Fashions for LONDON AND AND PARIS January 1858.

carry them with an ostentatious air of indifference, as if you had done wonders; whereas you have fairly had three slips, and can barely achieve the inside edge.

Now riders look sharp, and horses seem brittle in the legs, and old gentlemen feel so; and coachmen, cabmen, and others, stand swinging their arms across at their sides, to warm themselves; and blacksmiths' shops look pleasant, and potato-shops detestable; the fishmongers' still more so. We wonder how he can live in that plash of wet and cold fish, without even a window. Now clerks in offices envy the one next the fire-place; and men from behind counters hardly think themselves repaid by being called out to speak to a Countess in her chariot; and the wheezy and effeminate pastry cook, hatless and aproned, and with his hand in his breeches-pockets, (as the graphic CRUIKSHANK noticeth in his almanack) stands outside his door, chilling his household warmth with attending to the ice which is brought him, and seeing it unloaded into his cellar like coals. Comfortable look the Miss JONESES, coming this way with their muffs and furs; and the baker pities the maid-servant cleaning the steps, who, for her part, says she is not cold, which he finds it difficult to believe.

Now dinner rejoiceth the gatherers together, and cold meat is despised, and the gout defieth the morrow, thinking it but reasonable, on such a day, to inflame itself with "t'other bottle;" and the sofa is wheeled round to the fire after dinner, and people proceed to burn their legs in their boots, and little boys their faces; and young ladies are tormented between the cold and their complexions, and their fingers freeze at the piano-forte, but they must not say so, because it will vex their poor comfortable grandaunt, who is sitting with her knees in the fire, and who is so anxious that they should not be spoilt.

Now the muffin-bell soundeth sweetly in the streets, reminding us, not of the man, but his muffins, and of twilight, and evening, and curtains, and the fire-side. Now play-goers get cold feet, and invalids stop up every crevice in their rooms, and make themselves worse; and the streets are comparatively silent; and the wind rises and falls in moanings; and fires burn blue and crackle; and an easy chair, with your feet by it on a stool, the lamp or candles a little behind you, and an interesting book just opened where you left off, is a bit of heaven upon earth. People in cottages crowd close into the chimney, and tell stories of ghosts and murders, the blue flame affording something like evidence of the facts.

"The owl, with all her feathers, is a-cold,"

or you think her so. The whole country feels like a petrifaction of slate and stillness, cut across by the wind; and nobody in the mailcoach is warm but the horses, who steam pitifully when they stop. The "oldest man" makes a point of never having "seen such weather." People have a painful doubt whether they have any chins or not; ears ache with the wind; and the waggoner goes puckering up his teeth, and thinking the time will never arrive when he shall get to the Five Bells.

At night, people get sleepy with the fire-side, and long to go to bed, yet fear it on account of the different temperature of the bed-room; which is furthermore apt to wake them up. Warming-pans and hotwater bottles are in request; and naughty bays eschew their nightshirts, and go to bed in their socks.

"Yes," quoth a little boy, to whom we read this passage, "and make their younger brother go to bed first."-LEIGH HUNT.

JUVENILE SIMPLICITY.-A friend says the following story is a fact:-Two boys of tender years, who went by the names of Tom and Jack, became members of a district school in a certain New England town. On making their appearance the teacher called them up before the assembled school, and proceeded to make certain interrogatories concerning their names, age, etc. "Well, my fine lad," said the teacher to the first one, "what is your name?" "Tom," promptly answered the juvenile. "Tom!" said the teacher, "that dosen't sound well. Remember always to speak the whole name. You should have said Thom-as. Now, my son, (turning to the other boy, whose expectant face suddenly lighted up with the satisfaction of a newlycomprehended idea), now, then, will you tell me what your name is ?" "Jack ass!" replied the lad in a tone of confident decision. The teacher was taken with a sudden fit of coughing.

"You're

"WHо am I, now?" asked a bashful man of a precocious juvenile at a large party. "I know," was the unfeeling response.

THE FRENCH OFFICER.

(Continued from Vol. 30, page 93.)

5

The officer, interrupted in his narrative by the rattling of the diligence over the stones of a newly made portion of road, again resumed it when the diligence ran on smoother ground. He continued, "She always answered me intelligently and politely, yet so very briefly, that after several attempts I desisted, and renewed my intercourse with the more sociable father. When we arrived at the hotel, in the town we have just passed, we officers agreed to sup together. The father and daughter withdrew to their apartments. Our supper was prolonged until pretty late in the night; but, as we had to depart at the break of day, we at last separated to get a few hours' repose. Whether it was the fatigue of the journey, mental excitement, or the effect of an extra glass, I know not, but I felt no inclination to sleep. I took books out of my trunk-novels, travels, poetry-but all to no purpose. My eye glanced over the pages in a kind of vacuity, that left no distinct impression on the mind. I looked out at the moon, and paced up and down the room with a vague feeling of impatience and unhappiness, for no assignable reason. It was so very still that the ticking of my watch struck me with a distinctness so painful, that I stopped it.

