Several sailors of the "equipages" of the fleet of Sebastopol were killed in the attack. They were generally muscular, fine, stout fellows, with rough, soldierly faces.

In the midst of all this stern evidence1 of war, a certain amount of lively conversation began to spring up,2 in which the Russian officers indulged in a little badinage. Some of them asked our officers" when we were coming in to take the place," others "when we thought of going away? "3 Some congratulated us upon the excellent opportunity we had of getting a good look at Sebastopol, as the chance of a nearer view, except on similar occasions, was not in their opinion very probable.5 One officer asked a private, confidentially in English, how many men we sent into the trenches? Begorra, only 7,000 anight, and a wake covering party of 10,000," was the ready reply. The officer laughed, and turned away.

At one time a Russian with a litter stopped by a dead body, and put it into the litter. He looked round for a comrade to help him.10 A Zouave at once advanced with much grace and lifted it, to the infinite amusement of the bystanders ;11 but the joke was not long-lived, as a Russian brusquely came up and helped to carry off his dead comrade. In the town we could see large bodies of soldiery in the streets, assembled at the corners and in the public places. 12 Probably they were ordered out to make a show of their strength.13

General Bosquet and several officers of rank 14 of the

allied army visited the trenches during the armistice, and staff officers were present on both sides to see that the men did not go out of bounds. The armistice was over1 about three o'clock. Scarcely had the white flag disappeared behind the parapet of the Mamelon before a round shot from the sailors' battery,2 went slap through one of the embrasures of the Russian work, and dashed up a great pillar of earth inside. The Russians at once replied, and the noise of cannon soon re-echoed through the ravines.(W. H. RUSSELL, The War.)

POOR RICHARD.4

(Written by Benjamin Franklin.)

I HAVE heard,5 that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. Judge then how much I have been gratified by an incident which I am going to relate to you.

6

I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchants' goods.7 The hour of sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean, old man, with white locks,9" Pray,

1 The armistice ended.'

2 qu'un boulet lancé par la batterie de la marine.

3 passa droit à travers une embrasure russe, et fit jaillir comme une colonne de terre dans l'intérieur de l'ouvrage.

4 This admirable production of Dr. Franklin is known in France under the title of La science du bonhomme Richard.

5 J'ai oui dire. The verb ouïr ('to hear') is old and defective; it is only used now in the infinitive and the compound tenses (as here, in the compound of the present indicative). The English public criers,

and other such functionaries, have retained to the present day, in their antiquated forms of address, the second person plural of its imperative (oyez, 'hear ye,'-which they wrongly pronounce 'Oh, yes!'), borrowed from the NormanFrench, and by which they generally begin their announcements, &c.

6 at a place where.'

7 Simply, pour une vente à l'enchère.

8 de la dureté.

9 s'adressant à un bon vieillard en cheveux blancs et assez bien mis, lui dit.

father Abraham, what think ye of the times?1 Won't these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to ?" Father Abraham stood up, and replied,—" If you'd have my advice, I'll give it to you in short;2 for 'a word to the wise is enough ;3 and many words won't fill a bushel,' as poor Richard says."5 They joined in desiring him to speak his mind ; and, gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:

"Friends (says he) and neighbours, the taxes are indeed very heavy; and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much9 by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing an abatement.10 However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that help themselves,'11 as poor Richard says in his Almanac. "It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one-tenth part 12 of their time, to be employed in its service; but idleness taxes many of us much more. Sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears,

13

1 de ce temps-ci.

2 en peu de mots; or, en raccourci.

3 Le sage entend à demi-mot.' This form of the Proverb is little used; the following are the current sayings: A bon entendeur, demi-mot (or, salut, or, again, peu de paroles).'

et souvent on emploie 'bien des mots pour ne pas dire grand chose' (PROVERBIAL); or, et quant aux vains mots (or, aux paroles en l'air), 'autant en emporte le vent' (PROVERBIAL).

5 See page 3, note 3.- poor Richard,' le bonhomme Richard (see preceding page, note 4).

s'expliquer; or, dire sa façon

Richard says.

while the key often used is always bright,' as poor But dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of,'2 as How much more than is necessary do poor Richard says. we spend in sleep! forgetting, that the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave, as poor Richard says. If time be of all

5

8

things the most precious, 'wasting time must be (as poor Richard says) the greatest prodigality;' since, as he elsewhere tells us, 'Lost time is never found again;6 and what we call time enough, always proves little enough.'? Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose: so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy,' as poor Richard says; and, he that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night;9 while laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him,'10 as we read in poor Richard; who adds, 'Drive thy business, let not that drive thee;' and, early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.'

6

'11

"So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We make these times better if we bestir ourselves. 'Industry needs not wish,'12 as poor Richard says; and,' He that lives upon hope will die fasting.'13 There are no gains without pains; 14 then help hands, for I have no 15

1 use plus que le travail; la clé est claire tant que l'on s'en sert. 2 See page 1, note 12.

1)

3 Renard (page 171, note qui dort la matinée n'a pas la gueule emplumée' (PROVERB).

4 nous aurons le temps de dormir dans la bière.

5 des biens; and invert this phrase, thus, 'the most precious of,' &c.

6Le temps perdu ne se répare (or, recouvre) point' (PROVERB). 7 Simply, time enough is always too short.'

Debout donc et à la besogne, -à la besogne, dans un but utile. 9 et attrape à peine le bout de son ouvrage à la nuit.-' while;'

1

,

6

If we are

lands; or if I have, they are smartly taxed;'2 and (as poor Richard likewise observes) He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honour ;'4 but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or5 neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. industrious, we shall never starve; for, as poor 6 Richard says, At the working-man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.'7 Nor will the bailiff or the constable 8 enter; for, 'Industry pays debts, but despair 9 increaseth them,' says poor Richard. What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy? 10 'Diligence is the mother of good luck,' as poor Richard says; and God gives all things to industry; then plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you will have corn to sell and to keep,' says poor Dick. Work while it is called 11 to-day; for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow; which makes poor Richard say, One to-day is worth two to-morrows;' 12 and, farther, 'Never leave that till to-morrow, which you can do to-day." 13 If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? 14 Are you then 15 own master, be ashamed 16 to catch yourself idle,' as poor arrive un riche héritage.

1 Supply the ellipsis. 2 écrasées d'impôts.

3 un métier est (or, vaut) un fonds de terre. The nearest French Proverb to this, is, "Il n'y a point de si petit métier qui ne nourrisse son maître."

"Travaillez, prenez de la peine: C'est le fonds qui manque le moins."-LA FONTAINE, p. 77. 4 which combines (réunit) honwith (et) profit.'-' office,'

our

emploi.

sans quoi, or, autrement. 6 laborieux.

7 La faim regarde à la porte du travailleur; mais elle n'ose pas y entrer.

8 commissaire.

9 découragement.

10 Il n'est que faire que vous trouviez un trésor ni qu'il vous

6

11 pendant que c'est.

your

12 Un bon aujourd'hui vaut mieux que deux demain' (PROVERB). Notice that demain, being an adverb, and therefore an essentially invariable word, cannot agree, even when used substantively, as it is here. 13 Ne remets jamais demain (or, au lendemain) ce que tu peux faire aujourd'hui (or, le jour même) -Common precept.

14 Turn, If you were in the (au) service of a good master, would

you...:, &c. that he should,' &c.; qu'il vous surprit les bras croisés (figurative, and much used, for à ne rien faire, doing nothing,' 'idle').

15 But you are.'

16 Use a synonymous expression