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my uncle's store, as he wished, and sold stoves and kettles for a moderate salary, maybe he'd have set me up in life, by this time, and I'd been free to marry some pretty girl. But I speculated on my good looks, and got in the hands of sharpers.

There's one of those lilac gloves on the hall oil-cloth just by her door. I suppose I can take it and keep it, as she 's gone away and left it. She's as particular about her gloves as I amnot a spot of soil on it-No. 6, plump and tiny. What a splendid couple we would have made! We'd have been remarked whenever we went abroad. Heigh-ho! And here I am crossing the ocean to get rid of a pair of black lace mittens. What I shall do when I land in a city of strangers is a mystery to me. If this unknown elderly lady doesn't present me with a goldmine, I believe I'll go to manufacturing my Hair Tonique. It will sell, I know it willthere are men living on Fifth Avenue now, who 've got rich with smaller things. It'll be more valuable to mankind than sarsaparilla. I'll have my own picture put on the wrappers as evidence of its beautifying results-aw. It'll be the most convincing proof of its merits. Yes! I'll manufacture Hair Tonique-it will sell; I shall grow rich; Miss Mudge, that was, will die; I shall return to New York; hunt up the owner of this perfumed glove; throw myself-haw! waiter, "baggage for the steamer?" Yes.

Well, here I am, sir, all right. Oh, no-no danger of my being late. Where is the lady whose welfare it will be my constant effort to secure? I trust that she is as well as usual, and safely on board. "Your aunt is in the cabin, at present, but will come on deck before the boat leaves, when you will commit her to my charge."

Yes, a very fine day for leaving port; a very auspicious day, I may remark. (Confound it, it seems to me there's something strangely familiar about my gentleman of the green goggles, now that I see him outside of that dingy office.) "Wonder why your aunt doesn't come up on deck. Perhaps you'd better speak to her, as the last bell is ringing, and they 're about to cast off." (His voice is peculiar-it reminds me of Bangs' every time I hear it. I wish he'd hurry up the old lady. The wheel is already beginning to splash, and it'll be awkward to have to introduce myself, after all.)

The boat's actually beginning to move, and he's down in the cabin yet. No! he isn'tthat's him on the dock; he got off in the nick of time. No, it isn't him-it's Bangs! He's

holding the green goggles in his hand, and yelling something. Good Heavens! a horrible suspicion begins to take possession of me. That wretch has been playing off another trick on me. Captain-haw, captain, stop the steamer -do! I've forgotten something; I want to get off! Yes, it's the green merino looming up from below, and that incorrigible villain yelling from the dock: "My deah Frederick, allow me to introduce you to-Mrs. Fitzquisite! I'm rather late about it, but it don't mind. Take -good-care-of-my-dear-aunt.”

I've been sick, have I not? Are we on shore now? How dreadfully those waves tumbled and rolled my brain kept going the same way. Did you say we were safe on shore? What's been the matter with me? "Brain fever." Well, really, I didn't know I had brains enough to get up a fever; I've been told I hadn't. You've taken good care of me, I know; but I don't believe I should ever have recovered if you hadn't taken off that green merino dress. You see, I'd taken a prejudice against it, and every time it came around my bed I had such horrible fancies. What shall I call you, my dear-Mudge? Although we 're bound together in the bonds of matrimony, I don't know your first name. "Belinda." Well, Belinda, you've been kinder to me than I deserved, considering the manner in which I treated you. I have got over my dislike to your worsted headdress and your black-lace mittens; I don't know but that I could even see you resume your green merino with composure. You've been patient and good with me; I could feel considerable affection for you if you were my aunt, and I wish you were, I do, indeed. I'd be willing to go to work as soon as I got strong enough, and help support you, and be a good nephew to you.

Yes, I believe I could eat a little chickenbroth. I feel hungry to-day, and you 've made this so nice. But say, Belinda, these rooms are dreadfully plain, and I'd like to know what keeps you so busy out in the other one all day, and what that queer rub-a-dub is, that I hear so much. "Does it hurt my head?" Not particularly, only it bothered it, guessing what it could be. "Washing!" And what are you washing so much for? "To earn something to keep me in wine and broth, and pay for these rooms, mean as they are." Haw! is it possible! Do you really sit up with me half the night, and then wash and iron all day to keep me comfortable? Haw! well, I never! You're a splendid woman, Belinda, if you don't know

how to dress in good taste. You make me awfully ashamed of myself; you do, indeed! I'll never marry another woman for the sake of being supported. Taking in washing! for the fellah that treated her so shabbily. My gwacious, it's enough to make me excuse her mittens!

