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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



her fore-paws, which were carefully elevated 

 to receive her play-fellows. This cat, be it 

 observed, is an excellent mouser,which makes 

 the circumstance we record still more sur- 

 prising. These games go on daily. 



The mother of this fond little cat has just 

 received another addition to her family in 

 the form of some elegant kittens. These we 

 have advised Clifford to keep, and to associate 

 them with squirrels. Running about toge - 

 ther in a house in the country, they would, 

 when at play, cause a family unceasing en • 

 tertainment. As for their tricks and gam- 

 bols, — nobody could attempt to describe 

 them. 



We once had a very pretty little dog who 

 was equally fond of squirrels. Seated on 

 Carlo's back, one of our brush tail friends 

 w r ould fly up and down stairs like wild- fire. 

 Then would the pair lie down exhausted, and 

 cuddle each other on the hearth-rug — awak- 

 ing to another game of romps ! But our pen 

 must stop here, else should we exceed all 

 bounds. The days of one's youth recall so 

 many happy hours ! 



BEAR AND FORBEAR! 



BY HELEN HETHERINGTON. 



By the blessings God has given, 

 By the mercy he bestows, 

 Let us bear with one another, — 

 Soothe, and share each other's woes. 



Check that look of cold derision, 

 Learn to sympathise with grief ; 

 In thy bosom let the lonely, 

 Weary mourner find relief. 



Woman's voice is never sweeter 

 Than when pity fills her breast, — 

 When she breathes kind words and blessings 

 On the heart with grief oppress'd. 



Save the erring, lead them gently 

 From the paths of dark despair ; 

 Let them hear the voice of mercy, 

 And thy kind compassion share. 



Many yet are madly standing 

 On the brink of wretchedness, 

 With no friendly hand to save them, — 

 None to shield them from distress. 



Save, — oh, save them! e'er with anguish 

 In its vortex they are hurl'd ; 

 Shield them with the hand of mercy, 

 From a cruel, heartless world. 



Save the erring, — let the guilty 

 From their misery depart ; 

 Though the frowning world assail them, 

 God will bless the contrite heart. 



Save the erring from destruction, 

 God of Heaven, shelter them ! 

 May we learn by thy compassion 



To FOEBEAR E'ER WE CONDEMN ! 



ZOOLOGICAL POLK LORE,— No. 1. 



The thought has suggested itself to me, 

 my dear Sir, that if you were to publish 

 in our own Journal a collection of the 

 omens, superstitions, &c, connected with 

 Natural History, it would greatly interest 

 your readers. With your concurrence I w r ill 

 commence the series, and continue it re- 

 gularly. There are a vast number of sources 

 from whence I can derive authentic particu- 

 lars ; and as I have myself noted many very 

 curious local peculiarities, the ensemble can- 

 not fail, I imagine, to please the public at 

 large. — J. McIntosh, Mem. Ent. Soc. ; 

 Wern. Club; Arch. Association, &c, Taunton. 



[We hardly need premise, that all super- 

 stitions have their origin in ignorance. Our 

 object is to expose this ignorance, and to 

 prove that all the works of our great Creator 

 show his wisdom as well as goodness. 

 There is nothing in Nature but what is, of its 

 kind, both admirable and beautiful.] 



No. 1. Roasting Mice for Hooping-Cough! — 

 — In Norfolk, we are told, this is a common 

 practice. We believe it is also common in other 

 countries. Mice are often, in country places, 

 roasted alive as a means of expelling others of the 

 race from private houses. This is also done with 

 respect to rats. Can anything be more absurd or 

 cruel ? A roast mouse is also said to be an in- 

 fallible cure for children in a certain state of phy- 

 sical weakness. " Oh ignorance ! where is thy 

 blush?" 



No. 2. The Cat. — In many country places, it 

 is positively asserted, and believed, that this 

 animal will not remain in a house with an un- 

 buried corpse ! And in Wiltshire and in Devon- 

 shire, it is believed that cats born in the month of 

 May will catch no mice or rats ; but will, differing 

 from all other cats, bring into the house snakes 

 and slowworms ! 



No. 3. Swans. — Some people believe that these 

 graceful and beautiful birds are hatched by 

 thunderstorms ! 



No. 4. The Magpie. — In many places, country 

 folk gravely inform you that it is proper to make 

 a low bow when one of these birds is seen. In 

 Scotland, as well as in England and Ireland, it is 

 a vulgar saying that to see four of these birds at 

 one time is a sign of death in the family. Three 

 denote a wedding ; two, mirth ; one, sorrow. For 

 anglers in spring, it is always unlucky to see 

 single magpies ; but to see two is regarded as a 

 favorable omen. This beautiful bird appears to 

 have taken its place amongst the ignorant as an 

 omen of evil, just as the poor owl did amongst the 

 ancients. A nurse is frequently heard to declare 

 that she has lost all hopes of her charge when she 

 has seen aj)iannet on the house top. Old Gerarde, 

 in his queer old Herbal, remarks that magpies are 

 called in some places pie-annies. 



No. 5. Cuckoo. — It is unlucky to hear this 

 delightful harbinger of our spring for the first 

 time in the season upon soft ground. In other 

 places, the superstition is hard ground. If you 

 have money in your pocket, you are sagely advised 

 to be sure to turn it over! 



