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DATES.-Exodus, B.C. 1491. David and Homer about B.c. 1000. Rome founded, B.C. 753; Isaiah, the prophet, then living. Cyrus, who sends back the Jews from captivity, B.c. 555. Consuls begin and kings end at Rome, B.c. 509. Marathon fought, B.C. 490.

Herodotus, B.C. 444; Nehemiah then busy rebuilding Jerusalem. Alexander the Great, B.C. 333. Hannibal, B.C. 222. Julius Cæsar, born B.c. 100; Cicero then 7 years old; Pompey, 6; Sylla, 38; Marius, about 50.

Cæsar invades Britain, B.C. 51. Cæsar murdered, B.C. 44. Cicero murdered the year after. Pompey murdered, B.c. 48, after the battle of Pharsalia. Augustus is the first Roman Emperor, B.C. 30.

Give as many different meanings of the following words as you can-address, air, angle, arch, ashes, bait, ball, bank, bar, bark, base, baste, bat, bay, beam, bear, bed, beetle, bill, billet, bit, blade, blow, board, boot, bound, bowl, box, brace, brook, bull, butt, calf, can, cape, caper, card, cast, cataract, charge, chase, cleave, club, cockle, comb, corn, count.

THE BLACK COCKTAIL BEETLE.
Rev. J. G. Wood, M.A.

su-per-sti-tious pre-da-ceous
in-va-ri-a-bly

re-pul-sive
vo-ra-cious

mis-chiev-ous

ex-ceed-ing-ly

em-an-a-tions

Now comes an insect that is very familiar to us, the Black Cocktail, as it is popularly and fancifully called. I really think this is the very ugliest insect in England. It is scarcely so repulsive as the cockroach, its wonderful courage and spirit being redeeming points; but it is very hideous. Its colour is dull, dead black; its eyes, which scarcely project from the head, have a cold, cruel look about them; and its tail, when raised menacingly like that of a scorpion, protrudes two yellow vesicles at the tip, from which emanates a horrible odour. Sometimes it finds its way into cellars and larders if they be

wholly or partially under ground, and then the servants are always much alarmed at the creature, of which they have a dread, which is superstitious rather than the offspring of mere prejudice or ignorance. As its appearance suggests, it is one of the predaceous beetles, and is as fierce and brave as it is voracious. It really seems not to know what fear is, and no enemy seems to frighten it. I once came across one of these beetles at the foot of the old Clifton Baths stairs at Margate, and threatened it with the point of my stick. The Beetle at once dashed at the stick and fought most valiantly. Of course I did not wish to hurt the insect, so I merely continued the feigned attack, the beetle retreating with its face to the foe and its jaws wide open, until it had fairly surmounted the whole flight of stairs, invariably turning round as it reached the top of each stair, and making a fresh dash at the stick. It was exceedingly angry, but did not show the least symptom of fear, though I repeatedly struck violently within a few inches of its head. I was so pleased with the dauntless courage of the beetle, that, when it reached the top, I put it into a deep chalk crevice of the cliff, where it would be safe from the mischievous boys who infest the place.

Being

This is one of the most active of beetles. furnished, like all its family, with long and ample wings, and not being burdened, like the chafers, with a thick and heavy body, it flies with great rapidity, and can pass over incredible distances without being obliged to rest. It is equally active on the ground, for which reason the generic name of

Ocypus, or "swift-footed," has been given to it. The specific title olens, or "stinking," is given to it in consequence of the horrible emanations from the tail tubercles.

QUESTIONS.-What is the name of this beetle? What are its good points? Describe its appearance. To what class of beetles does it belong? Is it afraid? Can it fly? Why does it get the name of swift-footed? Has it a sweet smell?

Give as many meanings in which the following words are used as you can:-crab, craft, crane, cricket, crop, cross, crow, cry, dam, date, deck, die, diet, divers, dcck, down, draw.

THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN.
Robert Browning.

com-ment-a-ry man-u-script shriek-ing

en-rap-tured

mu-sic-ians

scat-ter-ing

chat-ter-ing clat-ter-ing

HAMELIN Town's in Brunswick,

By famous Hanover city;

The river Weser, deep and wide,
Washes its wall on the southern side;
A pleasanter spot you never spied;
But, when begins my ditty,

Almost five hundred years ago,
To see the townsfolk suffer so
From vermin was a pity.

Rats!

They fought the dogs, and killed the cats,

And bit the babies in the cradles,

And ate the cheeses out of the vats,

And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles,

Split open the kegs of salted sprats,

Made nests inside men's Sunday hats,

And even spoiled the women's chats,
By drowning their speaking
With shrieking and squeaking
In fifty different sharps and flats.

N

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Into the street the Piper stept,
Smiling first a little smile,
As if he knew what magic slept
In his quiet pipe the while;
Then, like a musical adept,

To blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled,

And green and blue his sharp eyes twinkled
Like a candle flame where salt is sprinkled;
And ere three shrill notes the pipe uttered,
You heard as if an army muttered;
And the muttering grew to a grumbling;
And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling;
And out of the house the rats came tumbling.
Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats,
Brown rats, black rats, gray rats, tawny rats,
Grave old plodders, gay young friskers,
Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins,
Cocking tails and pricking whiskers,
Families by tens and dozens,
Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives—
Followed the Piper for their lives.
From street to street he piped advancing,
And step for step they followed dancing,
Until they came to the river Weser,
Wherein all plunged and perished!
-Save one who, stout as Julius Cæsar,
Swam across and lived to carry
(As he, the manuscript he cherished)
To Rat-land home his commentary:
Which was,

"At the first shrill notes of the pipe,
I heard a sound as of scraping tripe,
And putting apples, wondrous ripe,
Into a cider-press's gripe;

And a moving away of pickle-tub-boards,
And a leaving ajar of conserve-cupboards,
And a drawing the corks of train-oil flasks,
And a breaking the hoops of butter-casks;
And it seemed as if a voice

(Sweeter far than by harp or by psaltery
Is breathed) called out, Oh! rats, rejoice!
The world is grown to one vast drysaltery!

.

nuncheon,

To much on, crunch on, take your
. Breakfast, supper, dinner, luncheon!
And just as a bulky sugar puncheon,
All ready staved, like a great sun shone
Glorious scarce an inch before me,

Just as methought it said, Come, bore me!
-I found the Weser rolling o'er me!

*

*

*

Once more he stept into the street,

And to his lips again

*

Laid his long pipe of smooth straight cane;
And here he blew three notes (such sweet
Soft notes as yet musicians cunning

Never gave the enraptured air)—

There was a rustling that seemed like a bustling
Of merry clouds justling at pitching and hustling.
Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clattering,
Little hands clapping and little tongues chattering.
And, like fowls in a farm-yard when barley is scattering,
Out came the children running,

All the little boys and girls,

With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls,

And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls,

Tripping and skipping, ran merrily after

The wonderful music with shouting and laughter.

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As the Piper turned from the High Street

To where the Weser rolled its waters

*

Right in the way of their sons and daughters!
However he turned from South to West,

And to Koppelberg Hill his steps addressed,
And after him the children pressed;

Great was the joy in every breast.

66

He never can cross that mighty top!

He's forced to let the piping drop,

And we shall see our children stop!'

When, lo, as they reached the mountain-side,

A wondrous portal opened wide,

As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed;

And the Piper advanced and the children followed,

And when all were in to the very last,

The door in the mountain-side shut fast.

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