The Etruscan Language

Finnish , ivhich was overborne by a conquering Tartar immigration . The paper was listened to throughout with intelligent attention , and , on its conclusion , gave rise to considerable discussion , in which Lord Talbot de Malahide and others took part . —The Linguist and Educational Review .

Sonnet.

SONNET .

( For the Masonic Magazine ) Written in a country ramble , with a copy of a favourite poet . " A BORN CRAFTSMAN . " Each tree ' s and green hill ' s shadow noiv

grows long , And twilight ' s hour to veil the world seems nigh . Yet here I read and read , and lingerwhy ? This bard hath , certes , a born craftsman ' s

tongue . For , sure , each child of nature and of song , True to his light , is born unconsciousl y An unmade brother of the mystic tie . And though , perchance , not visibly among Light ' s sons enroll'd , and though as yet

hath ne ' er His outward eye beheld the rites sublime , Rites , which sound Wisdom ' s hidden laws enshrine , Yet , doubtless , he no less doth largely share

That wisdom , by whose breath from earliest time We , too , have been inspir'd with li ght divine . M . GORDON . September 29 th , 1875 .

The Family Ghost.

THE FAMILY GHOST .

ft was somewhere about Christmas , when a snug party of tired hunters were assembled about a roaring fire of logs , ^ joying the generous hospitality of the toaster of the hounds . A hard day ' s hun t-

ing over the mountain slopes had somewhat wearied them all ; conversation languished a little , for everybody was more disposed to listen than talk . The village doctor , however , was free from this lethargyas he had only joined the party

, at the dinner table . He was a lively little AYelsbman , full of shrugs and gestures , with a fresh , shrewd face in ivhich good humour contended with touchiness .

" Come , tell us a story , Evans , said'the master , suddenly rousing from a gentle doze , and slapping the doctor vigorously on the knee , " we ' re all going to sleep . " The doctor required a little pressing . He professed himself at a loss for a subject . Like the celebrated knife-grinderhe had

, no story to tell " Unless , gentlemen , you would like me to tell you about the difficulty I have in getting my bills in . " At this there was a general murmur of dissent . "Shall I tell you , then , . of the ghost that was seen by William Griffith Jones ?"

The subject seemed a promising one , especially as the hero of the story was present , a young AVelsh squire of shy and retiring habits , who was more devoted to the ancient customs of his race than to

modern culture . " It is not right , indeed , he remonstrated . But he was unheeded , and the doctor began : I don't think that we Welsh are superstitious . There was a good deal of it once , but not now . It is only here and there ,

among some of our good old-fashioned families , such as that of our friend Jones here of the Plas , that you meet with some old stories belonging to them . It is said , for instance , that the family of the Plas had a tradition that on certain occasions a white

horse appears to some one of their members , foreboding death or heavy misfortune . AVell , whatever reason may fell us , there is no doubt that these things have a great influence on the mind ; and William here was never free from a certain amount of

dread of some day seeing this appalling vision . Thus , when he visited our little town , and spent an evening with a friend , he objected very much to going home alone . He was brave enough b y daylight ; but when ni ght came onand he had the

, prospect of facing the dark way to the Plas , his courage failed him , and he earnestl y begged for company . But one murky night last winter William found