Year: 1862

a mug or peer rom tho CdSk. ho Aou Just knocked out the bung and was applying the spig- ot, when he heard an ominous crunching and grunting overhead. It was the SOW devastating the kitchen.

 eOh Lord my buffers lost r yelled Peter the Graybeard, as he rushed pell nell up the steps, with the spigot in his hand. What spectacle was there the churn upset, the cream split all over the floor, and the huge SOW fairly wallowing in the rich and savory tide

 Now even a wiser man would have lost all pa tience as for Peter, he rushed upon the brute, who, with piercing screams, str0ve to escape ; but it was hapless day to the thief, for her mas ter caught her in the doorway, and dealt her so well applied and vigorous blows on the skall with the spigot that the SOW fell desd on the spot.

 As he drew back his novel weapon, now GOV cred with blood, Peter recollected that he had not closed the bung hole of the cask, and that all this. time his beer was running to waste. So down he rushed again to the cellar. Fortunate ly, the beer had ceased to run, but then that was because nota drop remained in the cask.

 He had now to begin his mornings work again end churn some mote butterH he expected to see any dinner that day. So Peter visited the dairy house. and there found cream to replace what he had just lost. At it he goes again, and churns away more vigorously than ever. But,

 

 little too late, to be sure, but better late than neyer-that the COW was in the stable, and that she neither had food nor water, although the sun was now high above the horizon. Away he runs then to the stable. But experience has made him wise I've my little child there roll, ing on the floor; now, if I leave the churn, the greedy scamp may turn it over, and something worse might easily happen ! Whsreupon he takes up the churn on his back and hastens to the we'll to draw wate. for the COW. The well was deep and the bucket did not go down far enough So Peter leans with all his might in hot haste, on the rope, and away goes the cream out of the churn, over his head and shoulders, into the well!

 'Confound it! said Peter, between his teeth, { it's clear I'm to have no butter to-day. Let's attend to the COW /; it's too late to take her out to pasture, but there's fine lot of hay on the house thatch that hasn't been cut, and so she'll lose nothing by staying at home.' To get the COW out of the stable and put her on the house. roof was no great trouble, for the dwelling was was almost on a level with the ground: A plank served the purpose of a bridge, and behold the COW comfortably installed in her elevated pas. ture! Peter of course, could not rema,n upon the roof to watch the animal he had to make the midday porrdge and take it to the mowers. But he was prudent man, and did not want to leave his COW exposed to the risk of breaking her bones; so he tied small rope around her neck, and this rope he passed carefully down the chimney of the outage into the kitchen below. Having effected this, he descended himself, and entering the kitchen, attached the other end of the rope to his own leg. ..y

 .In this way said he, make sure that the COW will keep quiet and that nothing bad can happen to her

 lie now filled the kettle, dropped into it a good lump of lard. the necessary vegetables and con- diments placed it ou the well piled fagots, struck the fire with flint and steel, and was applying the match to the wood, blowing it we'll the while, when, all at once, crsh-crash <! away goes the COW, slipping down over the roof, and dragging our good man, with one leg in the air and head downwards, clear ap the chimney. What would have become of him, no one tan tell, had not a thick bar of iron arrested his upward flight And Eow there they are, both together, dang ling in the air, the COW outside, and Peter with in both too, uttering the most frightful cries of distress.

 As good luck would have it, the wife was just as impatient as her husband, and, when she had waited just three seconds to see whether Peter would bring her porridge at the stated time. she darted off fS the house us though it were on fire. When she saw the COW swinging between heav- en and earth. she drew her sickle and cut the rope, greatly to the delight of the poor brute who now found herself safe again, on the only sort of floor she liked. It was chance no less forum ate for Peter, who was not accustomed to gazing at the sky with his feet in the air. But he fell smack into the kettle, head foremost. It had been decreed, however, that all should come out right with him, that day the fire had died out the water was cold. and the kettle awry, so that he got of with nothing worse than scratched forehead peeled nose and two we'll scraped cheeks, and thank Heaven nothing was broken but the saucepan.

 When his better half entered the kitchen she found Master Greybeard looking very sheepish and bloody. ~t

 Well welv said she, planting her arms akmbo, and her two fists on her launches, who is the Best housekeeper, pray? l have moved and reaped, and here am as good as was yes- day, while you. you Mr. Cook. Mir. Stay at-home

 Mr. Nurse, where's the COW, and where's our dinner? If our little ones alive yet, no thanks to you Poor little fellow what would become of it without kind and careful mamma?' ., Whereupon Mrs. Peter began to snivel and sob. Indeed, sine has need to; for is not sensi bility woman's field of triumph, and are not her tears the triumph of sensibilty?

 Peter bore the storm in silence, and did we'll for resignation is the virtue of great souls. Between the wife of Gudbrand and the wife of Peter the Greybeard. men must choose, al their own risk and peril. ..-.. -,.. To love great deal-to love internationally so as to be loved little in return-that is the whole moral of the story of Gudbrand.' a' .....- W1oFALL ON THE WAR.-The New Orleans 1 Croece,1f has K. chmnnd .cnrrosnnndnnk ,rhn