THE HOUSEWIFE.. No. XII. TO ESCAPE FROM OR GO INTO CURE FOR CORNS. Take some chalk, bruise it, and make it into a paste with water, and apply it to those troublesome things in the form of a plaster, and it will immediately stop the pain.-Dr.Chalmers on Corns and Wens. CURE FOR THE STING OF A WASP. Take a nob of common blue, such as washerwomen use, wet it in warm water, and apply it as a poultice; it will instantly relieve the pain caused by the sting of either a wasp or a bee. HOW TO CHOOSE LEAN SHEEP The first thing to be thought of, either in a sheep or a bullock, is its age-recollecting that a sheep grows considerably more in its second, a heifer in her third, and a steer in its fourth year, than in any other year of its life; and that a sheep ceases to grow at three, a heifer at five, and an ox at seven years old. The points to choose an ox, a steer, or an heifer by, are, in the first place, the eye-as a full and expressive eye is, in either of these, as in every other animal, the index to all its good qualities. In the second, third, fourth, and fifth places, a good full taste or chog (what is commonly a double chin in the human species) to the tongue, a fine neck, a well-spread bosom, or, as the butchers call it, crop, and a good, free, fullveined shoulder. In the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh places, a fine taper tail, two wellspread hips, a good broad back and chine, round sides, a pair of high-laid, long, and well-proportioned rumps, and full but not coarse-fleshed thighs. In the twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth places, kind in the under points, sleek of coat, thin and loose of hide, fine in the string, and small and short in the legs and shins. So much difference is there in the quality of beasts, that two beasts of the same age and breed shall be bought in together, made equally fat, and to be of an equal weight, and one, by carrying a greater proportion of his weight in his or her prime pieces (viz. rumps, sirloins, &c.) shall fetch more money by from 7 to 10 per cent, Sheep are chosen by precisely the same points as beasts, only it is necessary to examine their eye-veins with greater circumspection, to ascertain if they be free from the rot, which last particular requires some practice to become proficient in. THE MUSES' WILD WREATH. THE SMUGGLER'S CHAUNT. Gives lavisly her beams; Around her orbit streams; If clouds her beauty veil, No fears our souls appal; Beneath the briny wave. For landsmen's life of ease- A desperate part to play; Where kindlier passions burn) yet whole. The great weight of the upper part, and the slender bearing between the third and fourth stones, have excited much admiration, "how such an ill-grounded pile could resist the storms of such an exposed situation for so many ages." On the same hill are several other small groups, all of granite, and one of the stones of the enormous measurement of eleven yards in length, and nine in breadth; the thickness, on a medium, little more than two feet. The hill is of a conical shape; and the diameter of the summit about one hundred yards. Round the top is an immense number of small stones, seemingly ranged by art, and forming a rampart or wall. Within the circle are many large masses of rocks, with excavations on the tops of some of them, called rock basins; these are nearly regular and uniform, and generally two together, with a spout or channel between them. THE CAVE OF KUHLOCH. FROM PROFESSOR BUCKLAND. "The Cave of Kuhlock (in Franconia)," says the Professor, is more remarkable than all the rest, as being the only one I have ever seen, excepting that of Kirkdale, in which the animal remains have escaped disturbance by diluvial action; and the only one also in which I could find the black animal earth, said by other writers to occur so generally, and for which many of them appear to have mistaken the diluvial sediment in which the bones are so universally embedded. The only thing at all like it, that I could find in any of the other caverns, were fragments of highly decayed bone, which occurred in the loose part of the diluvial sediment in the caves of Scharzfeld and Gailenreuth; but in the cave of Kuhloch it is far otherwise. It is literally true that in this single cavern (the size and proportion of which are nearly equal to those of the interior of a large church) there are hundreds of loads of black animal dust entirely covering the whole floor, to a depth which must average at least six feet, and which, if we multiply this depth by the length and breadth of the cavern, will be found to exceed 5000 cubic feet. The whole of this mass has been again and again dug over in search of teeth and bones, which it still contains abundantly, though in broken fragments. The state of these is very different from that of the bones we find in any of the other caverns, being of a black, or more properly speaking, dark umber colour throughout, and many of them readily crumbling under the finger into a soft dark powder, resembling mummy powder, and being of the same nature with the black earth in which they are embedded. The quantity of animal matter accumulated on this floor is the most surprising, and the only thing of the kind I ever witnessed; and many hundred, I may say thousand, individuals must have contributed their remains to make up this appalling mass of the dust of death. It seems in great part to be derived from comminuted and pulverised bone; for the fleshy parts of animal bodies produce by their decomposition so small a quantity of permanent earthy residuum, that we must seek for the origin of this mass principally in decayed bones. The cave is so dry, that the black earth lies in the state of loose powder, and rises in dust under the feet; it also retains so large a proportion of its original, animal matter, that it is occasionally used by the peasants as an enriching manure for the adjacent meadows. The exterior of this cavern presents a lofty arch, in a nearly perpendicular cliff, which forms the left flank of the gorge of the Esbach, opposite the Castle of Rabenstein. The