THE GATHERER.
Reading edition
"A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles." SHAKSPEARE.
CONNING (quasi Cunning.)
A convict, during the voyage to New South Wales, slipped overboard, and was drowned—What was his crime?—Felo de se (fell o'er the sea.)
THE CHANGES OF TIME.
I dreamt, in Fancy's joyous day, That every passing month was May; But Reason told me to remember, And now, alas! they're all December!
The only memorial of the death of Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, remaining at Kirkby Moorside (where he died in obscurity and distress,) is an entry in an old register of burials, which runs thus: "1687, April 17th, Gorges Villus, Lord dook of bookingham."—Ellis Correspondence.
Had we not lov'd so dearly, Had we not lov'd sincerely, Had vows been never plighted, Our hopes had ne'er been blighted, Dearest. Had we met in younger days, Had we fled each other's gaze, Oh had we never spoken, Our hearts had ne'er been broken, Dearest. Had you not look'd so kindly, Had I not lov'd so blindly, No pain 'twould be to sever, As now we may for ever, Dearest. If yet you love sincerely, The one who loves you dearly, Then let the sigh betoken, Love for a heart you've broken, Dearest.
Z.
THE TRAGEDY OF DOUGLAS.
It may not be generally known, that the first rehearsal of this tragedy took place in the lodgings in the Canongate, occupied by Mrs. Sarah Ward, one of Digges' company; and that it was rehearsed by, and in presence of, the most distinguished literary characters Scotland ever could boast of. The following was the cast of the piece on that occasion:—
Dramatis Personae. Lord Randolph, Dr. Robertson, Principal, Edinburgh. Glenalvon, David Hume, Historian. Old Norval, Dr. Carlyle, Minister of Musselburgh. Douglas, John Home, the Author. Lady Randolph, Dr. Fergusson, Professor. Anna (the maid), Dr. Blair, Minister, High Church.
The audience that day, besides Mr. Digges and Mrs. Sarah Ward, were the Right Hon. Pat. Lord Elibank, Lord Milton, Lord Kames, Lord Monboddo, (the two last were then only lawyers,) the Rev. John Steele, and William Home, ministers. The company (all but Mrs. Ward) dined afterwards at the Griskin Club, in the Abbey. The above is a signal proof of the strong passion for the drama which then obtained among the literati of this capital, since then, unfortunately, much abated. The rehearsal must have been conducted with very great secrecy; for what would the Kirk, which took such deep offence at the composition of the piece by one of its ministers, have said to the fact, of no less than four of these being engaged in rehearsing it, and two others attending the exhibition? The circumstance of the gentle Anna having been personated by "Dr. Blair, minister of the High Church," is a very droll one.—Edinburgh Evening Post.
THE CUMBERLAND LANDLORD.
(To the Editor of the Mirror.)
During a recent excursion in Cumberland, I copied the following epitaph from the album kept at the inn at Pooley Bridge, the landlord of which is well known, as being quite an original:—W.W.
Will Russell was a landlord bold, A noble wight was he, Right fond of quips and merry cracks, And ev'ry kind of glee.
Full five-and-twenty years agone He came to Pooley Height, And there he kept the Rising Sun, And drunk was ev'ry night.
No lord, nor squire, nor serving man, In all the country round, But lov'd to call in at the Sun, Wherever he was bound,
To hold a crack with noble Will, And take a cheerful cup Of brandy, or of Penrith ale, Or pop, right bouncing up.
But now poor Will lies sleeping here,
Without his hat or stick,
Nor longer rules the Rising Sun,
Will's honest heart could ne'er refuse To drink with ev'ry brother; Then let us not his name abuse— We'll ne'er see sic another.
But let us hope the gods above, Right mindful of his merits, Have given him a gentle shove Into the land of spirits.
'Tis then his talents will expand, And make a noble figure. In tossing off a brimming glass, To make his belly bigger.
Adieu, brave landlord, may thy portly ghost Be ever ready at its heavenly post; And may thy proud posterity e'er be Landlords at Pooley to eternity.
A WATCH.
Before a watch is ready for the pocket, the component parts thereof must have passed through the hands of not less than an hundred and fifty different workmen. The fifteen principal branches are: 1. the movement maker; who divides it into various branches, viz. pillar maker, stop stud maker, frame mounter, screw maker, cock and potence maker, verge maker, pinion maker, balance wheel maker, wheel cutter, fusee maker, and other small branches; 2. dial maker, who employs a capper maker, an enameller, painter, &c. 3. case maker, who makes the case to the frame, employs box maker, and outside case maker, joint finisher. 4. pendant maker; (both case and pendant go to the Goldsmith's Hall to be marked.) 5. secret springer, and spring liner; the spring and liner are divided into other branches; viz. the spring maker, button maker, &c. 6. cap maker; who employs springer, &c. 7. jeweller, which comprises the diamond cutting, setting, making ruby holes, &c. 8. motion maker, and other branches, viz. slide maker, edge maker, and bolt maker. 9. spring maker, (i.e. main spring.) consisting of wire drawer, &c. hammerer, polisher, and temperer. 10. chain maker; this comprises several branches, wire drawer, link maker and rivetter, hook maker, &c. 11. engraver, who also employs a piercer and name cutter. 12. finisher, who employs a wheel and fusee cutter, and other workers in smaller branches. 13. gilder is divided into two, viz. gilder and brusher. 14. glass and hands, the glass employs two, viz. blower and maker; hand maker employs die sinker, finisher, &c. 15. fitter in, who overlooks the whole, fits hands on, &c. The above 15 branches are subdivided again and again.
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