er, he dropped unexpectedly from some height on my
knees, as if for refuge, and as he had thus confided in me, I could not
deliver him up to punishment.

The only way in which I could control his tricks was by showing him to
the panther on board, which excited his fears very strongly. I used to
hold him up by his tail, and the instant he saw the panther he would
become perfectly stiff, shut his eyes, and pretend to be dead. When I
moved away, he would relax his limbs, and open one eye very cautiously;
but if he caught a glimpse of the panther's cage, the eyes were quickly
closed, and he resumed the rigidity of death. After four months' sojourn
together, I quitted Jack off the Scilly Islands, and understood that I
was very much regretted: he unceasingly watched for me in the morning,
and searched for me in every direction, even venturing into the cabin;
nor was he reconciled to my departure when my servants left the vessel
at Gravesend.--_Mag. Natural History._

* * * * *

NOTES OF A READER.

* * * * *

COMPANION TO THE THEATRES.

It must be owned that such a _little book_ as this has long been
wanted; for of all writing, that relating to the stage is the most
diffuse. It is scattered about in biography, criticism and anecdote, not
unfrequently of great interest, but occupying so much "valuable" time,
that to condense it, or to pick the wheat from the chaff, is no trifling
task. So much for the amusement which our "Companion" may yield to the
Londoner: his utility as a cicerone or guide will be more obvious to our
country friends, who flock in thousands to see and hear comedy and
tragedy at this play-going season. A young girl comes to town to see
"the lions," and, with her "cousin," goes to the opera, where _one
guinea_ is paid for their admission, or even more if they be
_installed_. Two Londoners would buy their tickets during the day,
and thus pay but 17_s_. Another party are dying to hear Braham
sing, or Paton warble her nightingale notes among the canvass groves and
hollyhock gardens of Drury Lane and Covent Garden; or to sup on the
frowning woes of tragedy, the intrigues of an interlude dished up as an
_entremet_, or a melodrama for a ragout; or the wit and waggery of
a farce, sweet and soft-flowing like a _petit-verre_, to finish the
repast. They go, and between the acts try to count the wax and gas, the
feet, and foot lights till they a