8. "Well, my dear, if you are conscious of it, that is sufficient. We will not dispute any more about such a trifle. Are they bringing up dinner." "If they know that you are come in; but I am sure I can not tell whether they do or not.-Pray, my dear Mrs. Nettleby," cried the lady, turning to a female friend, and still holding her watch in hand, "what o'clock is it by you? There is nobody in the world hates disputing about trifles so much as I do; but I own I do love to convince people that I am in the right." 9. Mrs. Nettleby's watch had stopped. How provoking! Vexed at having no immediate means of convincing people that she was in the right, our heroine' consoled herself by proceeding to criminate' her husband, not in this particular instance, where he pleaded guilty, but upon the general charge of being always late for dinner, which he strenuously denied. 4 3 10. There is something in the species of reproach which advances thus triumphantly from particulars to generals, peculiarly offensive to every reasonable and susceptible mind; and there is something in the general charge of being always late for dinner, which the punctuality of man's nature can not easily endure, especially if he be hungry. We should humbly advise our female friends to forbear exposing a husband's patience to this trial, or, at least, to temper it with much fondness, else mischief will infallibly ensue. MISS EDGEWORTH. III. 20. A PARENTAL ODE TO MY INFANT SON. HOU happy, happy elf!' TH (But stop-first let me kiss away that tear)— (My love, he's poking peas into his ear) Thou měrry, laughing sprite!' with spirits feather light, (Good heavens! the child is swallowing a pin!)— 'Hěr o ine, a female hero, or principal character spoken of. ' Crim'ināte, to accuse or charge with a crime or offense. 3 Strěn'u ously, earnestly; firmly. Species, kind; sort; class. 4 • In fǎl' li bly, without fail. 6 Elf, a fay, or a fairy; a little fancied spirit, supposed to live in wild and desert places, and to delight in mischievous tricks. Sprite, spirit. 2. 3. 4. Thou little tricksy Puck,' With antic toys so funnily bestuck, Light as the singing bird that wings the air, (The door! the door! he'll tumble down the stair!) (Why, Jane, he'll set his pinafore afire!) Thou imp of mirth and joy! In love's dear chain so strong and bright a link, Thou cherub-but of earth! Fit playfellow for fays by moonlight pale, (The dog will bite him if he pulls its tail!) (He'll break the mirror with that skipping-rope!) Thou young domestic dove! (He'll have that jug off with another shove!) (He'll climb upon the table, that's his plan!) Thou enviable being! No storms, no clouds, in thy blue sky foreseeing, 'Păck, Robin Good-Fellow, and Friar Rush, were names applied many years ago to a mischievous little fairy, or wanderer of the night. Elysium, (e liz' I um), a place of delight, as the ancients believed, for happy souls after death; any delightful place. Mint, a place where money is coined; a place where things are invented, produced, or made. 'Hy` men e' al, relating to mar. riage. 'E piť o me, an abridgment; a small copy. Elf' in, a little elf or urchin. 5. Toss the light ball-bestride the stick, 6. (I knew so many cakes would make him sick!) (He's got the scissors, snipping at your gown.) Thou pretty' opening rose! (Go to your mother, child, and wipe your nose!) I can not write unless he's sent above!) IV. 21. THE MISER. THOMAS HOOD. LOVEGOLD. Where have you been? I have wanted you above an hour. James. Whom do you want, sir,-your coachman or your cook? for I am both one and t'other. Love. I want my cook. James. I thought, indeed, it was not your coachman; for you have had no great occasion for him since your last pair of horses were starved; but your cook, sir, shall wait upon you in an instant. (Puts off his coachman's great-coat, and appears as a cook.) Now, sir, I am ready for your commands. Love. I am engaged this evening to give a supper. James. A supper, sir! I have not heard the word this halfyear; a dinner, indeed, now and then; but for a supper I'm almost ǎfraid, for want of practice, my hand is out. Love. Leave off your saucy jesting, and see that you provide a good supper. 1 James. That may be done with a good deal of money, sir. Buoyant, (bwál'ant), light; bearing up. Grotesque, (grỏ têsk') like the figures found in grottoes or caves wildly formed; droll; laughable. Love. Is the mischief in you? Always money! Can you say nothing else but money, money, money? My children, my servants, my relations, can pronounce nothing but money. James. Well, sir; but how many will there be at table? Love. About eight or ten; but I will have a supper dressed but for eight; for if there be enough for eight, there is enough for ten. James. Suppose, sir, at one end, a handsome soup; at the other, a fine Westphalia' ham and chickens; on one side, a fillet of veal; on the other, a turkey, or rather a bustard,' which may be had for about a guinea my Love. Zounds! is the fellow providing an entertainment for lord mayor and the court of aldermen ? James. Then a ragout' Love. I'll have no ragout. Would you burst the good people, you dog? 6 James. Then pray, sir, say what will you have? Love. Why, see and provide something to cloy their stomachs let there be two good dishes of thin soup; a large suetpudding, some dainty, fat pork-pie, very fat; a fine, small lean breast of mutton, and a large dish with two artichokes. There; that's plenty and variety. James. Oh, dear Love. Plenty and variety. James. But, sir, you must have some poultry.' Love. No; I'll have none. James. Indeed, sir, you should. Love. Well, then,-kill the old hen, for she has done laying. James. Mercy! sir, how the folks will talk of it; indeed, people say enough of you already. 1 Westphalia, (West få'll å), a provInce of Prussia in which horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs are numerous, and the last named furnish the celebrated Westphalian hams. Fil' let, meat made up of muscles; the fleshy part of the thigh. 'Bus' tard, a large bird. ♦ Guin' ea, a former English gold coin, worth somewhat more than five dollars. Ragout, (rå gö ́), a dish made of fragments of meat, sometimes of more than one kind, mixed, stewed, and highly seasoned; a stew. 6 Cloy, to overload; to glut; to satisfy; to fill to loathing. 'Pōul' try, tame fowls which are kept for the table, and for their eggs, feathers, etc., such as cocks and hens, capons, turkeys, ducks and geese. Love. Eh! why, what do the people say, pray? James. Oh, sir, if I could be assured you would not be angry. Love. Not at all; for I'm always glad to hear what the world says of me. James. Why, sir, since you will have it, then, they make a jest of you everywhere; nay, of your servants, on your account. One says, you pick a quarrel with them quarterly, in order to 1.ad an excuse to pay them no wages. Love. Poh! poh! James. Another says, you were taken one night stealing your own oats from your own horses. Love. That must be a lie; for I never allow them any. James. In a word, you are the by-word everywhere ; and you are never mentioned, but by the names of covetous, stingy, scraping, old Love. Get along, you impudent villain ! wouldn't be angry. Love. Get out, you dog! you— HENRY FIELDING. SECTION VI. I. 22. WHO WAS THE GENTLEMAN? LEASE, sir, don't push so." It was in endeavoring to "PLEA penetrate' the dense' crowd that nearly filled the entrance, and blocked up the doorway, after one of our popular lectures, that this exclamation met my attention. It proceeded from a little girl of not more than ten years, who, hemmed in by the wall on one side, and the crowd on the other, was vainly endeavoring to extricate' herself. 2. The person addressed paid no attention to the entreaty of the little one, but pushed on toward the door. "Look here, sir," said a man whose coarse apparel,' sturdy frame, and toil ¡ Pěn' e trate, to enter into; to force a way into or through any thing. Dense, compact; close. 'Ex' tri cāte, to disentangle, or set free from difficulties; to relieve. En treat' y, earnest prayer or request. 'Ap părel, outer clothing; dress, |