8 OUR OPENING SUBJECT. 



more than hopeful, of retrospect rather than of prospect, and in 

 the current of mingled thoughts that rushed over it, our lately 

 ruling and uppermost idea (that of our contemplated book) 

 was completely overwhelmed. Of a sudden, however, it was 

 again brought to the surface : a shrill sound broke upon the 

 stillness ; another chorus, within the house, succeeded to the 

 hushed peal without. The Crickets, from the kitchen below, 

 were uplifting their chirping strains to salute, in full concert, 

 the new-come year. We were at no loss, now, for at least 

 one cheerful subject wherewith to commence our Episodes. 

 Bless their merry voices for the opportune suggestion ! Forth- 

 with, we took up, not our pen but our candle, and descended 

 to the lower regions, of which we found our chirpers left in sole 

 possession. The noisy varlets broke off, instanter, in their song, 

 and, each to his hole or cranny, scampered off at our approach ; 

 but we captured a straggler in the very act of draining the 

 milk -pot, and carried him off to our parlour fire-side for the 

 cultivation of a more intimate acquaintance, and with a view to 

 making him as well known to our readers, by sight, as he, 

 or rather his merry fraternity are likely to be already by 

 sound. Finish thy song there, little Master ! and, " with what 

 appetite thou mayest " thy supper too ! said we, as we placed 

 our lean lank-bodied prisoner beneath a tumbler, under which 

 we were so merciful as to insert a few crumbs of bread, one 

 of the Cricket's favourite repasts. Aye, leap as thou wilt, 

 and climb against gravity up the smooth walls of thy crystal 



