zing hold of the under sheet, he dragged its depository
bodily from off the bed. The sleeping man, sensible of the unusual
motion, and dreamily beholding a stalwart form bent over him, became
impressed with the idea that a personal attack was being made upon him,
probably with a view to robbery and murder. Under this conviction, he,
in his descent, grasped "boots" firmly by the throat, the result being
that both bodies thus came to the floor with a crash. Here the two
rolled about for some seconds in all the agonies of a death struggle,
until the unwonted noise and the cries of the assailants brought several
persons from all parts of the hotel, and they, seeing two men rolling
frantically about in each other's arms, and with the hand of each
grasping the other's throat, rushed in and separated them. An
explanation was of course soon given. The son of the church was
effectually awakened, he rewarded the "boots," and went off by the train.

Fortune subsequently smiled upon "boots," and in the course of time he
became proprietor of a first-rate hotel. In the interval the Rev. Mr. --
had risen from a humble curate to the grade of a dean. Having occasion
to visit the town of --, he put up at the house of the ex-boots. The two
men saw and recognized each other, and the affair of the early train
reverted to the mind of both. "It was a most fortunate circumstance,"
said the dean, "that I did not oversleep myself on that morning, for from
the memorable journey that followed, I date my advancement in the Church.
But," he continued, with an expression that betokened some tender
recollection, "if I ever should require you to wake me for an early train
again, would you mind placing a mattress or feather-bed on the floor?"

--_The Railway Traveller's Handy Book_.

A MAD ENGINE-DRIVER.

A startling event happened at an early hour yesterday morning (Jan. 8th,
1884), in connection with the mail train from Brest, which is due in
Paris at ten minutes to five o'clock. Whilst proceeding at full speed
the passengers observed the brakes to be put on with such suddenness that
fears were entertained that a collision was imminent, especially as the
spot at which the train was drawn up was in utter darkness. Upon the
guard reaching the engine he found the stoker endeavouring to overpower
the driver, who had evidently lost his reason. After blocking the line
the guard joined the stoker, and