supposing the sow to have been there. To which some of the company, seeing the state the woman was in, replied, "That it was the drunkennest sow that had ever been beheld; "-whence the woman was ever after called "David's Sow."

MIND YOUR P'S AND Q'S.

This expression arose from the ancient custom of hanging a slate behind the alehouse door, on which was written P or Q (i. e., Pint or Quart) against the name of each customer, according to the quantity which he had drunk, and which was not expected to be paid for till the Saturday evening, when the wages were settled.

The expression so similar to schoolboys of "going tick," may perhaps be traced to this, a tick or mark being put for every glass of ale.

GIVE US A TOAST!

It happened on a public day at Bath, that a celebrated beauty of those times was in the crossbath, and one of the crowd of her admirers took a glass of the water in which the fair one stood, and drank health to the company. There was in the place a gay fellow, half-fuddled, who offered to jump in, and swore, "Tho' he liked not the liquor, he

would have the Toast!" He was opposed in his resolution; yet this whim gave foundation to the present honour, which is done to the lady or gentleman we mention in our liquors, and has ever since been called a Toast.

LADY IN THE STRAW.

It has puzzled many to know from whence this expression took its rise; others have attributed it to, and which is most probably correct, the state of the blessed Mary when she brought forward the child Jesus in the stable.

So late as Henry VIII.'s time there were directions for certain persons to examine every night the straw of the king's bed, "that no daggers might be concealed therein." Again-formerly, when the kings of France quitted Paris to reside elsewhere, the straw of their beds and their chamber belonged to the poor of the hospital, Hotel Dieu. This anecdote proves that former kings of France were no better bedded than felons in the dungeons of the last century.

SHE IS IN HER WILLOWS.

"The willow," old Fuller says, "is a sad tree, whereof such who have lost their love make their mourning garlands; and we know that exiles hung up their harps upon such doleful supporters. The twigs

hereof are physic to drive out the folly of children. This tree delighteth in most places, and is triumphant in the Isle of Ely, where the roots strengthen their banks, and the top affords fuel for their fire. It groweth incredibly fast, it being a bye-word in this county (Cambridge), that "the profit by willows will buy the owner a horse before that by other trees will pay for his saddle." Let me add, that if greene ashe may burne before a queen, withered willows may be allowed to burne before a lady." The old saying, "She is in her willows," is here illustrated; it implies the mourning of a female for her love.

PLUG UGLIES.

A name given to a set of American rowdies on account of their wearing heavy boots, plugged with large spikes, for the purpose of inflicting severe injuries on their opponents in faction fights.

CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS.

Mr. Mundella, one of the members for Sheffield, has been recently taken to task for having, after quoting the above proverb, added the words "as saith the Apostle." The Rev. Moncure D. Conway, writing to the Times, says :

"The saying, 'Cleanliness is next to godliness,' for

attributing which to an apostle Mr. Mundella has been questioned by 'A Rustic,' is not of Scriptural but yet of Hebrew origin. It first appears in Beraitha, as the last Mishna of Sota, chap. ix. It is often repeated in Rabbinical books; e.g., Phinehas ben Yeir saysThe doctrines of religion are resolved into carefulness, carefulness into vigorousness, vigorousness into guiltlessness, guiltlessness into abstemiousness, abstemiousness into cleanliness; cleanliness is next to godliness.' Mr. N. Rowe writes :-" Others besides 'A Rustic' and Mr. Mundella may be glad to learn that though not the teaching of an Apostle, the words, 'Cleanliness is, indeed, next to godliness,' occur in a sermon on dress, by John Wesley, who died in 1791.” "Clericus says "The old proverb is not 'Cleanliness is next to godliness,' but to goodliness-viz., beauty of form, grace, elegance."

MERRY WAKEFIELD.

What peculiar cause of mirth the town of Wakefield has above others, Fuller certainly confesses he cannot tell, unless that it may be entitled to that epithet from its cheapness, and the plenty of good cheer. Grose, however, adds, "Might it not be mirrie, that is, faithful Wakefield? and allude to some event in the disputes between the houses of York and Lancaster. Mirrie-men is a term that frequently

occurs in old ballads, signifying true or faithful men." While again it has been suggested, that it derives this complimentary epithet from the reputation of that "merry" man, the Pindar of the town.

"Of Wakefield, George a Green,

Whose fames so far are blown;"

for Brathwaite, in his "Strappado for the Divell," applies it to both of them, when he speaks of

NEVER LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH!

This very familiar, and often repeated saying, takes its origin from a circumstance which occurred many years ago in the vicinity of Carlisle. "Two farmers, who had been neighbours for many years, and who had lived upon very friendly terms, mutually agreed that whichever died first should leave to the other a valuable consideration, not specifying, however, what it was to be. The one was called Martin Timson, and the other David Dean. David was called away first, and bequeathed to Martin a favourite horse. When it was communicated to the latter, he manifested a great deal of disappointment, and observed, that "He did expect something better than an old horse." "Not so old, neither," said the party who had brought him the information. A dispute now arose about the age, and it was agreed to go to the

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