es, the fate of the city depended ...on the possession of this only great rising of the lower classes

Jack Cade's rebellion in 1540, . saved as often as the ringleaders he bridge, or were driven from it.

L

Humphrey of Gloucester lay Is followers on the north, and the on the south side of the river, when cie and nephew were on the very eve Isonal and political differences in a ve the water of the Thames. Such ese were, however, happily of tolerably and for many years, nay even for centhe gates of the bridge were not closed

it was only at night that, in accordance iations, it was required that the drawDe drawn up, and the portcullis let down. munication between Middlesex and Surrey means of ferry boats, which plied from and were, from a very early period, ial class of boatmen.-Dr. Pauli's Pictures

ON LXII.- -COWPER'S
'S TAME HARES.

en of a neighbour of mine had a leveret
for a plaything; it was at that time about
is old. Understanding better how to tease
reature than to feed it, and soon becoming
heir charge, they readily consented that their
ould offer it to my acceptance. It
nong the neighbours that I was ple
ent, and the consequence was that

LESSON LXI.-OLD LONDON BRIDGE.

London Bridge, which continued until the last century to be the only bridge of the city, was a very remarkable structure even in the middle ages, and it retained a character of great singularity up to recent times. After the Saxons, and the Romans probably still earlier, had possessed a wooden bridge at this spot, Henry II. began, in the year 1176, to construct a stone bridge, which, however, was not completed till the year 1209, under his son John. Injuries from fire and water, and inexperience in erecting so difficult a structure, must have made many alterations and restorations necessary, until at length the edifice was permanently completed, and raised upon twenty strong but irregular arches, made of solid freestone masonry, having a large drawbridge in the middle. The powerful stream now flowed backwards and forwards through these arches, while over the bridge itself there arose, in the course of time, a regular street, solid enough to support on both sides high and stately houses, and affording even sufficient room for a tourna ment, which was held upon its pavement in the year 1395. Almost in the centre stood a Gothic chapel, dedicated to St. Thomas, at which a priest regularly performed mass. Two solid fortified gateways, having battlements and a portcullis, closed the entrances at the northern and southern ends. It continued to be a custom for ages to adorn the battlements of these gates with the heads of traitors, stuck upon spikes; and from thence the heads of Llewellyn the last of the Welsh princes, the brave Wallace, the bold favourite Hugo Despencer, and many other heroes and ruffians, looked down upon the gay and busy crowd that passed

below. In unquiet times, the fate of the city depended in great measure upon the possession of this only bridge; while, in the great rising of the lower classes in the year 1381, and in Jack Cade's rebellion in 1540, London was lost and saved as often as the ringleaders became masters of the bridge, or were driven from it. In the year 1425, Duke Humphrey of Gloucester lay under arms with his followers on the north, and the Bishop of Winchester on the south side of the river, when it seemed as if the uncle and nephew were on the very eve of settling their personal and political differences in a bloody contest above the water of the Thames. Such occurrences as these were, however, happily of tolerably rare occurrence; and for many years, nay even for centuries together, the gates of the bridge were not closed against any foe. It was only at night that, in accordance with the regulations, it was required that the drawbridge should be drawn up, and the portcullis let down. All further communication between Middlesex and Surrey was effected by means of ferry boats, which plied from definite points, and were, from a very early period, worked by a special class of boatmen.-Dr. Pauli's Pictures of Old England.

LESSON LXII.-COWPER'S TAME HARES.

The children of a neighbour of mine had a leveret given them for a plaything; it was at that time about three months old. Understanding better how to tease the poor creature than to feed it, and soon becoming weary of their charge, they readily consented that their father should offer it to my acceptance. It was soon known among the neighbours that I was pleased with the present, and the consequence was that in a short

time I had as many leverets offered to me as would have stocked a paddock. I undertook the care of three, which it is necessary that I should here distinguish by the names I gave them-Puss, Tiney, and Bess. Notwithstanding the two feminine appellatives, they were all males. Immediately commencing carpenter, I built them houses to sleep in; each had a separate apartment so contrived that an earthen pan, placed under, received whatsoever fell, which being duly emptied and washed, they were thus kept perfectly sweet and clean. In the daytime they had the range of a hall, and at night retired each to his own bed, never intruding into that of another.

Puss grew presently familiar, would leap into my lap, raise himself upon his hinder feet, and bite the hair from my temples. He would suffer me to take him up, and to carry him about in my arms, and has more than once fallen fast asleep upon my knee. He was ill three days, during which time I nursed him, kept him apart from his fellows, that they might not molest him (for like many other wild animals they persecute one of their own species that is sick), and by constant care, and trying him with a variety of herbs, restored him to perfect health. No creature could be more grateful than my patient after his recovery; a sentiment which he most significantly expressed by licking my hand, first the back of it, then the palm, then every finger separately, then between all the fingers, as if anxious to leave no part of it unsaluted-a ceremony which he never performed but once again upon a similar occasion. Finding him extremely tractable, I made it my custom to carry him always after breakfast into the garden, where he hid himself generally under the leaves of the

cucumber vine, sleeping or chewing the cud till evening; in the leaves also of that vine he found a favourite repast. I had not long habituated him to this taste of liberty, before he began to be impatient for the return of the time when he might enjoy it. He would invite me to the garden by drumming upon my knee, and by a look of such expression, as it was not possible to misinterpret. If this rhetoric did not immediately succeed, he would take the skirt of my coat between his teeth, and pull it with all his force, Thus Puss might be said to be perfectly tamed, the shyness of his nature was done away, and on the whole it was visible, by many symptoms which I have not room to enumerate, that he was happier in human society than when shut up with his natural companions.

Not so Tiney; upon him the kindest treatment had not the slightest effect. He, too, was sick, and in his sickness had an equal share of my attention; but if, after his recovery, I took the liberty to stroke him, he would grunt, strike with his fore feet, spring forward and bite. He was, however, very entertaining in his way; even his surliness was matter of mirth; and in his play he preserved such an air of gravity; and performed his feats with such solemnity of manner, that in him, too, I had an agreeable companion.

Bess, who died soon after he was full grown, and whose death was occasioned by his being turned into his box, which had been washed, while it was yet damp, was a hare of great humour and drollery. Puss was tamed by gentle usage; Tiney was not to be tamed at all; and Bess had a courage and confidence that made him tame from the beginning. I always admitted them into the parlour after supper, when the carpet affording their feet a firm