This is several feet high, and is formed like a great goblet. It would make a very good cup for Neptune, if he drank brandy or rum, for it would soak up all that he poured into it, and he could not get a drop, unless he squeezed his cup pretty hard—and even then the liquor might all run out of the bottom. As a rule, civilized and well educated people are more easily surprised and astonished at uncommon and wonderful works of nature than uncivilized or ignorant people, for the latter do not know enough to be astonished. They see nothing strange in the development of a plant from its seed—nothing grand in a high mountain, nor anything very beautiful in a flower. They look at these things as a child looks at his hand. The hand is a very curiously constructed instrument, full of intricate mechanism, but the child does not know or think of that. It is not until he grows older and his mind is cultured that he appreciates the wonderful construction and the varied action of his hand. So it is with savages. They do not comprehend that many strange works of nature are worthy of admiration, and they take it for granted that things are as they are because they ought to be, just as they think of their own bodies, if they think of them at all. [Illustration: THE CUP OF NEPTUNE.] But this great goblet-like sponge is strange enough to astonish even a savage. MAGHAR’S LEAP. It chanced upon a time, a very great many years ago, while fairies and magicians still dwelt upon earth, that a youth and maiden—brother and sister—were walking in a forest, talking about their recent misfortunes, and laying plans for their future. The youth was clad in armor, according to the warlike fashion of those times. But he had under his arm a book, which was not in accordance with the fashion of those times. The maiden wore a dress of some coarse woolen stuff; and, in her hands she held a sheet of parchment, and a pen. Suddenly there broke into their quiet talk the sound of clashing arms, and the mad plunging of horses. Sybil, the maiden, stopped terrified. “Oh!” she cried, “it is the noise of battle! Too well I know those sounds. Let us go quickly back!” “Let us go forward a little way,” said Maghar, the youth, “to yon opening in the woods. Or, stop here, if you fear, and I will go alone and look out.” “No,” said Sybil, “if you go I will follow.” Together they looked out upon the open plain. Two hostile armies had met unexpectedly, and a fierce conflict had commenced. “Alas!” said Sybil, shuddering. “There are the savage infidels that laid waste our home!” “Yes,” said Maghar, excitedly, “and here, on this side, are our countrymen, and neighbors! I must bear a hand in this fight!” “And leave me alone!” cried Sybil. “I have only you left! Your single arm will not count for much in a battle!”