"While in this state, I was startled by a voice quite near me, which I immediately knew for that of my fair fellow-traveller, warbling exquisitely, in a soft under-tone, the beautiful air, Nel Corpo,' from the opera of Idalide. For a moment I experienced a thrill of satisfaction that a human being was awake, and so near me. On examination I found that there was a door between my room and hers, apparently long nailed up and disused. Two or three times I was on the point of tapping, and of attempting a conversation, but, on each occasion, the thought of the impropriety and indelicacy of such conduct prevented me. As I was impatiently ruminating, she commenced in the same sotto voce the song from Trilby Lutrin, 'Ecoute.' I listened till she had concluded the first verse. Then taking up the tune, I sang, loud enough for her to hear, the second verse, where Trilby replies to Jenny. Her voice immediately ceased, and after a few light footsteps and gentle movements, I heard no farther noise in her chamber. I listened long and eagerly, and then reflected with compunction that I had taken an unwarrantable liberty in breathing one accent to a strange lady in her bed-room.

"It must have been very late, when, wearied more in mind than body, I threw myself, without undressing, on the bed. As for sleep, I had no expectation of it. I did sleep, however-a sleep I shall never forget. Frequently I was awaked by sudden starts, and when I slumbered again I was surrounded by strange forms and faces, that stared frightfully at me, and shouted in my ear. My dreams eventually assumed greater distinctness on my senses. I seemed to hear tumultuous voices, the roaring of drums, the ringing of bells, and occasionally peals like thunder: I felt oppressed by the glare of light. Even now, I am conscious of having suffered much in the throes of that deep and feverish sleep. A noise like thunder, and a violent vibration, startled me from my uneasy couch, and I sprung on the floor; I looked around me with half-scattered senses; my dreams still continued, for I heard the shouts and screams of hundreds of voices; the drums rolled their alarms, as on the eve of battle; numerous bells clanged forth their jangling notes, and the room glared red with rapid flashes, as if illuminated by the burstings of a volcano. Accustomed to danger, I soon collected myself; I approached the window, and saw that the town was on fire, and that the conflagration was raging around the very spot where I was sleeping. It was the blowing up of a house in the vicinity that had suddenly aroused me. high, and the flame, rolling on in broad sheets, w house to house. My hotel was evidently burning! It may well be supposed that I did not gaze long. I rushed toward my door, but at the very moment I recollected the lady near me. I paused-1 confess it but it was only a pause-whether I should not save myself. What, leave a helpless woman! never!' I knocked violently at her door-this was not a time for ceremony; I tried with all my strength to force an entry, but in vain; the door resisted my utmost efforts. Meanwhile the light became more and more bright, and the noise of the crowd increased below, as if nearer and more numerous. I sprung to my door, and found it closed; I remembered well, locking it before going to bed, and taking the key out, but had utterly forgotten where I had put it. After attempting to burst it open with my foot, I essayed with a chair, and then a table, till both were shivered into fragments, without as much as shaking the solid fastenings. I relaxed my exertions, exhausted and bathed in perspiration. Once more I

wind blew ading from

covered that the conflagration was rapidly hemming me in, and that they were actively plying fire-engines, and now and then blowing up houses to try to arrest its progress. As I could see by the light that the street below was crowded with people, I determined to call for assistance. The window-sashes closed by a construction that I did not understand, and my efforts to open them were unavailing. In my impatience I dashed both hands through the panes of glass, and though severely cut by them, I felt no pain at the time. The smoke poured in so dense and hot through the aperture I had made, that I had to retire; but reaching the window a second time, I called loudly for aid. Amid the clamour of voices and the roaring of the flames, a cannon could scarcely have been heard. I hallooed till I was aware that it was in vain, and the stifling vapour drove me from my position.

