"Indeed," said MR. BARLOW, "on reflection, I am led to consider the chiefest part in this piece to be the Lion's share in it. He is spoken of at the commencement of the play, he is often alluded to throughout, and the bare mention of his name sensibly electrifies the spectators on and off the stage. From the very first we are incited to expect his appearance. He has not to roar to make himself dreaded. He has not even to be present, either on or off, the scene. _Harry._ This device is, in my humble judgement, worthy of high commendation in the play-wright, who has thus evinced his reverence for the words of the immortal WILLIAM, and whose plan is in cordial agreement with _Bottom's_ opinion on this very matter, which, my dear TOMMY, as you are as yet unacquainted with the works of SHAKSPEARE, I will repeat to you. "_Masters_," says _Bottom_, "_You ought to consider with yourselves, to bring in a lion among ladies is a most dreadful thing, for there is not a more fearful wild fowl than your lion, living_." TOMMY was so forcibly struck by this adroit application of a famous passage from the plays of SHAKSPEARE, that he determined, on the first opportunity to read all these dramas through from beginning to end. And having already set himself to the study of astronomy and mechanics, solely in order to make himself as proficient in the art of applicable illustrations as was his friend HARRY MERTON, TOMMY now found that he had at least one hour of the day fully occupied. On their return from the theatre MR. BARLOW, ever anxious for the improvement of both his young friends, commenced reading to them the story of _The Magistrate and the Elephant_; but, seeing that both his young friends were fast asleep in their chairs, he lit his chamber-candle and retired for the night. On entering his room somewhat suddenly, a pair of boots, artfully placed so as to rest on the door, which had been standing ajar, descended on his head; and the next instant, on his taking one step forward, he came in contact with a stout string, so skilfully fastened, as not only to throw him sharply on the floor, but, being cunningly connected with the fire-irons and the washing-stand, it brought down these articles also with a great crash and much confusion. Before he could arise from his painful position, TOMMY and HARRY had rushed up-stairs to render to their revered preceptor what assistance was in their power. Being questioned as to the hand they had had in this strange affair, MASTER TOMMY, with becoming modesty, acknowledged that it was he who had devised the scheme. "And," said he, "I protest I think it is no inadequate representation of what must have been the consequence in several houses during the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the _Last Days of Pompeii_."