fortunate, raved and swore he had lost his last
shilling. 'No, no!' said H--e,' you have not: I saw a HAY-RICK in your
ground. It is of no use now that the horse and cow are gone--what is
that worth?' L15, replied the attorney, with a sigh. 'I set L15 then,'
said H--e.

This seemed to be 'rather too much' for the lawyer. The loss of
the hay-rick--like the last straw laid on the overladen camel's
back--staggered him. Besides, he thought he saw--as doubtless he did
see--H--e twisting his fingers round one of the dice. Up he started at
once, and declared that he was cheated!

Thereupon the sick man forgot his sickness, jumped out of bed, and gave
the lawyer a regular drubbing, got the cheque for the L2000,--but the
horse, cow, and hay he said he would leave 'until further orders.'

A VERY CURIOUS STORY.

An Archbishop of Canterbury was once on a tour, when a genteel man,
apparently in earnest conversation, though alone in a wood, attracted
his notice. His Grace made up to him, and, after a little previous
conversation, asked him what he was about.

Stranger. 'I am at play.'
Archbishop. 'At play? With whom? I see nobody.'
Sir. 'I own, sir, my antagonist is not visible: I am playing
with God.'
Abp. 'At what game, pray, sir?'
Str. 'At Chess.'
Abp. 'Do you play for anything?'
Str. 'Certainly.'
Abp. 'You cannot have any chance, as your adversary must be so
superior to you.'
Str. 'He takes no advantage, but plays merely as a man.'
Abp. 'When you win or lose, how do you settle accounts?'
Str. 'Very exactly and punctually.'
Abp. 'Indeed! Pray, how stands your game now?'
Str. 'There! I have just lost!'
Abp. 'How much have you lost?'
Str. 'Fifty guineas.'
Abp. 'How do you manage to pay it? Does God take your money?'
Str. 'No! The poor are his treasurers. He always sends some
worthy person to receive it, and you are at present his
purse-bearer.'

Saying this, the stranger put fifty guineas into his Grace's hand, and
retired, adding--'I shall play no more to-day.'

The prelate was delighted; though he could not tell what to make of this
extraordinary man. The guineas were all good; and the archbishop applied
them to the use of the poor, as he had been directed.

The archbishop, on his return, stopped at the same town, and could
not help going in search of the chess-player, whom he found engaged as
before, when the following dialogue ensued:--