_N.B._ I mean to give the good-natured reader a whole chapter on _the art of_ STORY-TELLING.
Well, as I was saying, the Virginian being obliged to stoop--the _stooping_ caused his head to be bowed down; and looking down, he saw a _book_ lying upon the starboard locker.--Well, says he, and what the d----l--but I think it expedient to omit the _Virginian_ oath; for this man, not being a moral man, swore consumedly, and did not know a _bible_ by sight, but only by _hearsay_.--And Captain, cried the _Virginian_, will you sell this bible of yours: I hear it's a mighty clever book for children.--And why not for grown people? cried the Captain, taking up the _book_. Why, quoth the _Virginian_, because I mean my three boys, who are from 11 to 14 years old, shall be good _scholards at their larning_--they can all say their letters already, and the youngest can spell.--The Boston sea Captain opening the bible found these words: "_Search the scriptures_;" and without saying any thing himself, pointed out the passage to the _Virginian_.--Pugh! said the _Virginian_, and walked upon deck.--Now, to explain this mystery, you must know the Yankee sea Captain shewed him the passage to denote that he would sooner sell his soul to the d----l, than his bible to a _Virginian_;--and the _Virginian_ said pugh! and walked upon deck, because he could not read.
LONGEVITY. Since we published the examples of longevity, collected by the editor of the Medical Adviser, we have seen another list, which is _supposed_ to comprise all, which can be found from the year 66 to 1799. The number of those who lived from _one hundred_ and _seventy_ to _one hundred_ and _eighty-five_ years is 3; from _one hundred_ and _sixty_ to _one hundred_ and _seventy_, 2; from _one hundred_ and _fifty_ to _one hundred_ and _sixty_, 3; from _one hundred_ and _forty_ to _one hundred_ and _fifty_, 7; from _one hundred_ and _thirty_ to _one hundred_ and _forty_, 26; from _one hundred_ and _twenty_ to _one hundred_ and _thirty_, 84; from _one hundred_ and _ten_ to _one hundred_ and _twenty_, 277; from _one hundred_ to _one hundred_ and _ten_, 1310. Total of those who survived a century, _Seventeen hundred and twelve_.----This writer could not have included in his list the examples of longevity which Russia furnished, for we frequently find in the bills of mortality of this country for a single year, twice the number of centenarians. We have before us the table of deaths for 1813, which gives the following remarkable ages. One 165;--three 135;--one 130;--fifteen 125;--thirty-three from 115 to 120;--fifty-three from 110 to 115;--one hundred and twenty-seven from 100 to 105;--fourteen hundred from 95 to 100;--two thousand eight hundred and forty-nine from 90 to 95;--four thousand four hundred and fifty-one from 85 to 90. Whole number of deaths 971,338.