Thou darling of thy sire! (Why, Jane, he'll set his pinafore afire!) Thou imp of mirth and joy! In love's dear chain so strong and bright a link, Thou idol of thy parents!-(Drat the boy! There's goes my ink!) 3. Thou cherub-but of earth; (That dog will bite him, if he pulls his tail!) (He'll break the mirror with that skipping-rope!) With pure heart newly stamped from nature's mint, (Where did he learn that squint?) 4. Thou young domestic dove! (He'll have that jug off, with another shove!) Dear nursling of the hymeneal nest! (Are those torn clothes his best?) Little epitome of man! (He'll climb upon the table-that's his plan!) Touched with the beauteous tints of dawning life, (He's got a knife!) Thou enviable being! No storms, no clouds, in thy blue sky foreseeing, 5. Toss the light ball-bestride the stick, (I knew so many cakes would make him sick!) With fancies buoyant as the thistle-down, 6. Prompting the face grotesque, and antic brisk, (He's got the scissors, snipping at your gown!) (Go to your mother, child, and wipe your nose!) I cannot write, unless he's sent above!) BOUGHT AT A BARGAIN.-J. HOGG. 1. "I AM sure, my dear, then, you cannot object to my attending only one or two of the auctions. Everybody else goes." "But what do you wish to buy?" 66 Oh, nothing—that is, I know of nothing." "Then, of course, you want no money?" "I didn't say that—one would feel so foolish, you know, without any money in one's purse." "But why should one feel so foolish, when one does not want to buy?" Now, George, you are so provoking. Give me some money, and say nothing about it." "Easier said than done, my darling." 2. Kate went to the auction—but she went determined not to buy. We know the fact, because she protested it to her husband, the very latest thing before she left the house; and because she protested the same thing over to herself, as she tied on her bonnet. To guard against temptation, she rolled the notes very snugly up in her purse, pressed back the ring upon them with extraordinary care, and then very carefully put the purse away in her bag, and took her bag upon her arm, as she sallied out to find some one to accompany her to the sale, which she was so anxious to attend, positively for nothing. 3. "It's a ruinous sacrifice," said the auctioneer, as the ladies entered. "I have seen property frequently thrown away in my time-but never anything like this before. Only ten dollars--I'm offered-ten dollars-ten dollars-ten dollarsten doll-ten-ten-ten-shall I have any more? Why, I should not make a boot-black's commission off the furniture of the Astor House, to sell it out in this way! Eleven I am offered-thank you, ma'am, you show your discriminationeleven-eleven—now, is not this really too bad, ma'am ?” 4. Kate endured all the sufferings of a sensitive mind, at the absolute bankruptcy that the eloquent auctioneer made the several owners suffer upon every article sold—but she had promised George so positively, and without his requiring a promise, that she would buy nothing, that she did not like to break her word. She did not even venture upon a single bid, though strongly tempted so to do more than once, till a Brussels carpet-nearly new-used only one winter-was put up for the competition of the ladies. She wanted just such a thing, she thought, to put in her basement, and if she had only known that a Brussels carpet was to be sold, and sold for nothing too, as Mr. Bell solemnly assured her it was going, she certainly would have come determined to buy it. But as she was determined not to buy, what could she do, you know? 5. "Here it is, ladies-nearly new-used only one season, and that very carefully. It cost originally four dollars and fifty cents a yard, and is sold only because the owner is breaking up housekeeping. There are forty yards in the piece, more or less; what shall I have for the carpet? Ten dollars! you are joking, ma'am, worth more than that to cover ice in -ten dollars, ten dollars-why, I will give that for it myself, for my dog to sleep on-ten dollars, worth more than fifty at the least-ten dollars-ten guineas would come nearer―ten dol-ten dol-ten dol-" 6. "Eleven," said Kate. Now the rubicon was passed. "Eleven, thank you, ma'am, but you are positively too cruel. You are taking advantage of the owner's necessities, and my positive orders. Eleven dol-twelve I'm offeredtwelve, and it's going-twelve, twelve, twelve-sorry you've lost it, ma'am, for you look as if you ought to have it"— 66 Thirteen," cried Kate. She couldn't stand unmoved at such an appeal. 7. 66 Thirteen-now I breathe a little-but it's only a gasp -thirteen-it's but a straw to a drowning man, but I catch at it. Thirteen; will you see this beautiful article sold for less than it would be worth to pack crockery with, torn into shreds -thirteen-thir-fourteen I heard thank you, ma'am. Fourteen," he continued, rolling a roguish leer at Kate-"Fourteen, fourteen, four-four-one dollar more, ma'am, and you will have it—fourteen; you really can't mind a dollar--fourteen, fourteen, quick, or you lose it-fourteen; hard, ma'am, but fair-four-teen-four-" 8. “Fifteen,” said Kate, whose pride was now touched— but who really began to doubt whether the auctioneer was half as anxious as he pretended that she should get the carpet. She was determined to have it now, in spite of the auctioneer. Perhaps he did not suspect her determination. 66 9. Fifteen dollars-well, there's just about one quarter of the value. The man won't pay ten per cent. if all his assets go in this way. Fifteen dollars !—why, really in times like these, persons who are untouched should be generous to the losers,-fifteen-dollars-fifteen-dollars! Just think, ladies, of the heavenly associations connected with this carpet-the domestic bliss-fifteen dollars-the gambolings of the little innocent children-fifteen dollars-fif--teen--fif-" 10. "Is the carpet spotted ?" inquired a shrill old maid's treble. "Not a spot or blemish-sixteen-shall I have it-pure as the ermine of justice-sixteen I'm offered-only ermine is white, and this is figured-sixteen, sixteen, sixteen-you see, ma'am, others have good taste as well as yourself—six-teen -six-teen-six-once, twice-now or never--going at sixteen--going-going—" 11. "Seventeen," from Kate. "The blessings of the widow and orphan rest upon you, ma'am―you've added a dollar to the widow's mite,-seventeen-seventeen--sev-en--teen-sev-en--eighteen, shall I have it-eighteen I'm offered. 'Tis a reprieve of a moment-eighteen-oh, for a full release--eighteen-an unconditional pardon in a forty dollar bid-eighteen--eighteen-once, twice-" 12. "Nineteen!" "That's nearer the ticket--thank you, ma'am. Come, ladies, excuse my abruptness, but I can't dwell on anything; must positively drop the mallet on this without one word more--but nineteen is an odd sum--very odd it is that nobody will make it even-twenty, did I hear ?-twenty I am offered-twenty-twenty-I shan't tell anybody who this belonged to till it's sold-twenty-twenty-twenty-twenI shall keep the secret for the lucky purchaser-twenty dollars-it was not exactly Fanny Elssler's-twenty-the first fashion-twenty-the elite of the city-rather odd, but couldn't help it-twenty-twenty-" 13. "One,” cried Kate. 66 Twenty-one !-your husband never will be poor--twentyone--economy consists more in spending money properly than in not spending at all. Twenty-two, shall I have ittwenty-two I'm offered-twenty-two-twenty-two-" "Three!" "Good again-true spirit, not to be distanced-four, I'm offered-twenty-four-twenty-" "Five!" "Twenty-five, six, shall I have it?" "Six," shouted Kate, now fairly excited, forgetting, and over-bidding herself. |