XIX. A TALE FOR A CHIMNEY CORNER XX. THIEVES, ANCIENT AND MODERN . THE INDICATOR. THERE is a bird in the interior of Africa, whose habits would rather seem to belong to the interior of Fairy-land; but they have been well authenticated. It indicates to honey-hunters, where the nests of wild bees are to be found. It calls them with a cheerful cry, which they answer; and on finding itself recognized, flies and hovers over a hollow tree containing the honey. While they are occupied in collecting it, the bird goes to a little distance, where he observes all that passes; and the hunters, when they have helped themselves, take care to leave him his portion of the food.-This is the CUCULUS INDICATOR of Linnæus, otherwise called the Moroe, Bee Cuckoo, or Honey Bird. There he arriving, round about doth flie, And takes survey with busie, curious eye: CHAPTER I. Difficulty of finding a Name for a Work of this Kind. NEVER did gossips, when assembled to determine the name of a new-born child, whose family was full of conflicting interests, experience a difficulty half so great as that which an author undergoes in settling the title for a periodical work. In the former case, there is generally some paramount uncle, or prodigious third cousin, who is understood to have the chief claims, and to the golden lustre of whose face the clouds of hesitation and jealousy gradually give way. But these children of the brain have no godfather at hand: and yet their single appellation is bound to comprise as many public interests as all the Christian names of a French or a German prince. It is to be modest: it is to be expressive: it is to be new: it is to be striking it is to have something in it equally intelligible to the man of plain understanding, and surprising for the man of imagina. tion in a word, it is to be impossible. How far we have succeeded in the attainment of this happy nonentity we leave others to judge. There is one good thing however which the hunt after a title is sure to realize;—a great deal of despairing mirth. We were visiting a friend the other night, who can do anything for a book but give it a title; and after many grave and ineffectual attempts to furnish one for the present, the company, after the fashion of Rabelais, and with a chair-shaking merriment which he himself might have joined in, fell to turning a hopeless thing into a jest. It was like that exquisite picture of a set of laughers in Shakspeare :— One rubbed his elbow, thus; and fleered, and swore, A better speech was never spoke before: Another, with his finger and his thumb, Cried "Via! we will do 't, come what will come!" To check their laughter, passion's solemn tears. LOVE'S LABOR 'S LOST. Some of the names had a meaning in their absurdity, such as the Adviser, or Helps for Composing;-the Cheap Reflector, or Every Man His Own Looking-Glass ;-the Retailer, or Every Man His Own Other Man's Wit;-Nonsense, to be continued. Others were laughable by the mere force of contrast, as the Crocodile, or Pleasing Companion ;-Chaos, or the Agreeable Miscellany; the Fugitive Guide ;-the Foot Soldier, or Flow. ers of Wit;-Bigotry, or the Cheerful Instructor;-the Polite Repository of Abuse ;-Blood, being a Collection of Light Essays. Others were sheer ludicrousness and extravagance, as the Pleasing Ancestor; the Silent Companion; the Tart; the Leg of Beef, by a Layman; the Ingenious Hatband; the Boots of Bliss; the Occasional Dinner; the Tooth-ache; Recollections of a Very Unpleasant Nature; Thoughts on Taking up a Pair of Snuffers; Thoughts on a Barouche-box; Thoughts on a Hill of Considerable Eminence; Meditations on a Pleasing Idea; Mate CHAP. I.] DIFFICULTY OF NAMING A WORK OF THIS KIND. 3 rials for Drinking; the Knocker, No. I. ;-the Hippopotamus entered at Stationers' Hall; the Piano-forte of Paulus Æmilius; the Seven Sleepers at Cards; the Arabian Nights on Horseback-with an infinite number of other mortal murders of common sense, which rose to "push us from our stools," and which none but the wise or good-natured would think of enjoying. |