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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 118, 30 June 1853, Page 4

A Shark Story.—An extraordinary slory is told by Capt. Wallace, of a lover and his mistress who were saved in a miraeulous manner from the jaws of a shark: —A transport, with part of a regiment on board, was sailing with a gentle breeze along the of Spain. One of the officers was leaning over the poop railing, conversing with a young lady who had inspired him wilh (he tender passion. The fair one was in the act df handing a paper to her lover, when, overreaching herself, she fell into the sea, and, supported by her clothes, drifled astern. The officer lost no lime in jumping in after her, and upheld her by one arm. Tliesails were quickly backed, the ship lay 10, and preparations were made lo lower (he boat when, to the dismay of all onboard, a large shark appeared under (he keel of tin: vessel, gliding towards its victims. A slioui of terror from the agonised spectators called the attention of the officer lo the approaching danger, He saw the monster, at length, near him. He made a desperate effort; plunged and plashed the water so as to lighten the shark, which turned, and dived

out of sight. Tlio current had now carried the oflicer and lady close lo (lie vessel, when lite sharU appealed a second time, and was in Hie act of tinning on his back lo seize the hapless pair, when a private of the officer's company, who was in the hammock nettings, jumped fearlessly overboard, with a bayonet in his hand, which he plunged into the shark, which, instantly disappearing, the three wore saved before he dared lo make his reappearance. Coiiuoi: in i Ruin.—About two mouths ago, on descending the hill from Stock-cross, a wea/.el, with a mouse in his month, was seen crossing the road closely pursued by a robin, which frequently pounced on iheweazel, uttering shrill notes of delianre. Tim wcazel turned many times, ami, at last, on reaching the grass on the road side;, it dropped its prey and wont back some paces to attack the robin. This was avoided by the bird rising in flight, and immediately darting lo the side of the mouse, whose, cries of distress had doubtless attracted Ids attention and excited iLs .sympathy. Ik-fore- the observer could reach the spot, the. wea/.el had again seized the mouse, and retreated with it into a boh- in the adjoining bank, the mouse being cither paralysed with fear, or too severely injured to avail itself of tin; chivalrous interposition of its feathered friend. The bird, regardless of the presence of thi' witnesses, or trusting lo their aid, continued for some lime to Hit rapidly from bough to bough on (he hedge-row, making the most plaintive outcries. S.ioicnvoi- thi: Doc—A stout brawny fellow may bo seen on one orother of the roads diverging from the city, hurling a wheelbarrow with a sack upon it, and occasionally looking after a dog scouring the fields, which returns with a lump of something in bis iiiniilb, which ho places into ihe sack. Ere the day is through, the sack is filled with these lumps, anil the owner pioceeds to a hone-collector's store, where the contents of Ihe sack yield him never less than two shillings, and often three or four. This is the work of Ihe dog and man ; but while the hit- ' t ter, either from bad weather or from laziness, feels disinclined to lake Ihe road, his faiihful purveyor is never idle. Every lane, ! close, entry, and refuse corner are searched, as also the hone-colleclor's stores, when the I animal may not be successful in its foray otherwise—and its collections carried safely home, ami laid at the feci <>f his master.— Pirtli Ci-urirr.

IViicii.isi.NK l'i!i:i:non rnou Si:un>o>i.—liy Ihc liiissiiiii laws every female serf is free :is soon as married lo a freeman ; oil ilio other liaiul, marriage will* a serf entails serfdom on a free woman. On a certain day one of Count Scheremclicw'srirhbondsmen appeared liefore liis lo rd to petition for the freedom of a sou. The young man was in love with a poor but Irct: maiden, who returned his alTeelion, hill who would not sacrifice her liberty to her love. The father offered eighty thousand roil hies as the price of his sou's happiness. The count accepted, and desired his vassal lo produce the money. In an instant it was paid over. Letters of emancipation were forthwith drawn up, and the Count delivered them lo the delighted father, wilh the words, " You must let me he the bridesman." When, in ihis capacity, the Count had con ducted the bride from the altar lo the husband's house, and had handed her, accord ing lo custom, upon a silver waiter, the lirst glass of champagne, lie presented lo her, as a bridal gift, a bouquet o'" fresh flowers, .skilfully arranged round a small packet containing the eighty thousand roubles. It was his pride to have wealthy men as serfs, but their wealth had no allraelioil for him. — Jerrmtmii'x Pictures from St. I'elersburyli .