and instantly began a general grope for that inestimable article of furniture. He had not proceeded very far in his feeling search, before he had the dire misfortune to fall over a table, which produced such a loud clatter, that Pivett was instantaneously awoke from his slumbers, and was not very well pleased at this mark of his guest's behaviour, and forthwith hallooed, in no small voice, to know what was the cause of such a great disturbance. The forlorn soldier begged his pardon for awaking him from his sleep, and said that he was only searching for his bed. Bed," re torted Pivett, "what the devil do you think I do with beds? Prick for the softest board and be d-d; it has been my mode for more years than you are old, and I don't see but I am better off than you at last."The soldier, as may well be imagined, was astonished at this declaration, and stood like a statue, in the dark, not being exactly resolved upon the next step to take; but, at length perceiving no likelihood of remedy, he was fain to lie down upon the naked boards; and, at the expence of aching limbs, pass the night in that situation. Such was the comfortless manner in which Pivett passed so many nights, although to him it was a peculiar agreeable custom, as he had often been heard to declare, that if mankind were acquainted wich the luxury of his sleep, they would very soon accustom themselves to his mode of taking repose; and, in a very short time, the superfluous, and expensive article of furniture, called a bed, would no longer be in existence. One of Pivett's odd customs was to wander in the cathedral church of the city, for an hour or two every evening, before the doors were closed; and he was always the last person in the building, save the worshipful presence of the door-keeper. This was a custom he scarcely ever neglected to perform. One summer's evening, having been engaged in this (what he conceived to be) an important duty, and having lingered too long in an obscure part of the edifice, probably engaged in a profound reverie, the doors were locked upon him, and he was left to pass the night alone in that building. After a considerable lapse of time, his ordinary faculties returned, and he conceived it high time to return home, and accordingly proceeded to the great door of the cathedral for that purpose; when lo, the gates were made fast. Well knowing that it would be in vain to expect a deliverance, he did not fall into the common errors of mortal men, and bewail his unhappy fate in all the horrors of affright, but with the utmost composure folding his cloak close around him, very quietly extended himself at length upon a long bench (that stands just within the portal for the accommodation of the door keepers), and soon fell into profound slumbers. Pivett slept through the whole of the night as soundly as 'ever he had done in his life, and awoke in the morning about an hour before the doors were to be opened, that' is about five o'clock. Pivett placed himself close to the front door, ready to rush out immediately' upon its opening, and in that situation waited with the utmost solicitude for the footsteps of the doorkeeper, as he wished to be at home in order to pursue some necessary avocation. It happened upon that morning to be the duty of the sexton to prepare a grave in one of the vaults, somewhat earlier than the doors were usually opened; and in order that he might not be delayed by the doorkeeper, he had obtained the keys of the church overnight, so that he might commence his work at what hour he pleased in the morning. At length the anxious ears of Pivett were gratified by the sound of this man's footsteps. The key was applied to the lock, and the door was opened. In the twinkling of an eye, out shot Pivett under the poor sexton's arm, and made the best of his way home. - The astounded sexton not perceiving the form of Pivett, upon account of his wonderful expedition, but feeling some animal rush past him from the church, verily believed it to be the devil in person, or some other notable personage of the terrific genera, and accordingly the keys fell from his hand. His eyes goggled from their spheres. His hair made desperate efforts to fortify his head with spines.-His teeth chattered.— His mouth horridly distended, and finally, he took to his heels, and proceeded through the principal streets with such an incredible dispatch, that he astonished all beholders, who naturally enough concluded the poor wretch was running for his life, or otherwise disordered in his intellects. he knew not when to stop, but, like some flaming meteor, that is impelled by an unknown cause through the heavens, with increasing velocity, he appeared to be urged on his progress with increasing rapidity, until having reached the suburbs of the city, he encountered an old woman riding upon an ass to market, with her various commodities: this picturesque equipage he assailed with his breast, and, consequently, totally upset the brute with its whole cargo, to the unspeakable discomfiture of the old lady, who had ventured her chagrined personage upon so precarious a foundation; but whether from ill-luck or sympathy, I know not which, the poor sexton was precipitated on to the antique damsel, as she lay wallowing amongst her demolished eggssquashed butter-cackling hens-hissing geesequacking ducks, &c. &c. My reader will not be surprised to be told that this novel spectacle embodied a considerable mob, who were at some loss to account for such a strange exhibition; the injured parties, were however after some difficulty pacified, and each pursued his own way, The shock occasioned by this violent stoppage in the career of the afflicted sexton, had so far an |