mellowed. The vicar, however, appeared insensible to the joke, although Mrs. Seymour maintained that this expressive pantomime was not lost upon him, for she had observed a cloud pass over his brow, as he hastily pushed away the sugar, and substituted the pepper castor in its place. We are inclined to coincide with Mrs. Seymour in her opinion; and, if the affair has been correctly reported, it will add much probability to the conjecture; for, it is said, that, upon some conference of the vicar with Miss Kitty, the artless lady misconstrued a passing expression of friendly kindness into a declaration of a more tender nature, and accordingly breathed in soft accents her ready compliance, which so astonished, offended, and incensed our hero, that his indications of indignation amounted to something very like fury; and the squat vinegar bottle found, to her dismay, that she had been ogling a castor which contained pepper instead of sugar. But let us return to our party.

After the evening repast had been concluded, Tom proposed a ramble through the shrubbery. He was anxious to revisit the scene of his former

she was also desirous of showing him the botanical clock, which had been planned and completed since his absence. Mr. Seymour accompanied his children, and as they walked across the lawn, Tom asked his papa whether he remembered the promise he had made him on quitting home for school, that of furnishing him with some new amusements during the holidays.

"I perfectly remember," said his father, "the promise to which you allude, and I hope that you equally well recollect the conditions with which it was coupled. When your mamma gave you a copy of Mrs. Marcet's instructive Dialogues on Natural Philosophy, I told you that, after you had studied the principles which that work so admirably explains, you would have but little difficulty in understanding the philosophy of toys, or the manner in which each produced its amusing effects; and that, when the midsummer holidays commenced, I would successively supply you with a new amusement, whenever you could satisfactorily explain the principles of those you already possessed. "Was not that our contract?"

"It was," exclaimed Tom, with great eagerness," and I am sure I shall win the prize,

whenever you will put my skill to a trial; at which I hope my mamma and sisters will be present."

"Certainly," replied Mr. Seymour," and I trust that Louisa and Fanny, who are of an age to understand the subject, will not prove uninterested spectators. Little John, too, will profit by our scheme; for, as I shall necessarily require, for illustration, certain toys which can scarcely afford any amusement to a boy of your age and acquirements, it is but fair that they should be transferred into his hands."

"Thank you! thank you! dear papa," was simultaneously shouted by several voices, and the happy children looked forward to the morrow, with that mixed sensation of impatience and delight which always attends juvenile anticipations.

MR. TWADDLETON'S ARRIVAL, AND RECEPTION. HIS REMONSTRANCES AGAINST THE DIFFUSION OF SCIENCE AMONGST THE VILLAGE MECHANICS.A DIALOGUE BETWEEN MR. SEYMOUR AND THE VICAR, WHICH SOME WILL DISLIKE, MANY APPROVE OF, AND ALL LAUGH AT. THE PLAN OF TEACHING PHILOSOPHY, BY THE AID OF TOYS,

DEVELOPED AND DISCUSSED. MR. TWADDLETON'S OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. HE RELENTS, AND ENGAGES TO FURNISH AN ANTIQUARIAN HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS TOYS, AND SPORTS.

THE apartment, in which Mrs. Seymour and her daughters usually pursued their morning avocations, opened upon the lawn already described; Mr. Seymour's library window was at the eastern side of the house, and commanded a more extensive prospect. On the turf before the windows, while his mother and elder sisters were occupied in their morning-room, Tom, with his little playfellow, Rosa, who was a year younger than himself, were running races, or playing at ball; but, every now and then, Tom could not help thinking of papa, and his promise; and he would lead Rosa to the other side of the lawn to steal a peep into the library, in the hope of finding that his papa was preparing to quit it. After many an anxious peep, he at length had the satisfaction of seeing him throw aside his papers, and take up his hat; at this signal, they both set up a shout of triumph that would have astonished the female party, had they not immediately discovered its