A gentleman whose pretty garden adjoined a park in which a number of young colts were grazing, was much annoyed by the inroads of these animals. He took every precaution to prevent their entrance, but to no purpose. Fences were examined and found intact, the gate was kept shut, and yet one or more of the colts would soon be found devastating flower-beds, or browsing in the kitchen garden. The provoking part of it was that no one could discover how the creatures obtained an entrance. At length men were hidden in the trees to watch, and the problem was speedily solved. A colt trotted up to the gate and inserted its head between the bars, with the evident intention of raising the latch. He made several vain attempts, but had not mastered the trick. The latch remained in its place, and the colt outside. For a few moments the animal stood cogitating, then trotted rapidly back to the spot where he had left his companions. He singled out one of the most frequent visitors to the garden, and, by some language peculiar to colts, made known his difficulty. The other at once returned with his companion to the gate, inserted his head below one of the bars, and by a dexterous movement displaced the latch, and the gate swung open. Then, throwing back his head as if to say, "See how easy it is when one knows how," he went back whilst the other entered the garden. It was noticed by the watchers that this last had not previously been seen within the forbidden precincts, but the one that opened the gate for him had been particularly troublesome. The fact that he was specially selected for the office of porter showed no little sagacity in the would-be visitor to the garden. But, much as the cleverness of the animals might be admired, care was taken to render its exercise useless for the future. RUTH LAMB. VARIETIES A FRENCH CONVERSATION. Voltaire once said, "It is not clear, therefore it cannot be French." This is only partially true, for the French language furnishes abundant material for puns and misunderstandings, intentional or otherwise. The following amusing instance may serve as an illustration:-- Two sportsmen met together on their way home. "Where do you come from?" the first asked the second, who was trembling with fright. "I come--I come--from the forest of Bondy." "And why are you so excited?" "I have been attacked by robbers." "How many were there?" "_Sept._" "What did you say?" "_Je dis sept._" "_Dix-sept?_" "No; _sans dix_." "_Cent dix?_" "Oh, dear! no. _Sans dix, sept._" "Good gracious! _Cent dix-sept?_" "Nonsense. _Sept sans dix-sept._" "_Sept cent dix-sept._" "You don't understand me. _Je te dis sept sans dix!_" "_Dix-sept cent dix._" "You will drive me mad! _Je te dis sept sans dix-sept!_" "_Dix-sept cent dix-sept!_ I can understand your being frightened with such a number."