While engaged in this employment, she heard voices at the door; the key was put in the lock and turned. She recognized Sterling's voice-but there was another; and she quietly bolted her chamber door. Sterling's quick ear caught the sound of the bolt: and he said aloud, "take a seat, sir."

Sterling had encountered Mr. Vereprompt, a candidate for door-keeper of the House of Representatives. This individual had politely persisted in following Sterling to his room, without having received a very pressing invitation. He had, under his arm, a large wallet of papers which he began to unfold, drawing his chair near the table, upon which, one by one, he deposited his documents.

"Yes, General Sterling, your reputation has preceded you to Washington. Counting upon your influence as very great, especially with the Southern delegation, you will excuse me for calling upon you so early after your arrival. And you will of course attribute my visit to a feeling of selfishness which we all have touching our own personal advancement. I depend upon my merit, sir, and upon these testimonials"-spreading the whole out upon the table:

"There is my father's diploma; he was one of the first graduates of Yale College. Here are, with the seals you will observe, ten distinct U. S. commissions, showing how he was trusted by the Government. There is a package containing his correspondence with Mr. Jefferson: These are intended to show that my family have been closely identified with the great democratic party of the country, from

the time of its inauguration by that great apostle of liberty, up to the present day. I am, myself, an humble member of that party-in fact I may say that I sucked in Democracy with my mother's milk.

“There is a letter of recommendation from A-s K-d-ll.

"I rank Mr. Benton amongst my friends, as you will observe from a perusal of this letter."

Sterling began to grow uneasy, at this ridiculous display, but said nothing, and suppressed his amazement with a good deal of skill.

"These pamphlets are some of my own productions in behalf of Democracy-there are twelve of them; will you be kind enough to accept them? I was one of the editors of and contributor to the celebrated Extra Globe," a paper made so famous under the guiding hand of that distinguished citizen, Mr. Kendall, in the canvass of 1840."

"Well sir," said Sterling, "you are certainly well recommended. Have you many competitors?" "Oh! yes, There are several, but I really do not think I have much to fear from any of them." "What is the value of the position ?"

Only two thousand dollars a year. But it is accompanied with a good deal of patronage. The door-keeper has the appointment of some forty or fifty assistants, messengers, folders and pages. It is indeed a very important position, and hence I am taking all the necessary pains to secure it." "You appoint the pages, do you?"

"Yes, some twelve or fifteen lads."

"How old are they, generally?"

"Well, from ten to fifteen. By the way, you might serve some friend; for I would not be behind in advancing the interest of any person you might recommend, for any position under me."

"What pay do the pages get?"

"Two dollars a day."

"Yes. Well, Mr. Vereprompt, call and see me, again in a day or two. I do not think it necessary to make any pledge. I must see who your compe

titors are."

"Thank you, sir, you are very kind. I will do myself the honor of calling again in a day or two." So the indefatigable Mr. Vereprompt retired, perfectly satisfied with his interview with General Sterling.

"A page—a page-ten to fifteen-two dollars a day!" muttered Sterling. A page! I have it."

CHAPTER XII.

When Sterling opened the door of Lily's chamber, he found her standing in the corner, looking up into his face, ready to spring into his arms.

"I have been waiting, oh, am so glad you have come.

so long," she said. "I

What are you going to

do with me? Where am I to stay? In this nice room?"

"We must think about that. Come, let's talk," and he led her towards the fire.

"If you were only a boy, Lily, we would have no trouble.

"Ah! that's the bad luck. I had wished a thousand times that I was a boy. I could then fight my way through the world. I dare say, if I was a boy now, you could make me a page at the Capitol. Once when I was in the gallery, I saw the boys running about there, picking up packages, and dashing along amongst the members, doing their errands for them. Oh! how I should like it."

"You would like to be a page, would you?" "Yes indeed, I should be delighted."

Suppose we cut off your hair and dress you like a boy, and make you a page?"

"I'll do it, I'll do it," she exclaimed, snapping her fingers with enthusiasm," and nobody would ever know the better."

"Could you keep the secret?"

"Keep it? yes, indeed."

"Well, come here," said Sterling. "Stand against the wall. Let me measure you for your height."

Taking her position against the wall she straightened herself up and dropped her arms by her sides while Sterling took a book, and squaring it upon her head against the wall, marked her height; then cutting a strip from a newspaper he took the length."

"Go into your chamber, Lily, if anybody should knock."

So saying, Sterling left Lily to herself and went to a clothier's for an out-fit.

Finding the inches of his measure, he purchased, to fit a boy of that height, two suits, consisting of jackets, vests and pants; one blue, the other brown, with a half-dozen shirts of pure linen, four silk under-shirts,— not forgetting the drawers — adding, as he passed a shoe store, a pair of soft boots, of the size to fit a boy of ten years.

Sterling returned with a pair of long scissors.

CHAPTER XIII.

It is not always best to have too much hair, thought Sterling, as he quieted his misgivings upon the meditated destruction of Lily's curls.

When the Lilliputians found Gulliver asleep they spread out his hair and drove great wooden pins through the ends of it, thus nailing him to the ground and making him their prisoner.

Helen covered Paris with the character of a coward by winding her long tresses around his neck and thus detaining him from battle.

When Mercury committed the theft upon Venus of her girdle, as he kissed her, his profuse hair, like misty clouds overspread the face and eyes of the credulous goddess.

Hector's long locks served as ropes to lash him to the car of Achilles.