does
not go mad, there is no fencing-scene, and Hamlet, after declaiming
through innumerable pages in the set style of French classic tragedy,
solemnly stabs Claudius, and then declares that as he is a king he must
consent to live for the good of his people.

L. H. H.

ANECDOTES OF PUBLIC WORTHIES.

GEORGE WASHINGTON. One day, in a fit of abstraction the juvenile George
cut down Bushrod's favorite cherry tree with a hatchet. His purpose was
to cut--and run.

But the old gentleman came sailing round the corner of the barn just as
the future Father of his Country had started on the retreat.

"Look here, sonny," thundered the stern old Virginian, "who cut that
tree down?"

George reflected a moment. There wasn't another boy or another hatchet
within fifteen miles. Besides, it occurred to him that to be virtuous is
to be happy. Just as Washington senior turned to go in and get his
horsewhip, our little hero burst into tears, and, nestling among his
father's coat-tails, exclaimed, "Father, I cannot tell a lie. It must
have been a frost."

"My son, my son," stammered the fond parent as he made a pass for his
off-spring, "when you get to be first in war and first in peace, just
cover your back-pay into the Treasury, and the newspaper press will
respect you!"

ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Early in the war a party of distinguished gentlemen
from New England called on Mr. Lincoln to urge the appointment of a
certain Mr. Brown to the post of quarter-master. The President, who was
amusing himself by splitting portions of the staircase of the White
House into rails, received them cordially. They stated their errand in
an earnest but respectful tone, and calmly awaited his answer. Mr.
Lincoln, drawing himself up to his full height and clapping the
spokesman of the party on the shoulder, began to tell a story about a
dog-fight he once saw in Kentucky.

By and by it had gradually grown dark: several hours had passed away,
and neither dog appeared to get killed or to gain any advantage over the
other. One by one the party had dropped out, till the leader (who did
not wish to disturb Mr. Lincoln's hold on his shoulder) was left alone,
trying to conceal a yawn and to look interested. Suddenly, Mr. Lincoln,
with that peculiar smile on his countenance which Mr. Carpenter can talk
about, but can't paint, remarked, "By the way, my friend, I'm sorry for
Brown, but I gave that appointment to the other man yesterday."

DANIEL WEBSTER. The f