up in the stove, and let me lie among the burning brands through
the live long night. Then I hear him in my torment talking loud, I know
not what, over my head. All prayer he forbids me, and he makes me tell
whether I would give all I have or my soul for my cure. Then he speaks
to me of the Bible; but he falsifies all he tells me of, or he tells me
of some new-born king or queen in the kingdom of God. I cannot go to
church; I cannot pray; I cannot think a good thought; I see sights of
horror ever before me, which fill me with unutterable fear, and I know
not what is rest; my one only thought is how soon the devil will come to
claim his wretched victim and carry me to the place of torment." The
poor creature had a belief that a Roman Catholic priest had the power of
exorcism. The priest was most kind to the poor maniac, and tried to
convince him of the power and goodness of God, and his love to his
creatures. It need not be said that this was talking to the wind. In
fine, he said, "Well, I will rid you of your tormentor. He shall have to
do with me, and not with you, in future." This promise had the desired
effect; and the priest followed it up by advising the maniac to go to a
good physician, to avoid solitude, to work hard, to read his Bible, and
remember the comfortable declarations of which he had been just
reminded, and if he was in any doubt or anxiety, to go to his parish
minister.

* * * * *

THE GATHERER.

A snapper up of unconsidered trifles.
SHAKSPEARE.

* * * * *

ADDISON.

A certain author was introduced one day by a friend to Mr. Addison, who
requested him at the same time to peruse and correct a copy of English
verses. Addison took the verses and found them afterwards very stupid.
Observing that above twelve lines from Homer were prefixed to them, by
way of motto, he only erased the Greek lines, without making any
amendment in the poem, and returned it. The author, seeing this, desired
his friend who had introduced him to inquire of Mr. Addison the reason
of his doing so. "Whilst the statues of Caligula," said he, "were all of
a piece, they were little regarded by the people, but when he fixed the
heads of gods upon unworthy shoulders, he profaned them, and made
himself ridiculous. I, therefore, made no more conscience to separate
Homer's verses from this poem, than the thief did who stole the silver
head from the brazen b