Seeing the jay, however, begin to pick up some crumbs of broken chestnuts, in a humble and peaceable way, she also descended, and began to do the same; but, at the slightest motion of her new guest, wheeled round and put herself on the defensive. All this ceremonious jealousy vanished before evening, and they now roost together, and feed and play together in perfect harmony and good humor. When the jay goes to drink, his messmate very impudently jumps into the water to wash herself, throwing the water in showers over her companion, who bears it all patiently, and venturing to take a sip now and then between the splashes, without betraying the smallest token of irritation. On the contrary, he seems to take pleasure in his little fellow-prisoner, allowing her to clean his claws from the minute fragments of chestnuts which happen to adhere to them.” LINES PLACED OVER A CHIMNEY-PIECE. Surly Winter, come not here; Bluster in thy proper sphere: Howl along the naked plain, There exert thy joyless reign; Triumph o’er the withered flower, The leafless shrub, the ruined bower; But our cottage come not near;―― Other springs inhabit here, Other sunshine decks our board Than the niggard skies afford. Gloomy winter, hence! away! Love and fancy scorn thy sway; Love and joy, and friendly mirth Shall bless this roof, these walls, this hearth, The rigor of the year control, And thaw the winter in the soul. _Mrs. Barbauld._ ―――― A GERMAN gentleman, in the course of a strict cross-examination on a trial was asked to state the exact age of the defendant. “Dirty,” (thirty,) was the reply. “And pray, sir, are you his senior and by how many years?” “Why, sir, I am dirty-two.” ―――― THE SHOE-BLACK AND HIS DOG.――An English officer of the 44th regiment, who had occasion, when in Paris, to pass one of the bridges across the Seine, had his boots, which had been previously well polished, dirtied by a poodle dog rubbing against them. He, in consequence, went to a man, who was stationed on the bridge, and had them cleaned. The same circumstance having occurred more than once, his curiosity was excited, and he watched the dog. He saw him roll himself in the mud of the river, and then watch for a person with well-polished boots, against which he continued to rub himself.