l it simply a confinement, and suppose it is
some tyrant of a distemper, and not a man which holds you in it, the
evil vanishes, and you bear the other half without complaint. I was
interrupted in the heyday of this soliloquy, with a voice which I took
to be of a child, which complained "It could not get out." I looked up
and down the passage, and seeing neither man, woman, or child, I went
out without further attention. In my return back through the passage, I
heard the same words repeated twice over; and looking up, I saw it was a
starling, hung in a little cage; "I can't get out, I can't get out,"
said the starling. I stood looking at the bird; and to every person who
came through the passage, it ran fluttering to the side towards which
they approached it with the same lamentation of its captivity. "I can't
get out," said the starling. "Then I will let you out," said I, "cost
what it will;" so I turned about the cage to get at the door--it was
twisted and double twisted so fast with wire there was no getting it
open without pulling the cage to pieces; I took both hands to it. The
bird flew to the place where I was attempting his deliverance, and
thrusting his head through the trellis, pressed his breast against it,
as if impatient. "I fear, poor creature," said I, "I cannot set thee at
liberty." "No," said the starling; "I can't get out, I can't get out,"
said the starling.

[Illustration: STARLING.]

I vow, I never had my affections more tenderly awakened; nor do I
remember an incident in my life, where the dissipated spirits to which
my reason had been a bubble were so suddenly called home. Mechanical as
the notes were, yet so true in tune to nature were they chaunted, that
in one moment they overthrew all my systematic reasonings upon the
Bastile, and I heavily walked up-stairs unsaying every word I had said
in going down them.

STERNE.

* * * * *

THE CAR OF JUGGERNAUT.

[Illustration: Letter J.]

Juggernaut is the principal idol worshipped by the Hindoos, and to his
temple, which is at Pooree, are attached no less than four thousand
priests and servants; of these one set are called Pundahs. In the autumn
of the year they start on a journey through India, preaching in every
town and village the advantages of a pilgrimage to Juggernaut, after
which they conduct to Pooree large bodies of pilgrims for the Rath
Justra, or Car Festival, which takes place in May or June.