When they arrived under the rocks, Reynard eagerly scratched away the leaves; but, lo! his dinner had disappeared. He looked at his companion, and plainly saw by his countenance that he more than doubted whether any goose was ever there at all. Appearances were certainly very much against the host. His tail slunk between his legs, and he held his head down, looking sideways, with a timid glance, at his disappointed companion. Indignant at what he supposed to be an attempt to get up a character for generosity on false pretenses, the offended guest seized his unlucky associate and cuffed him most unmercifully. Poor Reynard bore the infliction with the utmost patience and sneaked off, as if aware that he received no more than might naturally be expected under the peculiar circumstances.
PARLOR MAGIC.
HOW TO MAKE A QUARTER PASS INTO A BALL OF WORSTED.
Procure a ball of worsted, and also a piece of tin about three inches long and about an inch and a quarter broad, and turn up one-eighth of an inch of it on each side at an angle inward, and roll the worsted round this piece of tin until you make a ball, taking care to leave that part of the ball where one end of the tin slide is open so as to enable you to drop the quarter into it.
The ball of worsted is now placed on the table, and having borrowed a quarter, which you get the owner to mark, you turn to the table, and take up the worsted ball, dropping the marked quarter quickly down the slide or tube, which you then secretly withdraw from the ball. Now turn to the audience, and show them the ball of worsted (the hole where the tube was taken from will not be visible), and hold up a quarter (another one) which you have had secreted in your right hand until now, or which you can have fastened to an elastic attached to the inside of your sleeve, and inform them you will pass the coin into the ball.
Now get one of the company to cover the ball of worsted with a tumbler; hold up the quarter, and say, "Presto, go, fly!" then pretend to throw the quarter to the ball. Give one end of the worsted to the company to unwind, when the marked quarter will be found in the centre of the ball.
THE THERMOMETER AT 100°—ENJOYING FREE(ZE) SEATS.