"The room began to be oppressively hot, and the floor parched my feet. I had faced death in a hundred battle-fields, and feared it not; but to die thus amid excruciating and protracted torments! I sank down on my bed in despair. The black smoke that had dashed against my window, was now mingled with gushes of dark-red flame, that shivered the remaining panes, and covered the room with a murky cloud. Good heavens !' I exclaimed, 'it is all over! I have nothing to do but die like a man.' My eyes, irritated by the vapour, were filled with tears, and I could no longer distinguish objects; my body was scorching, and I panted for breath, inhaling at every respiration a poisoned atmosphere. At this time a loud splash rattled through the shivered panes, and I was deluged with a shower of water. The fireengines were playing on the house, and the streams had penetrated my chamber. By the sudden affusion of cold water I was restored to life, and with it to hope. The air of the room was more clear and freshened. Once more I arose, resolved to make another effort at preservation. I seized the tongs and poker, and tried to force back the locks of the two doors. My strength seemed to increase with my desperation. I toiled till the skin was rubbed from my before lacerated hands, and they were bathed in blood. It was all useless, and hope died thoroughly within me. Almost fainting, I staggered back against the wall. In that position I saw my reflection in a large Psyche, and in spite of my absorbing situation, I was appalled at my appearance. My eyes were haggard and blood-shotten; my hair, bedewed with perspiration, hung in lank spikes; my lips were black and parched, and the pallidness of my skin was frightfully contrasted with spots of soot, and streaks of gore from my bleeding hands.

"What I have related was but the events of a few minutes, for hours seemed compressed in the hurried thoughts and rapid action of that horrid period. The consummation was rapidly approaching. A wooden portico covered with tin, just under my window, had long resisted the furious element, and had been kept below ignition by the engines; but at length, overcome by the intense heat from the neighbouring houses, it spouted up in a pyramid of fire, that was borne by the wind, with whirls of smothering smoke, immediately into my room. My lungs were so overcome with the heated and deleterious air, that I felt choked; my head swam round, and my knees were sinking under me. I remembered to have heard that there is always in such cases a layer of pure air near the floor, and I threw myself on my face. In fact I did breathe more freely there. I listened for human accents or movements in the house, but heard none. All at once the noise of the crowd subsided, and from the few occasional shouts through speaking-trumpets, I understood that the house was about to be blown up. I almost felt relieved to think that this would speedily terminate my dreadful fate. While thus extended on the floor, my eye caught the door-key near me. I remembered afterward having hung it on a nail just above, from whence it had fallen. A ray of hope rushed into my mind. I seized the key and gained the door; but the dense, sulphureous medium into which I rose, overpowered my exhausted frame. I reeled round, and fell senseless. I only remember that as I sprang from the floor, it seemed to me I heard something like footsteps and voices, and that as I fell, a loud crash rang in my

ears.

"How long I lay insensible I know not. When I recovered, I found myself on a bed in a handsome room, a gentleman in black, who I afterward discovered was a physician, close by me, and several servants around. As soon as I moved, he begged me to remain quiet, and indeed I had no other inclination. I felt as if there was scarcely force in me to inhale or expire my breath. I had achings in my limbs and a soreness along my veins, especially in my arms; but the worst of all was a most insufferable nausea. The burns were inconsiderable. My head was bathed in Cologne water, leeches applied to my chest, and iced water given me to drink, till finally the irritability of my stomach was allayed. It was, however, three days before I was

restored to any thing like comfort. Even then I was as weak as a child, but the disease was conquered. I had made many attempts to question my attendants, and they had as often positively refused to talk with me. When they saw me really convalescent, my queries were satisfied. How had I been saved? Who had thought of the stranger, when every one was intent on his own safety and that of his property? Who but woman, weak, timid woman, who, careless to the impulses of ambition, perils all when she can serve humanity! My lovely neighbour had been awakened by her father a few minutes before, and hurried off to a place of safety. As soon as the inmates of the hotel were assembled, and she saw that one was missing, that I was not there, she beseeched the firemen, the landlord, the officers, her old father, to save me. They declared with one voice that the attempt was useless-madness. Hardly had her father left her to look after his trunks, when again she begged and implored the firemen, until moved by her tears and a full purse, two of the strongest and most resolute offered to go. But who was to shew them the way? Before the question could well be asked, she rushed before them, while a scream was heard from every one near her. She led the way to the room she had so lately occupied, now almost as dark as night with smoke. The firemen recoiled till they saw her still press on. A sturdy blow from their axes, and the door flew in shivers. A fireman rushing in, raised my lifeless body on his shoulders, while at the same time his companion had to catch up and bear off the heroic girl, who had sunk on the floor the moment she had seen my prostrate form. And where is my preserver?' I exclaimed, when I had heard the history. She is in the same hotel where you are at present,' said the physician; but with her delicate frame, her convalescence cannot be as rapid as yours.' The first use, you may rest assured, that I made of my returning health, was to visit one to whom I owed every thing. With my ardent gratitude, I should have been fascinated had I found her less beautiful, or less amiable; as it was, I found her an angel. I will not tire you with the details of what may seem to you a mawkish love-story of common romance. Suffice it to say, that awful night, which still makes my blood run cold, made me-what I still am-a happy husband.

