s that Christmas without roast Turkeys and Mince
pies will be very bad. The "bare _name_"--that is what he will none of.
But on the contrary the real thing he will have, with Roasts and bakes,
and--possibly--Cordial Liquor to "Comfort up" the day. What a good word
that "Comfort up" is. We thank Nathaniel for it.

Now in the volume for 1730 are other interesting items, and the seer and
poet seems to be our old friend, Nathan Bowen. He inclines somewhat to
poetry also, for he thus sings:

Saturn in Thirty Years his Ring Compleats,
Which Swiftest Jupiter in Twelve repeats;
Mars Three and Twenty Months revolving spends,
The Earth in Twelve her Annual Journey Ends.
Venus thy Race in twice Four Months is run,
For his Mercurius Three demands. The Moon
Her Revolution finishes in One.
If all at Once are Mov'd, and by one Spring,
Why so Unequal in their Annual Ring?"

Here again the sensitive soul, anxiously pondering, asks, Are students
of astronomy prone to infidelity, and does this last question mean to
convey the faintest shadow of a doubt? If not, why that "Why"?

We gladly pass on to another topic, hoping that Nathan was not damned
for skepticism.

"N. B.--The paper Mill mentioned in last year's almanack (at Milton) has
begun to go. Any person that will bring Rags to D. Henchman & T.
Hancock, shall have from 2d. to 6d. a pound according to their
goodness."

"Begun to go." I like that word. "Commenced operations," "started in
business": how new and poor those great three-syllabled words seem!
"Begun to go"--that is good.

In 1731 he tells us:

"Ready money is now
the best of Wares."
"Some gain & some loose."

Dear, dear, how bad! Almost, not quite so miserable, as to-day--all lose
now.

Then he informs us officially what salutes are to be fired at Castle
William, as follows:

March 1 Queen's Berthday 21 guns.

May 29 Restoration of K. Ch. II. 17 "

June 11 K. George II. accession 21 "

Oct. 11 K. G. II. coronation 33 "

Oct. 30 K. G. II. Berthday 27 "

Nov. 5 Powder Plot 17 "

Jan. 19 Prince of W. Berthday 21 "

In 1732 the Native of New England (if it be Nathan Bowen of Marblehead)
takes hold again and breaks into song:

Indulge, and to thy Genius freel