"them in their last moments, we are carried "with so bad a bottom, that we are every mo"ment in danger of falling to the ground. Be "pleased therefore, Sir, to order that some "better boards may be put to the cart." Richelieu laughed heartily, and immediately gave orders that the cart should be thoroughly repaired. His patience in solicitation was such as no circumstances, however offensive, could subdue. One day he presented a petition in favour of an unfortunate person, to a nobleman in place, who being of a hasty temper, flew into a violent passion and said many injurious things of the person for whom the priest interested himself. Bernard however, still persisted in his request: and the nobleman was at last so irritated, that he gave him a box on the ear. Bernard immediately fell at his feet, and presenting the other, said, "Give me a blow on this also, my Lord, and

grant me my petition." The nobleman was so affected by this humility, that he granted his request.

TITHE RECKONING.

The Rev. W. L-y, who was rector of Livermore, in Suffolk, received a visit from a farmer, who came to pay some arrears for tithes, and of whom he inquired concerning his family. The

farmer's wife had just given birth to her tenth child, which he told the rector, adding jocosely, "as you have a tenth part of my other produce, "Sir, I suppose I must bring you my tenth "child." "No," replied the good pastor, "I am a "bachelor, and cannot undertake the charge of "an infant; but I can do what will perhaps be "much more agreeable to you." He then returned the farmer the whole of his tithes, amounting to nearly a hundred pounds, towards the support of the child.

LEO X. AND HIS BUFFOON.

Querno, a kind of poetical buffoon, much in favour with Leo X. had been crowned arch-poet by the gay young men of fashion at the court of Rome. The Pope, fond of his burlesque talents, sent him choice dishes from his own table, but expected always some distich in return. Querno like other bon-vivants, was tortured by the gout, and at one of its most powerful moments, he was obliged to write in gratitude for a dainty, and sent the following:

66

Archipoeta facit versus pro mille poetis."

To which the good humoured Leo added,

"Et pro mille aliis archipoeta bibit."

Then Querno, resolving to show himself superior to his sufferings, wrote,

“ Porrige, quod faciat mihi carmina docta, Falernum."

But the Pope as smartly replied,

"Hoc vinum enervat debilitatque pedes."

This sarcastic intercourse may be thus translated:

Querno. For millions of poets, the arch-poet com

Leo.

poses.

By millions of bumpers, bepimpled bis nose is.

Querno. A bowl of Falernian, t'enliven my strain, Leo. You'll loose in your feet, what in measure you gain.

SAINT AMBROSE.

Saint Ambrose seems in most cases to have been above the silly pertinacity which so much characterised the early bishops; and there is yet in common usage, a saying in favour of a due conformity to established customs, which originated from this good ecclesiastic's docile and winning disposition. It was the custom at Milan to regard the Saturdays as festivals; while at Rome, those days were observed as fasts. St.

Augustine, who was anxious to follow that regulation which was regarded as most consistent with the orthodoxy of the times, consulted St. Ambrose, upon this knotty point, and received from him an explanation every way deserving of commemoration: "In matters of form only," said Ambrose, "and where not any fundamental "principle of rectitude be violated, it is proper to "be guided by general usage: when I am here, "I do not fast on Saturdays; but when I am " at Rome, I do as they do at Rome." To the latter part of this judicious observation has been attributed the well-known precept of,

"When you are at Rome,

Do as they do at Rome."

To which has been since added,

"When you are elsewhere,
Do as they do there."

Among other relics preserved at Milan, were "the very gates of the church, which," says a modern traveller, "St. Ambrose shut against Theodosius."

PRIESTLY POWER.

In the reign of the "Bloody Mary," the popish Bishop of London publicly preached the doctrine

that priests were superior to Angels. "The dig "nity of Priests,"said that impious prelate, “by "some means passeth the dignity of Angels, "because there is no power given to any of the "Angels to make the body of Christ, which the "least priest may do on earth, and the highest "Angel in heaven cannot do: wherefore priests "are to be honoured before all Kings of the "Earth, Princes and Nobles. For a Priest is "higher than a King, happier than an Angel, " and maker of his Creator!"

SYMPATHY OF NATURE.

We are told that when St. Helena, of pious memory, had discovered the true Cross of Christ, she permitted various fragments to be taken from it, which were encased, some in gold, and some in gems, and conveyed to Europe, leaving the principal or main part of the wood in the charge of the Bishop of Jerusalem, who exhibited it annually at Easter, until Chosroes, King of Persia, plundered Jerusalem in the reign of the Emperor Phocas, and took away this holy relic.

Before this fatal event we are taught to believe, by Rigordus, an historian of the thirteenth century, that the mouths of Christians used to be supplied with 30, or in some instances, no doubt according to their faith, with 32 teeth;