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poker, he was under the necessity of re- turning to his study for a cane, and leaving Jock in the charge of the maid. It is more than probable that the poor lass's feel- ings had by this time begun to relent' and that she allowed Jock the means of escap- ing; be this as it may, when the minister returned the girl told him Jock had broken by her in spite of every exertion she could make to oppose his exit. Jock, though be had escaped the punishment, bore the mi- nister a grudge for his intention, and as soon as he had reached the village, he re- lated the whole affair to his unthinking as- sociates, in a tone and manner, we may be sure, that did no great credit to the worthy clergyman. When Haxton had arrived at manhood, he went about the country in the character of a packman—-a way of life which, with, many in these days as in our own' was little better than an apology for idleness, No nan, perhaps, was ever better qualified than Haxton for exhibiting his wares to advantage, and relaxing the resolutions of a rigid economist by his ridicule or wit. He was, besides' welcome to pot luck as often as he chose to share it in all the ex- tensive district he was accostumed to tra- verse. His powers of conversation were