pocket to take out his money to deliver it to them, a third soldier, who had secreted himself, came behind Mr. Reynolds, and, with a bludgeon, gave him a violent blow on the back and right shoulder; and endeavouring to strike a second time, the villain missed his aim, and the bludgeon fell on the back part of Mr. Reynolds's horse; on which the horse jumped forward, and bit one of the soldiers before him on the shoulder; then another soldier making a pass (with a drawn sword) on Mr. Reynolds, his horse feeling something behind him, kicked so sudden and violent against the soldier, that he fell down on his back; and before the third soldier, who was behind.could come up to repeat his blow, the horse sprung forward, and never stopped galloping, till he brought Mr. Reynolds safe home to his house at Plymouth. The stolen Horse recollects his old Master's House. IN May last, Mr. Goring, of Staines, lost a valuable horse, for which he made the most diligent inquiry, but without effect. Last week, however, a gentleman driving through Staines in a gig, the horse made a sudden stop at Mr. Goring's house, from which nothing could induce him to move. The circumstance attracting a number of persons, and among the rest Mr. Goring, who recognized his horse; and, on reference to the person of whom the gentleman had purchased it, the animal was at length traced to the fellow who stole it, and who has since been committed for trial. Bell's Weekly Messenger, The Hunter and Monkey Sportsman. A SINGULAR and diverting occurrence took place near Taunton in Somersetshire. Some time ago, a favourite old hunter, belonging to Joseph Parsley, Esq. being locked in the stable, on hearing the noise of a French horn, and cry of the hounds, began to be very restive: the ostler going into the stable, judged that the spirited animal wanted some sport; he instantly saddled him, to which he affixed a large monkey, and turned him loose, who, following the sound, joined the pack, and was one of the first in at the death of poor reynard; but the amazement of the sporting gentlemen was greatly heightened, by observing the monkey holding the reins with all the dexterity of a true sports man. Bell's Weekly Messenger, The sagacious Mule. A CERTAIN mule that was wont to carry salt, in fording a river, by accident happened to stumble; by which means the water melting away the salt, when the mule rose again, he felt himself much lighter; the cause of which the mule was very sensible of, and laid it up in his memory, insomuch, that every time he forded the same river, he would always stoop when he came into the deepest part, and fills his vessels with water, crouching down, and leaning sometimes to one side, and sometimes to another. Thales hearing this, ordered the vessels to be well filled with wool and sponge, and to drive the mule laden after that manner. The mule, as he was wont, filled his burthens with water, and on discovering the trick which had been played him, reasoned with himself, that he had ill consulted his own benefit; and ever afterwards, when he forded the same river, was so careful and cautious, that by his good will he would never suffer his burthens so much as to touch the water. The industrious Mule. WHEN Pericles built the temple Hecatonpedon, in the Acropolis or Tower of Athens, it so fell out, that the stones were to be fetched every day many furlongs off, and a world of carriages were made use of for that purpose. Among the rest of the mules that laboured hard in this employment, there was one that, though dismissed by reason of age, would still go down to the Keramicon, and meeting the carts that brought the stones, would be always in their company, running by their sides, as it were by way of encouragement, and to excite them to work cheerfully. |