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geese were not suffered to proceed."-" Letter from York."

So much for the saying, "As stupid as a goose!"

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HORSECHESTNUT AND A CHESTNUT HORSE?

In the reign of Queen Anne lived two gentlemen, both members in the same Parliament; the one was called Montague Matthieu, the other Matthew Montague: the former a tall handsome man, the latter a deformed ugly one. On one occasion, in the House, an honourable member inadvertently attributed something that had been said by Mr. Matthew Montague, to Mr. Montague Matthieu : upon which, the latter got up and appealed to the Speaker and the House in the following manner :—

"Sir, an honourable member has charged me with having said that which I never gave utterance to, but which came from Mr. Matthew Montague. Now, Sir, I must appeal to you and this honourable House, whether there is not as much difference between Mr. Matthew Montague and Mr. Montague Matthieu, as there is between a horse-chestnut and a chestnut horse?" It is almost needless to add that the House was convulsed with laughter, in which Mr. Matthew Montague most heartily joined: hence the origin of the whim

sical question, “What's the difference between a horsechestnut and a chestnut horse?"

ANOTHER FOR HECTOR !

The following is the origin of this saying:-In the battle of Inverkeithing, between the Royalists and Oliver Cromwell's troops, 500 of the followers of the Laird of Maclean were left dead on the field. In the heat of the conflict, seven brothers of the clan sacrificed their lives in defence of their leader, Sir Hector Maclean, who, being hard pressed by the enemy, was supported and covered from their attacks by these brothers, and as one fell, another came up in succession to cover him, crying, "Another for Hector!" This phrase has ever since continued as a proverb, or watchword, when a man encounters any sudden danger that requires instant success.

HECTOR'S CLOAK.

The Earl of Northumberland having joined the Duke of Norfolk, and others, who were the supporters of Mary Queen of Scots, the former was betrayed by a faithless borderer to the regent Moray, whose successor, Morton, sold his unfortunate captive to Lord Hunsdon, governor of Berwick, to expiate his errors on the scaffold. This borderer was Hector Graham of Harelaw. A list of the Border Clans, in 1605,

enumerates among them this name, and the "griefs and cuti of Harelaw." It may be some satisfaction to learn, that this villain did not go unpunished: from affluent circumstances he sunk into unaccountable poverty; and to take "Hector's Cloak," has become proverbial throughout the country for betraying a friend.

SOUND AS A ROACH!

Butler states, that St. Roche, being afflicted with a pestilence, crawled into a forest, where he bore such pains, and manifested so much patience under his afflictions, that an angel visited him, healed his wounds, and made him perfectly sound. He was esteemed the patron saint from that period of all afflicted with the plague, for it is believed that the miraculous intermission of St. Roche could make them as sound as himself; and from hence came the saying, "Sound as a roach!"

HORN BOOKS.

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The horn-book was the primer of our ancestors. consisted of a single leaf, containing on one side the alphabet large and small--in black-letter or Romanand sometimes a small regiment of monosyllables, and a copy of the Lord's Prayer. This leaf was usually set in a frame of wood, with a slice of transparent horn in front. Generally there was a handle to hold it by,

with a hole for a string, whereby the apparatus was slung to the girdle of the scholar.

The alphabet on the horn-book was invariably prefaced with a cross; whence it came to be called the Christ Cross Row, or by corruption the Criss Cross Row, a term often used instead of horn-book.

NERO FIDDLED WHILE ROME WAS BURNING.

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Suetonius relates, that somebody in conversation saying, "When I am dead let fire devour the world, "Nay," rejoined Nero, "let it be whilst I am living;' and then he set Rome on fire in so barefaced a manner, that many of the consular dignities detected the incendiaries with torches and tow in their own houses, and dared not touch them because they were officers of Nero's bedchamber. The fire, during six days and seven nights, consumed a prodigious number of stately buildings, the public temples, and everything of antiquity that was remarkable and worthy of preservation. The common people were driven by this conflagration to the tombs and monuments for shelter; and Nero himself beheld the flames from a tower on the top of Mecænas's house, and sung a ditty on the destruction of Troy, in the dress which he used to perform in on the public stage. This atrocious want of feeling occasioned the saying, "Nero fiddled while Rome was burning."

YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT!

The use of "your humble servant!" came first into England on the marriage of Queen Mary, daughter of Henry IV. of France, which is derived from votre très humble serviteur.

SHAMMING ABRAHAM.

If any of the old accounts of London are looked into, it will be seen that, when Bethlehem Hospital was first built and endowed, there was a part appropriated for the reception and maintenance of idiots. They were designated by the title of Abraham Men, because that was the name of the ward wherein they were confined. On the 1st of April, such as were not too incapacitated had a holiday to see their friends; such as had not any, begged about the streets. They wore the dress of the hospital, and excited the compassion of many on account of the game made of them by the vulgar and children, who knew no better; which induced numbers of vagrants to imitate the dress, and pretend idiotism, till an order was issued from the governors, that if any person should sham an Abraham, he should be whipped and set in the stocks; from whence came the saying, "He is shamming Abraham." In Decker's "English Villanies" there are many curious particulars of the habits of this class of im

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