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from two guns.

Mrs. Simmons at once snatched the heir from the arms of Mr. Jones and hurried it to the window, where she made a careful and critical examination of its mouth, while Mrs. Jones held its head and Mr. Jones danced up and down the room, and snapped his fingers to show how calm he was. It having been ascertained by Mrs. Simmons that the tooth was a sound one, and also that the strongest hopes for its future could be entertained on account of its coming in the new moon, Mrs. Jones got out the necessary material and Mr. Jones at once proceeded to write seven different letters to as many persons, unfolding to them the event of the morning and inviting them to come on as soon as possible.

-Danbury News Man.

LIBERTY AND UNION.

While the Union lasts we have high, exciting, gratifying prospects spread out before us, for us and our children. Beyond that I seek not to penetrate the veil. God grant that in my day, at least, that curtain may not rise. God grant that on my vision may never be opened what lies behind. When my eyes shall be turned to behold, for the last time, the sun in heaven, may I not see him shining on the broken and dishonored fragments of a once glorious Union; on states dissevered, discordant, belligerent; on a land rent with civil feuds, or drenched, it may be, in fraternal blood! Let their last feeble and lingering glance, rather behold the gorgeous ensign of the republic, now known and honored throughout the earth, still full high advanced, its arms and trophies streaming in their original luster, not a stripe erased or polluted, not a single star obscured, bearing for its motto no such miserable interrogatory as-What is all this worth? Nor those other words of delusion and folly-Liberty first and

Union afterward; but everywhere, spread all over, in characters of living light, blazing on all its ample folds, as they float over the sea and over the land, and in every wind under the whole heavens, that other sentiment, dear to every true American heart,-Liberty AND Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!

SCHOOLING A HUSBAND.

Mrs. Centre was jealous. She was one of those discontented women who are never satisfied unless something goes wrong. When the sky is bright and pleasant they are annoyed because there is nothing to grumble at. The trouble is not with the outward world, but with the heart, the mind.

Her husband was a very good sort of person, though he probably had his peculiarities. At any rate, he had a cousin whose name was Sophia Smithers, and who was very pretty, very intelligent, and very amiable.

Centre and his wife boarded at a private establishment. At the same house also boarded Centre's particular, intimate, and confidential friend Wallis.

Wallis could not help observing that Mrs. Centre watched her husband very closely, and Centre at last confessed that there had been some difficulty. So they talked the matter over together and came to the conclusion that it was very stupid for any one to be jealous. What they did, I don't know, but one evening Centre entered the room and found Mrs. Wallis there. "My dear, I am obliged to go out a few moments to call upon a friend," said Centre.

"To call upon a friend!" sneered Mrs. Centre.
"Yes, my dear, I shall be back presently.”
"The old story."

"If it was my husband I would follow him," said Mrs. Wallis.

"I will! Sophia Smithers lives very near and I am sure he is going there."

Centre had gone up stairs to put on his hat and overcoat, and in a moment she saw him on the stairs. She could not mistake him, for there was no other gentleman in the house who wore such a peculiarly shaped Kossuth as he wore.

He passed out and Mrs. Centre passed out after him. She followed the queer shaped Kossuth of her husband and it led her to C- street, where she had And further, it led her

expected it would lead her.

to the house of Smithers, the father of Sophia.

She was shown into the sitting-room where the beautiful girl of many virtues was engaged in sewing. "Is my husband here?" she demanded.

"Mr. Centre? Bless you, no! He hasn't been here for a month."

Gracious! Hadn't she followed that unmistakable hat to the house?

She was amazed at the coolness of her husband's fair cousin. Before she had believed it was only a flirtation; now, she was sure it was something infinitely worse, and she thought about a divorce; or at least a separation.

She was astonished and asked no more questions. Did the guilty pair hope to deceive her-her, the arguseyed wife? She had some shrewdness, and she had the cunning to conceal her purpose by refraining from any appearance of distrust. After a few words upon common-place topics, she took her leave.

For

When she reached the sidewalk there she planted herself, determined to wait till Centre came out. more than an hour she stood there nursing the yellow demon of jealousy. He came not.

She was catching her death-cold. What did he care. He was bestowing his affections upon her who had no legal right to them.

The wind blew, and it began to rain. She could

stand it no longer. She should die before she got the divorce. She must preserve her precious life for the present, and she reluctantly concluded to go home.

She rushed into the house. Mrs. Wallis was there still. Throwing herself upon the sofa she wept like a great baby. While weeping, Mr. Centre entered the room, looking just as though nothing had happened. "You wretch!" sobbed the lady.

"What is the matter, my dear?" coolly inquired the gentleman.

"You wretch!"

"What has happened?"

"You insult me, abuse me, and then ask me what the matter is! Haven't I been waiting in C―

street for two hours for you to come out of Smithers' house?" "Have you?"

"I have, you

wretch !

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"And I didn't come out?"

"No! You know you didn't!"

"There was an excellent reason for that, my dear. I wasn't there."

"You wasn't there, you wretch! How dare you tell me such an abominable lie! But I have found you out. You go there every day, yes, twice, three times a day! I know your amiable cousin, now! She can lie as well as you."

"Sophia tell a lie! Oh no, my dear!"

"But she did. She said you were not there." "That was very true; I was not."

"How dare you tell me such a lie! You have been with Sophia all the evening."

66

Nay, Mrs. Centre, you are mistaken," interposed Mrs. Wallis, "Mr. Centre has been with me in this room all the evening."

"What! Didn't I see him go out, and follow him to C street?"

"No, my dear, I haven't been out this evening. I changed my mind."

Just then Wallis entered the room with that peculiar Kossuth on his head, and the mystery was explained. Mrs. Centre was not a little confused, and very much ashamed of herself.

Wallis had been in Smithers' library smoking a cigar, and had not seen Sophia.

But Centre should have known better than to tell his wife what a pretty, intelligent, amiable and kind-hearted girl Sophia was. No husband should speak well of any lady but his wife.

RURAL LIFE IN ENGLAND.

In rural life there is nothing mean and debasing. It leads a man forth among scenes of natural grandeur and beauty; it leaves him to the workings of his mind, operated upon by the purest and most elevating of external influences. Such a man may be simple and rough, but he can not be vulgar. The man of refinement, therefore, finds nothing revolting in an intercourse with the lower orders in rural life, as he does when he casually mingles with the lower orders of cities. He lays aside his distance and reserve, and is glad to waive the distinctions of rank, and to enter into the honest, heartfelt enjoyments of common life. Indeed, the very amusements of the country bring men more and more together.

It is a pleasing sight, of a Sunday morning, when the bell is sending its sober melody across the quiet fields, to behold the country folk, in their best finery, with ruddy faces and modest cheerfulness, thronging tranquilly along the green lanes to church; but it is still more pleasing to see them in the evenings, gathering about their cottage doors, and appearing to exult in the humble comforts and embellishments which their own hands have spread around them.

-Irving.

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