depth of the valley below it is less than 30 feet, whilst above it the hill rises rapidly, and sometimes precipitously, to 150 or 200 feet. This narrow valley or gorge is simply a valley of denudation, by which the waters of the Esbach fall into those of the Weissent. The breadth of the entrance arch is about 30 feet, its height 20 feet. As we advance inwards the cave increases in height and breadth, and near its inner extremity divides into two large and lofty chambers, both of which terminate in a close round end, or cul de sac, at the distance of about 100 feet from the entrance. It is intersected by no fissures, and has no lateral communications connecting it with any other caverns, except one small hole close to its mouth, and which opens also to the valley. These circumstances are important, as they will assist to explain the peculiarly undisturbed state in which the interior of this cavern has remained, amid the diluvian changes that have affected so many others. The inclination of the floor, for about 30 feet nearest the mouth, is very considerable, and but little earth is lodged upon it; but further in, the interior of the cavern is entirely covered with a mass of dark brown or blackish earth, through which are disseminated, in great abundance, the bones and teeth of bears and other animals, and a few small fragments of limestone, which have probably fallen from the roof; but I could find no rolled pebbles. The upper portion of this earth seems to be mixed up with a quantity of calcareous loam, which, before it had been disturbed by digging, probably formed a bed of diluvial sediment over the animal remains; but as we sink deeper, the earth gets blacker, and more free from loam, and seems wholly composed of decayed animal matter. There is no appearance of either stalactite or stalagmite having ever existed within this cavern." The Sun heard the prayer of the Mouse, and mildly replied, Poor little animal, I am but a creature like thyself; a fog, a cloud, spreading themselves before me, have the power to obscure my light, and to deprive the earth of my heat." "The Sun is right," thought the Mouse, "I suffered myself to be dazzled by his splendour: it is the Cloud, that by right, deserves my adoration." "I?" said the Cloud, "thou art egregiously mistaken. I am but a being composed of vapours, that ascend from your earth into the atmosphere. The Wind plays with me, gives me this or that form at pleasure, and the Tempest completely disperses me." "In this case," cried the mouse, "I must acknowledge the Tempest as the mightiest of beings, because it governs the clouds which obscure the sun." "Me?" roared the Tempest, "it is true, that I hold sovereign sway over fogs and clouds; but in vain do I assail this wall, which bids defiance to my power." The Mouse was astounded at this information. "What!" thought he, "is this Wall, that is so near me-this Wall that protects my habitation, so strong and so mighty? Well, then, it shall be in future the object of my adoration." "Ah!" sighed the Wall, "knowest thou not that thou and thy kindred have for upwards of a century been undermining my foundation? Seest thou not that I cannot stand much longer?" Scarcely had it uttered these words, when it fell with a tremendous crash. Filled with astonishment the Mouse crept about among the ruins; and, as he was too short-sighted to discover the connection of all created beings, he was frequently tempted to adore either himself, or nothing at all. Hara Jocose; or, the Doggerel Decamoran; being Ten Facetious Tales in Verse. To which are added, some Miscellaneous Pieces. By Joseph Lunn, Esq. London, 1823. The above verses are by the author of "Family Jars," and "Fish out of Theatre last summer; he is also author Water," performed at the Haymarket of a tragedy; and to prove the versatility of his talents presents to the world these tales, which consist of the Smuggler-Passion and Pennance -The Village Hoax-Change of AirThe Servant of all Work-The Hidden Treasure-The Hen Roost-and the Only Son; these, with the exception of one or two, which are certainly censureable, are well calculated to enliven a merry Christmas-evening. As a sample, we copy of the productions-the CHANGE OF AIR. "Full many a dire exposure spring, we See, from one mere lapsus linguæ."-ANON. Where London's dome exalts its towering head O'er the urn'd ashes of th' illustrious dead: While many a jostled bumpkin, passing under, Lifts his strain'd eyes and opes his mouth with wonder; Where, all around, in rich display we find Provisions for the stomach, limbs, and mind: Where-but, kind reader, I surmise, From these faint hints, you'll recognise, (Or else 'tis cursed hard Upon your Bard) Saint Paul's Church Yard. Well-near this memorable minster, So firmly rooted in her constitution, Which fifty doctors had prescrib'd, But, for the golden lining of her purse, In ratio as her malady grew worse. This (as their bleeding patient still was rich) Ne'er gave the Doctors' consciences a twitch; But was, of course, Of anxious cares To her next heirs; A couple of necessitous and sly First cousins, For, passing thro' a snug church-yard, For nearly half the graves were new. With full-blown eglantine was mantled Upon a board, intelligence afforded Who straight appeared. The cousins, in a sigh-fraught simper, Their pious errand faultering told: Who, seeing thus the guineas daily fly Hoping that your salubrious air, Resolv'd, if possible, to check They sought the suffering invalid, Quit London's smoke and try a CHANGE Depute to us the pleasing duty, Than all the med'cine-monger clan,' The feeble patient gave consent, For many a day beyond the city's bound, Ere they could find an air to please At length, to finish their preambulations, An accident fulfill'd their expectations; For some few years, her life may spare. Don't drop a word Of death, for years, within a mile! "You need not fear-my tongue ne'er No word of death shall'scape my lips." Flew to the coach, Dropt her best court'sey-lent her To be the lady's crutch, and told her air'd; I'm quite convinc'd that, on inspection, |