er, and knowing well the shape of things, he decided to lie down
between the rails as his best chance. He had to make up his mind
quickly, for in a minute or so the whole train came to where he lay, and
went thundering over him, and--did him no harm whatever. But he
afterwards told his friends, that in that brief moment of time, while the
train was passing over, he saw his whole past life spread out like a map,
like an illuminated transparency, with every particular circumstance
standing out plain."

A QUICK WAY.

Some years ago, when a new railway was opened in the Highlands, a
Highlander heard of it, and bought a ticket for the first excursion. The
train was about half the distance to the next station when a collision
took place, and poor Donald was thrown unceremoniously into an adjacent
park. After recovering his senses, he made the best of his way home,
when the neighbours asked him how he liked his ride. "Oh," replied
Donald, "I liked it fine; but they have an awfu' nasty quick way in
puttin' ane oot."

HIGHLANDER AND A RAILWAY ENGINE.

We remember hearing a story of an old Highland peasant who happened to
see a railway engine for the first time. He was coming down from the
Grampians into Perthshire, and he thus described the novel monster as it
appeared in his astounded Celtic imagination:--"I was looking doon the
glens, when I saw a funny beast blowing off his perspiration; an' I ran
doon, an' I tried to stop him, but he just gave an awfu' skirl an'
disappeared into a hole."--(meaning, of course, a tunnel).

--_Once a Week_.

EXTRACTS FROM MACREADY'S DIARIES.

"July 3rd, 1845.--Brewster called to cut my hair; he told me the
tradesmen could not get paid in London, for all the money was employed in
railroads."

"June 19th, 1850.--We were surprised by the entrance of Carlyle and Mrs.
C--. I was delighted to see them. Carlyle inveighed against
railroads--he was quite in one of his exceptious moods."

FREAKS OF CONCEALED BOGS.

Great difficulties have often been encountered by engineers in carrying
earth embankments across low grounds, which, under a fair, green surface,
concealed the remains of ancient bogs, sometimes of great depth. Thus,
on the Leeds and Bradford Extension, about 600 tons of stone and earth
were daily cast into an embankment near Bingley, and each morning the
stuff thrown in on the preced