* * * * * THE GATHERER. "A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles." SHAKSPEARE. THE LAST FRIEND. A respectable character, after having long figured in the gay world of Paris, was at length compelled to live in an obscure retreat in that city, the victim of severe and unforeseen misfortunes. He was so indigent that he subsisted on an allowance from the parish every week; a quantity of bread was sent to him sufficient for his support; and yet, at length, he demanded more. On this the curate sent for him--he went. "Do you live alone?" said the curate. "With whom, sir," answered the unfortunate man, "is it possible I should live? I am wretched, you see that I am, since I thus solicit charity, and am abandoned by all the world." "But, sir," continued the curate, "if you live alone, why do you ask for more bread than is sufficient for yourself?" The other was quite disconcerted, and at last, with great reluctance, confessed that he had a dog. The curate did not drop the subject; he desired him to observe "that he was only the distributor of the bread that belonged to the poor, and that it was absolutely necessary that he should dispose of his dog." "Ah! Sir," exclaimed the poor man weeping, "and if I lose my dog, who is there then to love me?" The good pastor melting into tears, took his purse, and giving it to him, "Take _this_, sir," said he, "this _is_ mine; this I _can_ give you." W.G.C. * * * * * ELECTIONEERING PIETY. In the year 1768, the following printed notices were stuck upon the doors and walls of the churches in the City of London, one Sunday morning:--"The prayers of this congregation are earnestly desired for the restoration of liberty, depending on the election of Mr. Wilkes." J.R.S. * * * * * FAZIO. "They have brought out _Fazio_ with great and deserved success at Covent Garden: that's a good sign. I tried during the directory, to have it done at Drury Lane, but was overruled."--_Byron's Letters_. * * * * * THE DEVIL AMONG THE PRINTERS. In the year 1561, a work was printed, entitled the _Anatomy of the Mass._ It contained one hundred and seventy pages, accompanied with errata of fifteen pages! The author, a monk, in an advertisement prefixed to the errata states, that the devil, to ruin the fruit of his work, employed two very malicious frauds, by first drenching the manuscript in the kennel, reducing it to a most pitiable state, and rendering some parts altogether illegible, and then obliging the printers to commit such numerous blunders, never before equalled in so small a work. To combat this double machination of Satan, he was obliged carefully to reperuse the work, and to form this singular list of the blunders of printers working under the influence of the devil. W.A.R. * * * * * CHARTER.