THE WORK-TABLE FRIEND.

NETTED CURTAINS.

Materials.-Messrs. W. Evans and Co.'s Boar's Head Cotton, No. 8, and Royal Embroidery Cotton, No. 16. A bone mesh, about a quarter of an inch wide, will make a nice-sized diamond.

THE entire curtain is to be done in ordinary diamond netting, on which the design safterwards to be darned. The number of stitches must depend entirely on the ength required for the curtains. It will equire 36 for each pattern; and as, with the mesh we have given, about five patterns will make the depth of a yard, it will be asy to calculate precisely the number of titches required for curtains of any given ength. With regard to the width, this also nust necessarily depend on the size of the window. Each stripe occupies 38 rows, or 19 squares, the border being of the same

dimensions; and any number of repetitions can be made. Curtains are extremely pretty if worked in alternate stripes of darned netting, and a fancy stitch which is not darned. In page 135, Vol. IV., Family Friend, we gave some instructions. for netting, which it may be useful to read from time to time.

The design for the border itself would perhaps be preferred, by some people, to the flower stripes. A very handsome netted lace border should be worked on one side, and at the bottom of each curtain.

A GOSSIP ON CHILDREN'S DRESS.

WE should hardly merit our title of The Family Friend could we, in our discussions on dress and the toilet, overlook that portion of it which relates especially to the amily-to those little people in whose nice

appearance papas take so much pride, and at whose frocks and pelisses, and other items, mammas often labour so assiduously. Undoubtedly it is easy to dress a child handsomely, if we have some taste and plenty of money; for it is very easy to enter one of the Lilliputian warehouses, and select most elegant and tasteful articles of children's dress-if we have but money enough to pay for them. But, alas! most mammas, to whom expense is a consideration, know to their cost that they could buy a handsome dress or bonnet, or cloak, for themselves, for very little, if anything, more than the miniature articles needed for baby would amount to. And, after all, what is it? A mere scrap of muslin, or jean, or merino—a yard or two of work—a little braid there really seems nothing in it. The exquisitely nice work put into these articles is, however, a heavy item in the expense; and inasmuch as it furnishes employment to many who once occupied a good position in the world, and even now are obliged to maintain a respectable appearance, we are far from thinking that this beautiful and often tedious work is in the least degree overpaid, or advising those who can afford to purchase it, to waste their own time over its execution. But for one mother who can afford so to indulge her taste, and employ the skilled labour of others, at least ten feel that it is their imperative duty to labour themselves—not to earn, but to save; and to such, we trust our hints on the prevailing modes for the nursery may be acceptable. Undoubtedly there is hardly a pleasure so great in the whole range of woman's joys as that of preparing the wardrobe of the precious little being whose advent she so earnestly expects. It is a sacred happiness; a mingling of all the most human and most elevated sentiments -of love, hope, fear, and devotion-that can enter the human heart, The love of children seems to be so implanted in a woman's heart, that, destitute of it, she is hardly worthy of the name; and most confidently do we believe that a nature (whether man's or woman's) has much of the angel left in it still, that can enjoy the society and join in the frolics of a young child-that can meet, open-eyed, the pure gaze of infancy, and return the soft caress, and echo the merry laugh, of the happy romping child. We should feel that there

was some uncorrupted corner in the heart of such a man or woman, whatever crimes or errors might have defaced their own purity. To love one's own child, indeed, is no merit. It is merely rejoicing over our unspeakable wealth. "It would be unwise," says Coleridge, "to call that man wretched who, whatever else he suffers, as to pain inflicted or pleasure denied, has a child for whom he hopes and on whom he doats." And if this be true of the father, it is undoubtedly more so of the motherat least during the early periods of childhood, when her sorrow and suffering are still fresh in her recollection. Little should we envy the feelings of the woman who, whatever her wealth or position, could coolly purchase every article for the wardrobe of the little being who would first give her the name of mother. A robe, a cap, a something, however trifling, should be the work of her own hands. What other fingers could so neatly and tastefully ornament the appropriate clothing of "the loveliest little cherub in the world,"—a being that, although existing without an equal, belongs, as we know, to every mother, poor or rich?

