lamps from the rats, which crawl down the cords by which the lamps are suspended, and drink the oil. The Copts run the cord through an ostrich shell, which is placed at some little distance above the lamps, and, by its smooth polished surface, forms an impassable barrier even to rats. 11. The feathers are too well known to need description. On an average, each feather is worth about twenty-five cents. The best time for obtaining them is in the months of March and April. The greater number are furnished by means of the poisoned arrow, the native hunter scraping a hole in the sand near the nest, and lying concealed there until the birds come to their eggs, when a few rapid discharges will kill as many birds. In some tribes each ostrich feather worn on the head is an emblem of an enemy slain in battle. 12. The flesh of the ostrich is tolerably good, and is said to resemble that of the zebra. It is, however, only the young ostrich that furnishes a good entertainment, for the flesh of the old bird is rank and tough. The fat is highly valued, and when melted is of a bright orange color. It is mostly eaten with millet flour, and is also stirred into the eggs while these are roasting, so as to make a rude but well-flavored omelet.. 13. Those who are fond of hunting employ a more sportsman-like though less profitable mode of procuring this bird. Mounted on swift horses, they give fair chase to the nimblefooted bird, and generally manage to secure it by sending one of their number to head it on its course, and shooting it as it dashes by. The speed of the ostrich is very great, though hardly so considerable as has been supposed. Some writers set it down as running sixty miles per hour, while others only give it half that rate. When going at full speed, its legs move so rapidly that they hardly seem to touch the ground; and as the pace of a running adult ostrich is from ten to fourteen feet in length, its exceeding swiftness may be imagined. Wood. CXIII.-PSALM LXXIII. A PSALM OF ASAPH. 1. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps. had well nigh slipped. 3. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10. Therefore his people return hither; and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High? 12. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15. If I say, I will speak thus: behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castest them down into destruction. 19. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are 'utterly consumed with terrors. 20. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22. So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before thee. 23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27. For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust into the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. : CXIV. THE JUST JUDGE. bribe, to influence by gifts; bestechen. as-siz'-es, a court of justice; Gerichtssißung. pre-ca ́-ri-ous, uncertain; unsicher. as-sert', to maintain; behaupten. priv'-i-lege, a right; Vorrecht. ad-duce', to bring forward; beibringen. ver'-dict, a decision; Urteilsspruch. dis-course', speech; Rede. en-er-get'-ic, powerful; kräftig. dem-on-stra'-tion, certain proof; Beweis. soph'-ist-ry, false reasoning; Sophisterei; Trugschluß. The After 1. A wealthy gentleman of England had two sons. elder, being of a rambling disposition, went abroad. several years, his father died; when the younger son, destroying his will, seized upon the estate. He gave out that his elder brother was dead, and bribed false witnesses to attest the truth of this alleged fact. 2. After a lapse of ten years, the elder brother returned in destitute circumstances. His younger brother repulsed him with scorn, and told him that he was an impostor and a cheat. He asserted that his real brother was dead long ago; and he could bring witnesses to prove it. The poor fellow, having neither money nor friends, was in a sad condition. He went round the parish making complaints, and, at last, to a lawyer, who, when he had heard the poor man's story, replied, "You have nothing to give me. If I undertake your cause and lose it, it will bring me into disgrace, as all the wealth and evidence are on your brother's side. 3. "However, I will undertake it. If I win it for you, you shall pay me a thousand pounds. the consequences; I venture with my eyes open." Accordingly, he entered an action against the younger brother, which was to be tried at the next general assizes at Chelmsford, in Essex. If I lose it, I know 4. The lawyer, having engaged in the cause of the young man, and being stimulated by the prospect of a thousand guineas, set his wits to work to contrive the best method to gain his end. At last, he hit upon this happy thought, that he would consult the first judge of his time, Lord Chief Justice Hale. Accordingly, he hastened up to London, and laid open the cause, and all its circumstances. The judge, who was a great lover of justice, heard the case attentively, and promised him all the assistance in his power. 5. The judge then contrived matters so as to finish all his business at the King's Bench before the assizes began at Chelmsford. When within a short distance of the place, he dismissed his man and horses, and sought a single house. He found one occupied by a miller. After some conversation, and making himself quite agreeable, he proposed to the miller to change clothes with him. As the judge had a very good suit on, the man had no reason to object. 6. Accordingly, the judge shifted from top to toe, and put on a complete suit of the miller's best. Thus disguised, he walked to Chelmsford, and procured good lodgings, suitable for the assizes, that should come on next day. When the trials came on, he walked like an ignorant country fellow, backward and forward, along the county hall. He observed narrowly what passed around him; and, when the court began to fill, he found out the poor fellow who was the plaintiff. 66 7. As soon as he came into the hall, the miller drew up to him. 'Friend," said he, "how is your cause like to go to-day?" "Why, my cause is in a very precarious condition, and, if I lose it, I am ruined for life." "Well, honest friend," replied the miller, "will you take my advice? I will let you into a secret, which perhaps you do not know; every Englishman has the right and privilege to except against any one juryman out of the whole twelve; now do you insist upon your privilege, without giving a reason, and, if possible, get me chosen in his place, and I will do you all the service in my power." 8. Accordingly, when the clerk had called over the names of the jurymen, the plaintiff excepted to one of them. The judge on the bench was highly offended at this liberty. 'What do you mean," said he, "by excepting against that gentleman?" "I mean, my lord, to assert my privilege as an Englishman, without giving a reason why." 66 |