only a kitten imitating sounds; while a third party, who know something of Carmichael's art, declared it was neither, but merely a ventriloquist. "A what?" said the honest tar, again completely out of his reckoning; and after a few moments cogitation, begged they would open the bag, and let him look at it, never leaving heard of such a beast.
The Female Soldier.—During the American war, a lively, comely, young nymph, served in the character of a soldier for nearly three years. She was about nineteen years when she enlisted; and what redounds to her honour, during the time she was in the army she displayed herself with activity, alertness, chastity, and valour; having been in several skirmishes with the enemy, and received two wounds. She was a remarkably vigilant soldier on her post, and always gained the applause and admiration of her officers. A violent illness led to the discovery of her sex, when she was discharged, and sent to her connections. The cause of her personating a man, proceeded from the rigour of her parents, who exerted their prerogative to induce her to marry a man for whom she had conceived a great antipathy. At the close of the war, an officer in the regiment in which she had served, but who had entered after she had returned to her friends, came to reside near where she lived; he was smitten with her charms, and being a handsome young fellow, the lady, without much fighting, surrendered. She proved an excellent wife and mother, and her husband has often been heard to say, "that it was the happiest moment in his life when he married the Female Soldier."
Effects of Fear.—The passion of fear sometimes shows itself upon the slightest occasions, and in persons least likely to entertain such a guest. A French author relates a whimsical instance of this kind. Charles Gustavus (the successor to Christiana) was besieging Prague, when a boor of most extraordinary visage desired admittance to his tent, and being allowed entrance, offered, by way of amusing the king, to devour a whole hog, weighing 200 weight in his presence. The old general Koningsmark, who stood by the king's side, and who, soldier as he was, had not got rid of the prejudices of his childhood, hinted to his royal master that the peasant ought to be burnt as a sorcerer. "Sir (said the fellow, irritated at the remark), if your majesty will but make that old gentleman take off his sword and spurs, I will eat him before your face, before I begin with the pig." General Koningsmark, who had at the head of a body of Swedes performed wonders against the Austrians, and who was looked upon as one of the bravest men of the age, could not however stand this proposal, and especially as it was accompanied by a most hideous and preter-natural expansion of the jaws. Without uttering a word, the veteran suddenly turned round, ran out of the tent; and did not consider himself safe until he had arrived at his quarters, where he remained above twenty-four hours locked up securely, before he recovered of the panic which had so severely affected him.
