sparkled, and his little pale cheeks flushed little Nicholas, holding a brace of the with joy. Feeble as he was, he sprang smallest pistols that ever were seen, and out of bed, and rushed into her arms. flourishing a little sabre over his head. He could not be persuaded to leave her The guests, being entirely unprepared for for a moment, and would sleep nowhere his appearance, were startled at first, but but on her lap. Under her affectionate care, he soon became strong and lively

as ever.

they soon enjoyed his frolics highly. When the dessert came on, he very grave. ly returned to stand sentinel at the pie, where he was pelted with sugar-plums, till they were piled up as high as his

He had never been to school, and his utterance was extremely imperfect. The prince offered him all kinds of playthings, shoulders. if he would learn to read. He tried to This adventure of the pie made Be-Be do as they wished, but he never could more famous than ever. Painters took remember any thing except the vowels. his likeness, and poets made verses about He called all the consonants b; and he him. Other princes envied the duke the took such a fancy to that sound, that he possession of such a curiosity, and privateused it to ask for almost every thing he ly offered large sums of money to any wanted. For this reason, he was gener-one who would decoy him away. Some ally called Be-Be, though his real name times the servants of visitors, under the was Nicholas Ferry. pretence of play, would put him in their It was evidently of no use to trouble pockets; or the sentinel, as he ran along his little brain with learning; for it was the gallery, would cover him with his not big enough to hold it. In dancing, he cloak; or the postilions would coax him succeeded much better. He soon became to creep into their great boots, which they remarkable for the swiftness of his move- would tie together, and sling over their ments, and for all manner of graceful shoulders. He would let them play with gambols. They taught him to handle a them a little in this way, but as soon as little gun very dexterously; and large he suspected something more serious than companies often assembled at the castle, fun, he would utter such shrill cries, that to see the manikin, in grenadier's uni- they were glad to release him. form, jumping, vaulting, and fencing, upon a large table.

Stanislaus was, however, afraid that he would be stolen, sooner or later. He One day, the duke made a grand din- therefore ordered a number of to pages ner, and invited many distinguished lords follow him wherever he went. Be-Be and ladies. The principal ornament of did not like this. He had been so much the table was a large pie, in the shape of accustomed to run about the fields with his a citadel, with towers, turrets, ramparts, goose, that it annoyed him not to be able and sugar artillery. When the first to stir a step without a sentinel at his side. course was removed from the table, a He became melancholy and ill. The band of musicians struck up a lively tune. duke, in order to divert his mind, ordered Up jumped the pie-crust, and out started a little castle to be built for him on

wheels. It contained a parlor, sleeping | poor, and had a large family of children. chamber, dining hall, and even a little She gave him to the Countess Humiecka, miniature garden, with flowers, trees, and with whom he travelled into various parts fountains. The chairs, tables, beds, and of Europe. In Turkey he was admitted time-pieces, were all adapted to his size. into the seraglio, and the women who A small billiard table, and a great variety | live secluded there were as much amused of games, were prepared for him. A with him as with a living doll. Every collection of animals, extremely small of body petted and caressed him, and he was their kind, were arranged in this pretty universally called Joujou, the French little hermitage. Sparrows, linnets, and word for plaything. wrens hopped about in cages of ivory and silver; a little greyhound, not much bigger than a squirrel, ran from one room to another; and the empress of Russia sent a pair of snow white turtle doves, no larger than the smallest species of spar

rows.

In Austria, he visited the empress, Maria Theresa. Her daughter, Maria Antoinette, afterward the unfortunate queen of France, was then only six years old. The empress drew a ring from her hand, and placed it on the minikin finger of Joujou. At Paris, he was received A company of well behaved little chil- with great attention. A wealthy gentledren was likewise formed for his amuse-man there gave him a dinner, at which ment, and called the Joyful Band. These all the plates, knives and forks, and even affectionate attentions made Be-Be very the eatables, were adapted to his size. glad, and he chattered thanks very ear- In the course of his travels, he visited the nestly, in his queer little language. It was court of Stanislaus, and was introduced to funny to see him receive his small guests Be-Be. In the latter part of his life, he at dinner, and imitate the manners of a visited Lapland and Nova Zembla, where great man. He was extremely affection- the people crowded to see him night and ate and gay, but he had strict ideas of day, so that he could get no chance to politeness and good order. One day, a sleep. The savages devoutly thanked the member of his little band became too sun for showing them such a little man; noisy in his play, and awakened the duke, and he, to thank them, played them tunes who was sleeping in his arm-chair near on his small guitar. After many wanderby. Be-Be insisted that he should do ings, he settled in England, and lived to penance for his fault, by sitting on a foot- be an old man. stool in the door of his little palace, and eating his dinner alone.