But to return to the toilet. We scarcely ever remember the time when taste, comfort, and health were so well combined as in the present modes of dress for the rising generation. White is, of course, very much worn by girls of all ages, and boys under four years. The material employed, however, for little boys' dresses is either jean or twilled cambric; the former is most suitable, especially for pelisses. Both pelisses and dresses are very much trimmed with that open work on thick muslin, known by the term broderie Anglaise. It is much more suitable than any other kind, as, having seldom any open hem, it both washes and wears better. Worked trimmings that have an open-hem should be avoided by every one who does not desire the trouble of putting on fresh work two or three times before the article itself is worn out. It is very pretty, certainly; but that is all.

The pelisse given in our engraving is of white jean, trimmed with broderie and Russian white cotton braid. This latter is a thicker and more substantial fabric than the French cotton braid. It is also of a different make. Probably our friends will recognise the difference at once, if we say

that Russian braid is plaited like the Grecian plait, in which the hair is often dressed; whereas, the French braid is like an ordinary plait of five, seven, nine, or any other number. For fine thin muslin, the French braid should be used, but the other is best for all stout materials. The pelisse is made with a tight, high body, fastening behind, and braided up the front. The skirt has three widths of jean. The worked insertion is set between two, and is edged at each side by wide worked borders, sloped off towards the waist. A frill of the same is round the neck, and the deep cape is also trimmed with it. The pelisse just takes four yards of this work, and one strip of insertion of the length of the skirt. When it is desired to have the power of subsequently enlarging the dress, it is advisable not only to leave ample turnings-in at the seams of the body, but to cut it longer in the waist than is required, and to turn up an inch or so neatly. The skirt also should have an inch and a half, or more, turned in at the top, not merely of the jean itself, but of the work. The sleeves, too, should have a tuck in them, near the shoulder. White always looking new when it is clean, it is quite worth while to practise these little pieces of economy. The dress may thus be made to look as good the second year as

the first.

Pelisses for babies are made and trimmed in just the same way. Little girls and small boys wear sashes with them, either of rich broad ribbon, or of sarsenet. If the latter, half the width of the sarsenet is quite ample for the bows and streamers. Boys of three or four years old wear handsome silk girdles more frequently than sashes. Frocks are trimmed with the same kind of work as pelisses, only the pattern is invariably a handsome Vandyke. Usually the bottom of the skirt is edged with work, above which, alternate tucks and insertion are placed, quite up to the waist. We will shortly give a pretty pattern for a child's dress. Sashes for in-doors are frequently worn in the Scotch scarf style, over the left shoulder, and under the right arm, the bows and streamers being fastened in front at the right side. This style is very pretty for any but very young children. Coloured dresses, in de laine, or any similar material, are worn braided as represented in the engraving. The body made in folds, en

SELBORNE HALL.
CHAPTER V.

IN WHICH VISITORS ARRIVE AT SELBORNE.

THE breakfast-room at Selborne Manor was one of the prettiest in the whole house. We doubt if an apartment more pleasant and agreeable could be found in all England. It had a large bow-window, filled with diamond-shaped panes, set in oak, through which you looked upon a spreading landscape. There were the gardens, full of flowers, which grew to beauty under the gentle care of Violet; not many yards distant from these the ground sloped rapidly, so rapidly that the tops of the trees which grew in the hollow seemed nearly on a level with the flowers underneath the windows; in the distance you could see the rich tract of pasture-land, through which the river flowed like a silver ribbon, and the cattle, as they grazed, looked scarcely larger than the flowers of the adjoining parterre; you could see glimpses of the road, as it wound among the trees, with vistas of pleasant farm-houses; while to the right, close to the village, which might be seen peeping from openings in the foliage, stood the parsonage house, so closed in by

trees that it seemed as if it were in a bower.