Belinda, have you such a thing as a mirror in the room? I'd like to look at myself. I've just been putting my hand up to my headha! it's a fact! Where's my hair gone? say, what's been done with my hair? "Obliged to shave my head." Oh, horrible! what a fright I must be! No, it won't hurt me to look in the glass; it'll hurt me more not to; I'm in such suspense it'll be better to let me look. If you don't, I shall fret myself into another fever. Come, my dear woman, give me a mirror, do! Ridiculous! you don't pretend that's me in that bit of glass! Bring me another mirror; it must be the fault of the glass. Well, if that's really myself, I must say that if I'd met Frederic Fitzquisite in his own old rooms, before his own old mirror, I shouldn't have recognized him. Heigh-ho! My dear, have you such a thing as a pair of old curling-tongs? I wish you'd get them out of your trunk, and lay them down here on the pillow. They remind me of old times. I've no occasion for them now, but I'd just like to look at them.

Belinda, what on earth is that fellah coming in here with his instruments for? Is he going to survey me? "Only a photographer." What's a photographer to do here, I'd like to know. Going to take my picture! No, he isn't; I won't allow it. Belinda, do you think I'm going to die, and yet keep it from me? or what can be your reason for wishing to take my likeness now, when I look so perfectly frightful? "You'll tell me when I get well." I believe you 're out of your head, or are trying to get me out of mine. Look heah, fellah, you needn't get things ready, for I won't be taken. I'll put my hands over my face, I'll scowl, I'll scare everybody. "That's just what you want; you don't care how bad I look; the worse the better!" Belinda, you're playing some joke on me; you're going to mortify me by sending such a picture home to my friends. You sha'n't, you sha'n't. Photographer, if you dare, I'll thrash you as soon as I get well enough. Let go my hands! let go! I'll make a horrible face. There!

I told you I would, my dear, and I did. I'll wager that fellah never took a worse looking man in his life. You think so, too! you're delighted with it! "Will be worth a fortune

to us within a year." Well, my dear, if you're not about half crazed, I am. I didn't think you'd be so mean as to take advantage of a sick man. "I mustn't be sick any more, but must get well as fast as I can, and go to manufacturing Hair Tonique. And in the mean time, I must use up what I have on hand on my own head. ' That's a good idea, my dear. I never expected to stand in such need of that Tonique. But, now that I've nothing else to take up my mind, I'll attend faithfully to my head. I'll rub it in six times a day, half an hour at a time. While you're busy with that dismal washing, I'll attend to my hair. I shall feel happier to have something to do.

Six weeks has wrought perfect wonders! It's six weeks to-day since I began the use of the Tonique. Have you observed, my love, how abundant my hair has become, and what a beautiful natural curl there is to it. I shall never have to use the curling-tongs again. These ringlets are as lovely as a young girl's. I don't wonder you was tempted to kiss me this morning, my dear. I believe I look bettah than I did before I left New York. I'm growing confounded handsome-aw! My dear wife, don't you think so? My color is so fine, and my hair perfect. "Would like to have me walk out, and get my picture taken again?" Haw! there's some sense in that, now.

Will

ingly, if you've got the money to pay for it. You must think a good deal of me, to be willing to do up six dozen shirts to pay for my photograph. It does a fellah good to be appreciated ; if I ever get able, I'll return the compliment, my dear. And, to tell the truth, Belinda, if you'd follow my taste in your dress, and would use the Tonique, too, you'd be a very passable woman yet. (A fellah don't feel like finding fault with a woman that takes in washing to keep him comfortable.)

