yet." "The devil you are!" responded I "it is the first time I knew of
it, for I do not recollect ever seeing your face before." "Oh yes, I
_am_ your servant," replied he, very resolutely; "don't I top about
Massa ----'s, and boil the kettle sometimes for you in the morning?" I
forthwith put my hand in my pocket, and gave him all the halfpence I
had, which I left him carefully counting, and proceeded on my walk; but
before advancing a quarter of a mile, my ears were again assailed with
loud shouts of "Hallo! top, top!" I turned round, and observed my friend
in "the dark suit" beckoning with his hand, and walking very leisurely
toward me. Thinking he was despatched with some message, I halted, but
as he walked on as slowly as if deeming I ought rather to go to him than
he come to me, I forthwith returned to meet him; but on reaching close
enough, what was my astonishment on his holding out the halfpence in his
open hand, and addressing me in a loud, grumbling, demanding tone
with--"Why this is not enough to buy a loaf! you must give me more."
"Then buy _half_ a loaf," said I, wheeling about and resuming my walk,
not without a good many hard epithets in return from my
kettle-boiler.--_Cunningham's Two Years in New South Wales_.

* * * * *


CONFESSION OF THE EXECUTIONER OF CHARLES I.


There have been great disputes about the person who beheaded Charles I.
Mr. Ellis says, "it seems most probable that the person who actually
beheaded the king was the common executioner." And then adds the
following valuable and interesting note, which seems to us to settle the
question.