jesting manner, remarked, that she always referred gentle. men to her father-as his choice would always be hers. What was jest with her, with me would have become very solemn earnest, had I had then to offer any thing beyond my hand and my heart, to induce such a girl to leave such a home. Happily, circumstances are now favourably altered; and willingly now would I ask that father for his daughter could I flatter myself the daughter could be induced to gladden and adorn a hearth, which, however warm in one sense, must be yet cold and cheerless without the love of a bosom friend. And such a friend would Miss Brown prove-—and, dear sir, if you think such a match suitable for your lovely daughter, I sincerely entreat the communication of your favourable opinion to her in my behalf-hoping that the daughter's choice then may be as the father's.

"I have, sir, the honour to be

"Your obedient servant,

66 J. GLENVILLE."

On Saturday Glenville came; when after reading, criticising, correcting, and laughing, he took copies of the letters; it being arranged, that he put one in each coat pocket, and on waiting next day on Miss Smythe from church, he should, at a proper time, hand her the proper letter. And all this he accordingly did, and with no greater blunder than putting his hand into the Brown pocket, and pulling out the wrong letter--which, if he had also delivered it to Miss Smythe, would have made our book still more interesting -but he fortunately corrected his error in time, and prevented a very handsome laugh at our expense.

To save Miss S. the awkwardness of a special messenger, and to avoid prying eyes at the post office, Glenville, on bowing adieu at the lady's door, stated that he would. call in person next morning for an answer. At that time,

therefore, after lots of speculating as to the style and manner of the answer, Glenville, with Miss Brown's letter in his pocket, and anxious not to be too early for the lady's convenience, nor too late for the ardent affection he intended to have, marched off very bravely, looking back once or twice and shaking his fist as he caught sight of our cachinating faces.

Well, in due season he returned--but what pen or pencil can give the odd expression of that face!

“Well, Glenville, what luck?"--(Can I ever forget the peculiar intonation, emphasis, inflection of that answer?) "Engaged!"

“Is it possible !—but if she had not been, what then?" "Bah!-do you think I asked her?"

"Why not?—I should like to know what she thinks of you."

"Why not!!-in case she did not fancy me, was I going to suffer a double refusal, when one is decisive?"

"Haw! ha! he!* but what have you done with Miss Brown's letter?"

"Dropp'd it in the office as I came along; and there's a chance for Miss Brown to have her revenge. Bet dollar she says no!"

a

The case of my friend was like that of the school boy, who described his disappointment in a composition, which we shall here introduce to fill up the time till the return mail.

"COMPOSITION ON HUNTING."

"The other morning I went out a hunting with father's duck-gun what he brung out from Kentucky; but as I had no luck, I allowed I might as well put off for home; and so I turn about and goes towards home. As I come to

* We do not expect the reader to laugh here, unless he is so disposed -I only laughed at the time because I could not help it.

the edge of our clearin, what should I see away off on the top of a dead walnut, but a black crow! And so I makes up my mind to try and hit him. The critter was more nor three hundred yards from me ; but I insinuates myself along as near as two hundred yards to the feller; when he begins a showing signs of flittin: and so I trees where I was in a minute. Well, I determines to try him there, although 'twas near as good as desperut to try a black crow that distance with a shot-gun; although father's duck-gun's the most powerful shot-gun in the Purchis. Howsom

dever, I wanted the load out; and I thought I might as well fire that a way as any other-and so up I draws the piece very careful, and begins a takin aim, thinking all the while I shouldn't hit him: still I tuk the most exactest aim, as if I should; when just then he hops about two foot nearer my way, as if to get a look round my tree, where he smelt powder-and then, thinking all the time, as I said, I shouldn't hit him, as the distance was so most powerful fur, I blazed away!-and sure enough, as I'm alive-I didn't hit him!"

Now Glenville, from the distance of his second shot, insisted he should never hit yet how near he came may be conjectured from the following replies to his epistle :

"JOHN GLENVILLE, ESQ.,

"Dear Sir

and the inclosed

from my daughter, to whom was handed your late communication, contains, I presume, the most satisfactory answer,

and

"Yours, very respectfully, &c.

"REDMAN GREEN BROWN."

Now, this sentence in the envelope containing a sealed letter from Miss Brown, brought "the crow about two feet nearer:" and John's eyes began to sparkle, although he

continued humbly affirming that the sealed epistle contained-"No!"

"SIR :

"I honour you for honesty, as I am satisfied you assign true reasons for not taking one to share your home; although the leasons themselves can never seem satisfactory where one was willing to share another's heart.

For, like most girls in their days of romance, that one cared to find only a heart when she married. As my own home is sufficiently comfortable, there can be no inducement to wish another, however comfortable, in the New Purchase; and where its owner seems to think altered circumstances' are important in winning a woman's love. But to show that kindness is estimated that would spare my delicacy, by leading my dear father to think all our conversation had been sportive, I do hereby most cordially-(here John looked! oh! I tell you what!)-invite you to our Christmas festivities, when the writer changes her name from Mary Brown to Mary Burleigh."

66

There, Carlton! I told you so-I said it would be— no! And yet secretly did I wish,-ay! I do wish it now --that the answer could be-yes! I am glad the girl has her revenge; but still I have known too many hardships not to feel happy in the reflection, that one I did love a little, and could now love a great deal, has never been called to share them."

And so after all, reader, our chapter ends without a wedding! proving how hard it is to get an old bachelor married. Another year we may, perhaps, be more successful.

CHAPTER L.

FIFTH YEAR.

"The three R's-Readin, Ritin, Rithmetic."
London Alderman's Toast.

With open mouth swallowing a tailor's news."

A GREAT quarrel between the Rev. C. Clarence and the Commonwealth of Woodville, was in reference to the kind of education fit for Hoosiers, Woolverines, and other true democrats. Our man of learning contended for a liberal and thorough discipline of the mind; while we insisted on a practical education. He argued that no course of educa tion paid for by the government, ought to have exclusive regard to any class, or to any one art, trade, or profession : but that where the State furnished the means, the best intellectual education should be given both to the poor and the rich. Nay, he even affirmed that men ought not to be trained as mere Americans, and much less as mere western or eastern citizens; but as men of the world, as gentlemen, as Christians.

About this time Mind, having been accommodated with a pair of legs, and the said legs being fitted with seven league boots, had marched our way, and was now marking time very furiously in the Purchase. Indeed, we began to be born in circumstances favourable to sucking in thought, or something else, from maternal breasts and by aid of

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