Year: 1879

Life in India.

 We were telling stories of our Indian life. Said the doctor "One of our ser geant's wives had 8 little boy of about a year old. The child was asleep one day in wicker cradle, over which his mother had spread light chintz quilt to protect the infant from the flies. She was engaged in some household matters in the next room, quite assured of the boys safety, as she was close at hand, and could hear his slightest movs ment. Some cause or other took her into the apartment where the child lay, and glancing it the cradle, she beheld ter rible sight. The infant lay in deep and tranquil slumber; but at the foot of the cradle, eoiled up on the quilt, was snake, which the least motion of the child might at any moment disturb and irritate, when the most frightful result would probably follow. Knowing her. self to be powerless for good, the poor mother cast an agonized look on her sleeping babe, and with trembling limbs slipped from the room and rushed to the place where she knew she should find her husband. In moment he had de- cided what to do and seiz'ng some im- plement with forked extremity, he fol- lowed his wife back to the houge. Step ping softly up to the cradle, with one swift movement he dexterously twitched the deadly reptile from the spot where it lay, and with 8 well-aimed blow killed it on the ground where it fell. Nothing like presence of mind on such occasions; no time for deliberation with co5ras. Now I think I have pretty well done my share of the talking, and narrowed your feelings up to the proper pitch for the judge's story.

 "Wen, well, !" said the judge, "I sup pose l must try. Once upon 8 time, then-to begin like the old fairy tales l was smart young fellow, like good many of you here; and was lucky enough to obtain civil appointment, which was very good thing Tn those days, and isn't bad thing now, let me tell you. My father had an old friend, civilian. who lived in Bombay; and when l landed found very cordial in- yitation awaiting me to go to this gen. tleman's house, and stay as long as suited my convenience. A most wor- thy, kind, and hospitable old gentleman he was; nobody could have been more sincere friend he would have gone miles to do any one he liked a service. He had one special fault, however, or weakness we may rather call it-he was very fond of practical joking"

 "A most detestable vice, if you'll ex- cuse bad language" interpolated the doctor.

 " It is indeed" resumed the judge "and trust none of our young friends lere will ever be guilty of it, for it is neither clever nor gentlemanly. My friend MT. Gordon was a gentleman, however; but in those days more latitude in manners was permitted ; such things would not be tolerated now. In addition to various foolish little tricks which MT. Gordon was fond of playing off upon Lis guests, especially upon the 'griffs,' he had one fayorite Joke, which had become constant habit with him, so that he rarely encountered a newcomer without perpetrating it, if the opportunity offered. This was to pick up stick, bit of mating, or rope, or anything that came handy, and throw it against the person he wished to startle, at the same time exclaimine. A snake r Some of them merely smiled and took no further notice others perhaps started and looked un. easy for 8 moment, and this delighted the old gentleman while 8 few were found who were visibly annoyed, and did not see the joke at all. It wal certainly 6 very weak one. However he seemed to find it entertaining, for he constantly perpetIated it, till he one day received 8 lesson, which un doubtedly cured him of that trick, and think of good many others,

 He was walking in his compound or garden, one afternoon with two ol three friends. I was there too. and with me was enc of the young men whc fad come out at the same time as myself and who had called that day to see me and had been hospitably invited to re main to tiffin. He and I were strollins about by ourselves, when the course O our walk brought us close to the spot where MT. Gordon and his friends wer. chatting. In moment the old gentle man stopped down to little tuft O berbage beside him, seized what looked like small stick or bit of branch, ane flung it against my friend Mr. Ashley saying, quickly, There's snakep ] had heard this so often now that I die not even smile, but just glanced al Ashley with look meant to say, Never miud it's only his little joke My eyt fell on his bent arm. where the obiect thrown by Mr. Gordon bad alighted; i