of such a calamity, on the removal of the fish, a leg of pork, with its usual attendant, peas-pudding, made its appearance on table. What a

disaster! He now broke forth in a kind of frenzy, declaring that such treatment was not to be borne, and that he should in future dine out, since only such things were provided at home to which, it was well known, he had a particular dislike. His wife, as well as myself, looked all astonishment, for he was by no means an ill-tempered man; but the unlucky grain of barley had so deranged his intellectual faculties, as well as his digestive powers, that his stomach, in all probability, would have recoiled at the greatest delicacy that could have been offered him. His anger, however, was soon appeased by the mild apologies of his wife, and the social gaiety of his friend ;-two or three glasses of good wine set all to rights again;-and he cracked his nuts and his bottle in perfect good humour. In the evening he relished some of the cold pork too; nor did he attempt, as many would, under similar circumstances, to disguise his appetite; on the contrary, he confessed he had not made half a dinner, and jocosely added he must make up his loss.

As, in familiar society, one story is generally followed up by another, either similar in its nature or a-propos to some of its leading points; so did the one just related introduce anecdotes of various individuals, touched with the same kind of mania as the worthy gentleman, who, though

the stomachs of those who had, but a few minutes before, declared it to be the greatest dainty on the table. Some people, however, not so remarkable either for their taste or their delicacy, can turn into ridicule what others know to be more than a jest. Such was the temper of some, among the hunting party, where the foregoing story was so seasonably related by their entertainer.

You see the force of imagination, gentlemen, said one of them, by what our friend has just related. For my part, I have met with many in the course of my life, who would have been equally disconcerted at the idea of having eaten any thing against which they conceived an antipathy, though no cause should have arisen to discompose their digestive powers. One gentleman, in particular, with whom I am acquainted, pretends to have so great an aversion against barley, that he can't sup a little mutton broth thickened with that wholesome ingredient, unless it be strained; and then his wife is under the necessity of using some innocent deception before he'll venture to taste it. This same gentleman has also a remarkable antipathy against peas-pudding, although particularly fond of peas-soup. I had the misfortune to be present one day when he happened to find a grain of barley on his plate, which, by some accident, had crept in among the rice that he was eating with a delicious curry, a dish of which he was particularly fond. This discomposed him not a little, I assure you; and, to complete the horrors

of such a calamity, on the removal of the fish, a leg of pork, with its usual attendant, peas-pudding, made its appearance on table. What a

disaster! He now broke forth in a kind of frenzy, declaring that such treatment was not to be borne, and that he should in future dine out, since only such things were provided at home to which, it was well known, he had a particular dislike. His wife, as well as myself, looked all astonishment, for he was by no means an ill-tempered man; but the unlucky grain of barley had so deranged his intellectual faculties, as well as his digestive powers, that his stomach, in all probability, would have recoiled at the greatest delicacy that could have been offered him. His anger, however, was soon appeased by the mild apologies of his wife, and the social gaiety of his friend;-two or three glasses of good wine set all to rights again ;—and he cracked his nuts and his bottle in perfect good humour. In the evening he relished some of the cold pork too; nor did he attempt, as many would, under similar circumstances, to disguise his appetite; on the contrary, he confessed he had not made half a dinner, and jocosely added-he must make up his loss.

As, in familiar society, one story is generally followed up by another, either similar in its nature or a-propos to some of its leading points; so did the one just related introduce anecdotes of various individuals, touched with the same kind of mania as the worthy gentleman, who, though

he laughed at others, was not himself exempt from the general contagion. Good-natured and jocose, however, he soon forgot his wife's inadvertence and his own weakness, and seemed to relate the following anecdote as a kind of palliative to his own infirmity :

"A friend of his," he said, "who had invited a large party of his country neighbours to dine with him, being particularly attentive to his guests, very courteously inquired if any one present had the least objection to cheese, before he suffered it to be brought forward?' Upon which a coxcomical young Squire at table declared, without hesitation, that the bare mention of it almost overpowered his olfactory nerves; much less, then, could he endure the smell of it in the room. 'What a misfortune!' exclaimed the Master of the feast, 'both for the company and yourself, as it reduces us to the necessity of being deprived of your society for a while. John!' continued he, turning to the servant, shew this gentleman into the drawing room before you bring the cheese.' Then addressing himself to the young Squire again,'We'll not detain you long, sir,' said he, only just while my friends and I take a bit of Stilton to relish our ale. I'm truly sorry for your unfortunate antipathy. You'll out-grow it in time;' added he, with a ludicrous glance at his friends, as the young man rose to retire."

Thus we are apt to ridicule and censure in others, the very same foibles and absurdities

which we ourselves indulge in; and often, perhaps, in a greater degree. The narrator of this little anecdote seemed to think it was nothing but affectation in the young man alluded to, and that he was rightly served; although he was, at the same time, inclined to justify himself, for the greater folly of suffering a simple grain of barley to spoil his dinner, and to deter him from partaking of a joint which he liked exceedingly, merely because it was accompanied by something he did not like.

The sportsman, too, while he was laughing at the delicacy of some, and the prejudices of others, forgot that he himself actually turned pale at the sight of a hare when it was brought to table. But more of this anon.