK VILLA.- GORDIAN KNOT. - The name of the Gordian Knot has become a sort of technical phrase for all matters which are difficult to solve. Its origin arose from a knot made in the harness of Gordius, king of Phrygia, so intricate and interwoven that it was considered

impossible for any one to discover either end of the cord. The oracle having declared that he who could untie it should be master of all Asia,

Alexander the Great having vainly made the attempt, drew his sword, and cut it through.

18. A YOUNG MARRIED LADY.-MODERN ETIQUETTE requires that a guest should always pay the first compliments to the lady of the house. Formerly it was the custom for the mistress of the mansion to occupy some place at the furthest point from the entrance of the apartment, and this obliged the visitor either to violate the law of politeness by speaking to many mutual friends on the way towards her, or else to pass them with apparent coldness; and to reconcile these differences it is now the fashion for the lady to cecupy some place near the door, when the visitor may be at once received, and relieved from the difficulty which has given rise to the arrangement.

19. M.-OYSTERS.-Oysters are not reckoned proper for the table till they are about a year and a-half old; so that the brood of one spring are not to be taken for sale till at least the September twelve months afterwards. When younger than these happen to be caught in the dredge, they are always thrown into the sea again.-The fishermen know the age of oysters by the broader distances or interstices among the rounds or rings of the convex shell.

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