Amusing and Instructive.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 360, 22 March 1866, Page 1

Amusing and Instructive.

The Fenians. —These people, of whom we recently heard so much, if we believe the early historians so far as to allow them an historical existence, were a body of Irish militia, forming a kind of standing army, which was employed to defend the coast of Ireland from the invasion of foreign foes. They were billited upon the inhabitants daring winter, and obliged to maintain themselves by hunting and fishing during summer. Each of the four provinces had its ovin band of warriors or champions, but Leinster was the most fortunate province in .incorporating distinguished names in the list of its Fenians. Fingal himself was one of the most illustrious band, which included also the ever memorable Ossian, When St. Patrick came to Ireland Ossian narrated to the Apostle of Ireland the exploits of the valiant Fenians. The record of their conversation which is still extant, is called the “ Dialogue of the Sages,” but it seems the saint and the bard, sago as they both were, were sometimes on ths point of quarrelling. Our reader, may remember the version of an ancient Ossianic poem which, according to Sir Walter Scott. Hector M'lntyro gave to his uncle the Antiquary. St. Patrick there complains that his devotional medications and psalms are disturbed by the old women’s tales of Ossian; and Ossian, annoyed at the implied comparison of psalms to the tales of the bare armed Fenians, declares, in no measured terms, that he should think it no great harm to wring the saints bald head from his shoulders.—Once a Week. _ Ike Paetingion’s “ Composition.”— lke Partington is well advanced in his class. The other day he astonished the master and every one by an elaborate article on the horse. He was called upon to road it aloud to the scholars, and getting upon the platform he made a bow and began : The horse is a quadruped, with four legs—two behind and two before. He has a tail that grows to the hind part of his body, that nature has furnished him with, with which to drive the flies away. His head is situated on the other end opposite his tail, and is used principally to fasten a bridle to drive him by, and to put into a basket to eat bis oats with. Horses are generally covered with red hair, though some are white and others are grey and black. Kobody ever saw a blue horse, which is considered very strange by eminent naturalists. The horse is quite an intelligent animal, and can sleep standing up, which is a very convenient gift, especially when there is a crowd, and it is difficult to get a chance to lay. There is a great variety of horses—fast horses and slow horses—clotheshorses, horse-mackerel, saw horses, and horseflies, horse-chesnuts, and horse-radish. The clotheshorse is a very quiet animal to have around a house and is never known to tick, though very apt to make a row when it gets capsized. The same may be said of the saxv-horse, which will stand without tying. Horse-flies is a very vicious beast, and very annoying in the summer when a fellow is in swimming. Horse-mackerel I don’t know anything about, only that they swim in water, and are a species offish. Horse-chesnuts is prime to pelt Mickies, and horse-radish is a mighty smart horse, but bad to have standing around where there’s children. The horse is found in all countries, principally in livery stables, where they may bo hired by the mile, and are considered by them as can get money a great luxury, especially in the sleighing season. In South America thev grow .wild, and the Indians catch them with nooses that they throw over the horses’ heads, which must be thought by the horses a great noosauce. Ike stepped down from the platform, with a great consciousness on his face that he bad done » great work. When does a lady resemble a nut ? When she lias filbert nails, hazel eyes, chesnut hair, and a colonel (kernel) for a husband. The Best Man to See Faib ax a Match.— A eee-fareiiig man. Dasgebocs CommesciaXi Exeecise. - A run upon a bank. Betehse of Fobthne.—The young woman who was,driven to distraction ” now fears that she will have to walk back. Which is Wasted ?—Many persons complain that they cannot find words tor their thoughts, when the real trouble is that they cannot °find thoughts for their word*; w ■ _rr