sadly blackened by the accident; and roaring with pain as the gods were
with laughter. Dinner passed on without any more accidents, and when the
ladies retired, Vulcan and Mars sat down to écarté, at which the former
proved the winner. Apollo drily remarked, (having just finished his daily
journey and joined the gods) that Vulcan had netted Mars's cash as well as
himself. Mars rose in a great rage, when Jupiter recommended him not to be
nettled, which only made him ten times more so. A quarrel was the
consequence; and Jupiter thinking it best to return before bloodshed was
committed, asked Apollo to yoke his team again, and drive them home, which
he readily consented to do: that night seemed unusually light to the
inhabitants of the hemisphere, and many learned heads were puzzled to
discover the cause of the phenomenon, but though many explanations were
given, the real reason remained undiscovered to this day--in which I have
the pleasure of laying it before my readers.

REX.

* * * * *



THE GATHERER.


_Early Rising._--It cannot be denied that early rising is conducive both
to the health of the body and the improvement of the mind. It was an
observation of Swift, that he never knew any man come to greatness and
eminence who lay in bed of a morning. Though this observation of an
individual is not received as an universal maxim, it is certain that some
of the most eminent characters which ever existed, accustomed themselves