But we return to the breakfast-room; for, on the morning which succeeded the ball, the family party are assembled there. They are discussing, as is natural, the events of the previous evening. Lady Maitland is talking about her neighbours, and expressing her surprise how Colonel Trevylyan, whom she had not seen for very many years, should turn up in such a place.

Violet Clare is listening with grave attention, interrupting the easy flow of her aunt's conversation by an occasional rather quizical observation, at the expense of her partners, among which the unfortunate officers of dragoons came in for rather more than their share; the Lieutenant is listening in silence, or whistling at intervals a stave of the well-known air of Rule Britannia; and the Baronet is occupied with the county papers. In short, the whole party are spending that half hour which succeeds the discussion of breakfast as pleasantly and as sociably as possible, and are beginning to think of separating for their various occupations or amusements, when a light carriage, drawn by two prancing grays, was seen ascending the slope, not far from the porter's lodge.

"An early visitor," quoth Sir Peregrine; "I'll get out of the way."

"'Tis the Castleton carriage, or rather one of them," responds her Ladyship.

"Ah!" said the Baronet, "I remember now my neighbour intimated his intention to drive round on his way to Dto have a look at my new breed of short-horns." "But he's early in the field."

"No! it is we who are late-eleven bells, as we say on board," interrupted the sailor, looking at his watch.

"We must go and make ourselves fit to be seen. Come along, Violet !" said Lady

Maitland.

"There you are, just like all women, think of nothing but dress. When you were so admirably got up' last night, you might afford, I think, to let people see you en deshabille in the morning. I don't go and change my shooting-jacket;" and Sir Peregrine, as he spoke, plunged both his hands, -with the resolution of a man who thinks he looks sufficiently well, however ill he may be used,-into the capacious pockets of a garment, which would certainly have justified Brummel in asking the question, which gained him such fame.

But ere he had finished his speech the ladies had left by a side-door, and the carriage came bowling along the terrace in front of the house.

"Why, you are early; didn't expect to see you so soon; just in time for breakfast," Sir Peregrine said, throwing up the window, and hailing his visitor.

"Aha! you know the old proverb about

the old bird-caught you, eh! Sir Peregrine," said the peer, with a gay laugh, as he reined in his horses, and brought them to a stand beside the hall door.

Lord Castleton was one of the best-bred men in Europe. His sprightly flow of spirits, with his easy and off-hand manners, would have dazzled & superficial observer; but any one accustomed to look deeper than the surface would have seen that behind this polished and bland exterior lurked a constant watchfulness, a vigilance that never slept when the interests of Lord Castleton were concerned. It would not have been by any means so easy to detect even the faintest trace of such circumspection in his son. The worst, and, indeed, the only enemy that young gentleman ever had, as those who knew him best were wont to assert, was himself: he had all the vices and follies of his class, with some, but not many, of their virtues.

"And so you liked the ball, Mr. Capel?" said the Baronet, when his visitors had seated themselves. "How long is it now since you and Charles met?"

"Almost six years now. He is greatly altered; but he is as good a fellow as ever.' "Ah! we'll see him a post-captain ere long, that we will, Sir Peregrinefrom our country always rise," said Lord Castleton.

-men

"I don't like pushing on the boy too fast," replied the father. "He has plenty of time before him yet; there is nothing like experience. I have known many a man fail, merely because he had got into deep water a little too soon."

"Before he had learned to swim-eh? That observation can scarcely apply to our friend. Five years is a tolerable apprenticeship, even in the navy. Remember, Pitt was a minister at twenty-one.”

"Ay-but Lord Nelson was double that age before he became an admiral."

"Now, which do you think the most difficult, to govern a nation or command a fleet-eh, Sir Peregrine?'

Why, I think to govern a woman is probably more difficult than either,” replied the Baronet, avoiding a direct answer.

"But that reminds me-your ladies have not slept off the fatigue of last night-we shall not see them, I suppose."

"That was precisely to what I referred. They have gone to dress themselves for