Born With A Caul

Tbusü who searoh the columns of the Londcm Time for curiosities will moet with advertisemeuts such as the followinr : "A chiid's caul for salo." "A chiid's eaul to be disposed of; a well known preservativo agaiust drowning, etc.; prioe ten guineas." "To niariiiers, etc.; to be sold, a chiid's caul ; price fifteen guineas." " ïo be sold, a chiid's caul ; to save gentlemen trouble ; price thirty poonds "A chilü's caul to bo sold for fiiteon pounds." Persons who know nothing of this subject, may wonder what a chiid's caul may be. This name is giveu to a membraue that is sometimos found on thehead ui au infant on birth, nearly eueompasaing the head. It is a rare Ocourrenoe, aud the rarity has led to great importanco beintf attached to it. The child itself will be lucky ; and the ownur of the caul in after years will be shiolded trom inany troubles that affect his neighbors. The 8uperstition uame from the East, where it had its origin in remote ages. Many diseases wore believed to be curable by the wearing of a caul; and to this day soiiie sailors - even English snilors in the secondhalf of the nineteenth contury - have a faith in the etKcacy of a chiid's caul to preserve them from drowning at sea. Sir John Offley, of Maduly Jttanor, in tëtaiïbrdshire, bequeathed a caul as an heiilooiu, in a will proved in 1658: "I will and deviso oue je wel done in all gold enameied, wheiein there is a oaul that covered my face and shoulders when I ürst carne intotbe world, the use thereof to my loving daughtor, the Lady Elizabeth. so long as she shall live ; and after her di!t:ease, tho use likewise to her son, Offley Jenny, during his natural life; and ifter his decease to my own right heirs ïuale forever ; and so trom hoir to heir to be left so long as it shall please God of His goodness to continue any heir 'male of my name ; desiring the same jewel to lie not conceded or sold by any of them." A child two years old feil iuto a well near Komford, and floate1 face uppermost on the surface of the water, whence lie was rescued by his mother. Tho good woman at once attributed the preservation of her boy to the tact that he had been bom with a caul. The readers of Hoods " Whims and Oddities " will reluember " The Sea Spell," in which, ituitating the style of the old ballads. he narrates a sea story, but pokes his fun in every stanza at the superstition of the obild'a caul.