On one occasion, a famous dwarf came from Polish Russia to visit him. His name was Count Boruwlaski. He measured just eight inches when he was born, and at thirty years old was only thirtynine inches high. His mother was very

Be-Be received Joujou with his customary politeness, and made his visit as pleasant as possible. It must have been a funny sight to see these little fairy men doing the honors to each other.

Be-Be was distinguished for neatness as well as courtesy. One day, when he was playing ball, he broke a glass lamp,

and spilled the oil on his clothes. He infancy. Among the boys who visited tried to wipe it off, and, seeing the spot spread, he begged earnestly for a pair of scissors, to cut it out. Being refused, he sobbed out, 66 O, how wretched I am! What will my good friend say, when he sees me so dirty!"

him was a little fellow, about seven years old, named Zizi. Be-Be was so fond of him, that he wanted to give him every thing. He made him a present of his little gold watch, not bigger than a ten cent piece, containing his miniature set with This watch was marked with only

His favorite Zizi died of small-pox, after a very short illness. They were afraid to tell Be-Be, for fear his tender little heart would break with grief. Every hour in the day he would ask, “Where is Zizi ? Why don't Zizi come?"

He was extremely generous. He had gems. a great many jewels and beautiful play-five hours, because the little man could things given him, but almost always gave never learn to count higher than five. them away to the children who visited him. He liked nothing so well as a purse full of small, bright money; for he delighted to walk on the balcony, and throw it to poor children, who came there to catch it. Sometimes, he would roll up a crown in a paper with his sixpences, He and Zizi had often talked together and throwing it to the raggedest little about the goose and the sheep that he beggar, would cry out, "Catch it quick! loved so well; and at last he took it into it is for you." his head that Zizi had gone to his native village, to bring the goose and the sheep. Every day, he laid aside half of his cake, fruit, and playthings for his beloved comrade; and to the day of his death, he always expected to see Zizi come back with his old friends, the goose and the sheep.

Whenever he had a gold piece given him, he put it in a box and locked it up, to send to his native village, for his dear brother Louis; who, by his generosity, became one of the richest farmers in the country.

Be-Be was mischievous sometimes, and liked to trouble the pages, who were ordered to keep watch over him. One day, he hid himself in the bottom of the kennel with his greyhound; and there the little rogue remained eating and drinking with his playfellow, the dog, all day and all night. The page was scolded severely, and threatened with dismissal. Be-Be, hearing him weep, sprang out of his hiding-place, and embracing the knees of King Stanislaus, entreated him to forgive the page, for he only was to blame.

He was always remarkable for the loving disposition which characterized his

When King Stanislaus went to Ver. sailles, to visit his daughter, he took Be Be with him. There, as elsewhere, he was a great favorite. The ladies caressed him greatly, and always wanted to have him in their arms; but if they attempted to carry him out of sight of the king, he would call out, " My good friend, the lady will carry me away in her pocket!" and he would struggle, till they released him, and let him run back to Stanislaus.

The poor dwarf never seemed like himself after he returned from his jour ney. He became very sad, wanted to be

alone, and wept much.

Sometimes he every one who laughed at him. Being would sit for two whole days, without once provoked at the mirthfulness of a even changing his position. He lost his young gentleman, named Crofts, the foolappetite entirely. One lark was enough ish little fellow challenged him to fight. for two dinners; and in a short time he The young gentleman, being much could take nothing but a little weak lem- amused at the idea of Jeffery's fighting a ohade and burnt sugar. His round, blooming face wrinkled very fast, and though not yet twenty-two, he looked like a very old man. He begged most earnestly to see the king before he died; but his benefactor was then absent at Nantz, and they could not gratify his wishes. He repeated his name almost every minute; and as he lay in his mother's lap, and raised his dying eyes to hers, his last words were, "O mother dear, I wish I could kiss once more the hand of my good friend."