I wish you'd tell me what business you have on hand that you keep such a secret from me. My curiosity has been aroused for some days, and here's a perfect haystack of printed paper coming into the house. Let me see one of them, Belinda. Good gwacious! what have you been about! If you haven't gone and got that frightful likeness of me engraved and printed on all those bills. Oh, ho! here's the other, too! "Quite a contrast!" I should think there was! Why in thunder didn't you tell me what you were about, so that I needn't have made up such a terrible scowl. Really, my deah, it's too bad! I can't consent"That's going to prove the success of the

whole matter." Haw! I suppose so; but a fellah don't like to be caricatured for the benefit"But the other likeness is flattering enough to make it all up." So it is-aw! it's very fine; in fact, I may say, excessively handsome, though I hardly think it flatters. And now let's see what further you've done. (Reads.)

PRESTIDIGITORIAL HAIR TONIQUE.

This wonderful invention of the proprietor is very properly called the "prestidigitorial," not only because it requires nothing but a faithful application with the digits to the capillary roots, but because of its sudden and marvellous effects, resembling those produced by the most celebrated magicians of the day. It would be idle to attempt to set forth its merits in words; the resources of the printer are not sufficient; we have therefore called to our aid the photographer. The sun cannot be made to tell lies; he has here faithfully depicted two likenesses of the same individual; one taken immediately after the total loss of his hair by brain fever; the other only six weeks later, during which period he relied solely upon a constant application of the TONIQUE. We feel that no other proof is required of its remarkable and astonishing efficacy. Look at these two photographs of the same individual, and go immediately to any respectable druggist or merchant, and buy a bottle of the HAIR TONIQUE.

You're right, Belinda. The loss of my hair is going to be the gain of my fortune. All we need to do is to advertise. Just get these two faces before the public-print 'em in papers and magazines, frame 'em and hang 'em up in shops and steamboats, wrap 'em around bottles -that's the idea. Hail Columbia! I didn't think you were so much of a woman, when I dodged you so desperately for so many weeks. For that injustice I beg your pardon. Let bygones be by-gones. I married a fortune, after all, when I married you, my dear. We'll sell our Hair Tonique all over the world, and when we get able, we'll go back to New York, and build a brown stone on Fifth Avenue, and I'll resume my old occupation of promenading the fashionable thoroughfares, and being admired by the ladies-aw! No objections, I s'pose, my deah, seeing I can't help being goodlooking.

"Did I ever guess how it was that Bangs came to answer my advertisement ?" No; how was it? "It was the reference to the Tonique that betrayed me." Haw! I shouldn't wonder! Really, I never thought of it before. Well, my deah, I'll give you the receipt for the

Tonique, and you can get help, and set to work and get it into market. My part will be to look well on the wrappers. I always had a presentiment that I wasn't created so confounded good-looking for no purpose. I've found out now it's my destiny to adorn the labels of the great Prestidigitorial Hair Tonique-aw! All right. Go ahead. Some men are born great, and some have greatness thrust upon them. I belong to both classes. If the public are as satisfied with the results of the great prestidigatorial, as I am with my destiny, they'll never quarrel with the Tonique. Go ahead, Belinda.

SKELETON FLOWERS.

In a recent number of the Book we asked for a receipt to prepare Skeleton Flowers. An obliging subscriber has furnished us with the following. Another method will be found ou page 80 of the July number, 1861.

Directions.-The leaves should be steeped in rain-water in broad open bowls, and exposed to the sun and air until all the soft parts are perfectly decayed. The water should not be changed, but the bowls filled as the water evaporates. Some kinds of leaves will be ready to clean in the course of three or four weeks, others will require a much longer time; but as it depends very much upon the heat of the sun and the age of the leaves when gathered, no precise period can be named. In some leaves the skin will peel off in small particles, in others it can be peeled off entire, or it may decay altogether.

The bowls should be examined occasionally, and the leaves ready for cleaning removed to a basin of soft water; they should then be gently rubbed in the water with the fingers till every particle of skin or green pulp is removed from the fibre should this not succeed, the stronger leaves may be cleaned with soap and flannel. This will finish the skeletonizing process. The fibres should then be carefully dried, having first pressed them in a soft towel, in order to remove the moisture. They are now ready for bleaching, and may be laid away until a sufficient quantity is collected.

The liquor for bleaching is prepared by pouring a quart of boiling water upon a quarter of a pound of chloride of lime, in the powder. This should be allowed to stand until cold, and the clear liquor strained off, which may be bottled for use. When wanted for bleaching, mix with cold water in about the proportions

of one part of the liquor to twenty of water, in shallow dishes; lay the leaves in, and let them remain until perfectly white, when they must be removed immediately, and dried in blotting-paper. If this solution should not be strong enough to bleach them in ten or twelve hours, a little more of the liquor must be added, but care must be taken not to use too much, or the finer fibres will be destroyed.