When Stanislaus returned, he was deeply affected to find that his little favorite was dead. He caused his body to be embalmed, and buried with much ceremony.

duel, came armed with a squirt, instead of a pistol. This was merely intended for fun; but the bad tempered dwarf became so angry, that he insisted upon a real duel. They met on horseback, to equalize their height as much as possible, and at the first pistol shot Mr. Crofts fell dead. Poor little Jeffery was not wise enough to know that this was much more like dogs or game-cocks, than like men endowed with reason and conscience. In the time of Cromwell's revolution, he escaped to France, to follow the fortunes of Queen Henrietta. He met with a variety of adventures. He was taken prisoner by the Dunkirkers, and at another time by a Turkish pirate. He returned to England, in Charles the Second's time, where he was imprisoned on suspicion of being employed in some political intrigue. He died in prison, at the age of sixty-three.

There was a famous English dwarf, named Jeffery Hudson, born in 1619. When seven years old, he was only eighteen inches high; and he grew no taller than this till he was thirty years old; when he suddenly attained the height of three feet and nine inches. The duke of Buckingham presented this dwarf to Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles the First. At vast empire, to form a wedding proces her marriage feast, he was brought upon the table in a cold pie, from which he sprang forth at a given signal, to the great amusement of the queen and her guests. He did not bear the extreme indulgence with which he was treated, so well as Be- The most remarkable dwarf of modern Be did. He became very petulant and times is Charles S. Stratton, called Gentyrannical, and disposed to quarrel with eral Tom Thumb. He was born at

Peter the Great, of Russia, had a passion for dwarfs. He had a very little man and a very little woman in his royal household; and when they were married, he collected all the dwarfs throughout his

sion. They were ninety-three in number, and were paraded through the streets of St. Petersburg, in the smallest possible carriages, drawn by the smallest of Shet land ponies.

Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1832. He where he was very much caressed. Queen was a healthy, vigorous babe, and weighed Adelaide presented him with a beautiful nine pounds two ounces when he was little gold watch, no bigger than a shilling; born. At five months old, he weighed fifteen pounds; but at that time, for some unknown cause, he ceased to grow; and now, at the age of twelve years, he is a little miniature man, only two feet and adorned with precious stones. - Flowers one inch in height, and weighing but fif- for Children.

teen pounds and two ounces. His head

is rather too large for his body, but his limbs are well proportioned, and he has the prettiest little feet and hands imaginable. He has been taught to perform a variety of exploits, and has been exhibited at nearly all the museums in the United States. He has a great variety of dresses, military, naval, &c. It is extremely droll to see him dressed up like Napoleon Bonaparte, and imitating his attitudes and motions, which he does to perfection.

Dwarfs generally have feeble voices. Tom Thumb's is weak and piping, like a very little child; but he sings a variety of small songs in a very agreeable man

ner.

N English traveller, named Waterston, gives an account of his mounting the back of a crocodile, in Guiana, as His boots and gloves are about he and the Indians drew the monster large enough for a good-sized doll, and from the water by a rope. This seemed his little canes would answer for a small a wonderful feat; and so it was, for the monkey. He has a little carriage, about creature was wild and savage. But in big enough for Pussy-cat to ride in ; Siam, which is a country in Farther and into this a small dog is fastened, India, it is said they tame crocodiles, with a very complete little harness. He (which are very much like alligators,) a has a house, too, about three feet high, we do colts. Being plentifully fed with into which he walks to rest himself, when fish, and treated kindly, they become he is tired of dancing a hornpipe for the very docile, and will submit to have a amusement of spectators. He is a very bridle put in their mouths, and be guided lively child, and very winning in his about according to their master's pleas manners. He makes a bow, and kisses ure. It is no uncommon thing to see the his tiny hand, in the genteelest manner Siamese children, with a whip, riding on possible. the back of these terrible looking mon

A few years ago he went to Europe, sters, or playing under their feet.