In the dissecting process, the leaves invariably come off their stems; they may be mounted, when bleached, either among branched stalk, previously dried and bleached, or on fine wire, covered with white tissue-paper.

The leaves should be gathered when fully grown, or the fibre is not sufficiently strong, and some leaves dissect much better than others. Amongst these are the poplar, maple, pear, ivy, holly, magnolia, etc.; the seed vessels of the large oriental poppy, the thorn, apple, and henbane dissect well, and many smaller seed vessels, after they have shed their seeds, may be dried, and then bleached without steeping in water, as first directed.

SOME HINTS ABOUT LADY'S BONNETS. A BLACK bonnet with white feathers, with white, rose, or red flowers, suits a fair complexion. A lustreless white bonnet does not suit well with fair and rosy complexions. The white bonnet may have flowers, either white rose, or particularly blue. A light blue bonnet is particularly suitable to the light-haired type; it may be ornamented with white flowers, and in many cases with yellow and orange flowers, but not with rose or violet flowers. A green bonnet is advantageous to fair or rosy complexions; it may be trimmed with white flowers, but preferably with rose. A rose-colored bonnet must not be too close to the skin; and if it is found that the hair does not produce sufficient separation, the distance from the rosecolor may be increased by means of white, or green, which is preferable; a wreath of white flowers in the midst of their leaves has a good effect. A black bonnet does not contrast so well with the ensemble of the type with black hair as with the other type; yet it may produce a good effect, and receive advantageously accessories of white, red, rose, orange, and yellow. A white bonnet gives rise to the same remarks as those which have been made concerning its use in connection with the blonde type, except that for the brunettes it is better to give the preference to accessories of red, rose, orange, and

Bonnets of

also yellow, rather than to blue. rose, red, cerise, are suitable for brunettes when the hair separates as much as possible the bonnet from the complexion. White feathers accord well with red; and white flowers, with abundance of leaves, have a good effect with rose. A yellow bonnet suits a brunette very well, and receives with advantage violet or blue accessories; the hair must always interpose between the complexion and headdress. It is the same with bonnets of an orange color more or less broken, such as chamois. Blue trimmings are eminently suitable with orange and its shades. A green bonnet is suitable to fair and light rosy complexions; rose, red, or white flowers are preferable to all others. A blue bonnet is only suitable to a fair or bright red complexion; nor can it be allied to such as have a tint of orange-brown. When it suits a brunette, it may take with advantage yellow or orange trimmings. A violet bonnet is always unsuitable to every complexion, since there are none which yellow will suit. Yet if we interpose between the violet and the skin, not only the hair, but also yellow accessories, a bonnet of this color may become favorable. As an important memorandum, it must be added, that whenever the color of a bonnet does not realize the intended effect, even when the complexion is separated from the headdress by masses of hair, it is advantageous to place between the hair and the bonnet certain accessories.

TO A WHIP-POOR-WILL.

BY W. S. GAFFNEY.

WHEN shades of evening fall on all around,
And silent are the woodland warbler's tougues,
Near by my lowly cot thy notes resound-
Thy thrilling notes-bird of the bellows lungs!
And doth thy welcome evening's serenade
My soul with new-born inspiration fill,
As o'er the bosom of the sleeping glade
Thy weird notes fall, thou plaintive Whip-poor-will!
Thine is a life of solitude profound;

Thy mid-day absence, too, a mystery!
What fate induces thee to rest, spell-bound,
Till Sol sinks deep beneath Hesperia's sea?

Art thou the spirit of departed clay,

Erst doomed to roam a trackless woodland goal?— Thy cancelled notes throughout the live-long day, And evening anthems, penance for a soul? Nay! legends eld would weave a witchery Around thy being, linked with solitude; But God, in his great wisdom, gave to thee The night-realm, where no day-bird dare intrude! Nor marvel I at superstition's spell,

When man God's own immaculate would wrong! That song is Heaven's gift; thou, too, canst tell, Thou feathered one-thou poet-bird of song!

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