FAITHLESS POLLY.

There was a lovely night, one moon ago,
When I met Julietta and Polly;
They were so full of fun, and laughing so,
That I could have thought them mad with folly.
O dear! they were so jolly,-

So wild with wit and folly!

Well, they and I strolled along together,
And not one wit more sober did they grow;
Whilst I too showed th' effect of the weather,
Or the moonbeams, for I was not too slow
In catching the fit of folly,
And rollicking so jolly.

Ah me! it was a pleasant night we spent ;
And many pleasant nights were spent since then
By Polly and myself,-for our ways bent
Each night towards each other, just at ten.
Though we were not so jolly,

So wild with wit and folly.

And I had thought these meetings were to last ;-
But at the trysting-place we did not meet
One night. And many nights since then have passed,
And I have vainly watched for sounds of feet,-
Till harsh thoughts came of Polly,
And I grew melancholy.

And I was watching but an hour ago
For the first footfalls of faithless Polly;
And as I watched my heart-beats came more slow,
For I then perceived it was but folly

To watch again for Polly.
O faithless, faithless Polly!
And yet I think that I will go again
Unto the trysting-place. She will not fail
To come to-morrow night, if I should pen
A loving note, and her kind heart assail
With lover's wit and folly.
-These rhymes shall go to Polly.

C. W. F.

REVIEWS.

The Unprotected; or, Facts in Dressmaking Life. By a Dressmaker. London: Sampson Low, Son, & Co.

The "Song of a Shirt," which so touchingly reveals the labours and sorrows of the sempstress, and which awakens sympathy on behalf of those who, though they have employment, are well nigh perishing-is far surpassed by this matter-of-fact revelation of a Dressmaker. Here is a book of deep interest: the writer has passed through the terrible ordeal which she describes: and she brings to light many of the evils to which those of our countrywomen are exposed who enter some of the London houses of business. Facts are stated their truth is vouched for-respecting the effect of long hours of work, hurried meals, ill-ventilated sleeping rooms, etc., on the constitution and morals of females, young which are deplorable. We hope the book will be widely circulated, and especially that it may be read by the ladies who patronise these houses, so that they may be led to use their influence to put down the evils which are here exposed. Suggestions may be made-laws may be enacted-but suggestions and enactments will be useless, unless those who employ this portion of the community are more considerate in their requirements, and give longer time for the execution of their orders.

The Coronal, or, Prose, Poetry, and Art. London: W. Tarn, Paternoster Row.

A BOOK for all seasons: both at home and abroad: embellished with beautiful engravings, and elegantly bound. It is well adapted for a Christmas Present, or a New Year's Gift.

A Two Years' Cruise off Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, Patagonia, and in the River Plate. By W. P. Snow, late Commander of the Mission Yacht, "Ellen Gardiner." 2 Vols. London: Longman.

Differ

THESE Volumes give a history of the Patagonian Mission. The tragical end of Captain Gardiner and his friends, who were starved to death on this Mission, will be fresh in the remembrance of some of our readers. To carry out the design which those worthy persons had in view, the Society for the Civilization and Religious Instruction of the Patagonians despatched Captain Snow, with certain missionaries, to visit the coast of Patagonia and establish a mission cause. ences appear to have arisen between the Captain and the missionary portion of the crew, and the account given respecting the mission leaves a very unfavourable impression on the mind. Separate and apart from matters concerning the mission, Captain Snow gives an interesting account of the country, and the information thus brought home is considerable. In some portions he is a little wearisome, and sometimes too nautical in his phrases, but his descriptions are often forcible. Amusement and instruction are wisely blended; and the account he gives of an interview he had with some natives who had been to England, and had returned to the pursuits of savage life, is one of the most curious we have

seen.

A forest was set on fire through the carelessness of one of the crew; we extract his account of it, for the vividness of the description and the moral which adorns his tale.

"Upon our return to the ship we found it blowing stronger: and at night it increased to a gale. This fanned the flames, and caused the fire to spread in every direction; and for a long time we remained on deck, watching its magnificent appearance. Miles of burning ground -beds of living fire-rows of bushes blazing away right and left; on tops of mountains, over plains, across valleys, here, there, and everywhere, in one grand display. It was wonderful to see how it spread; how snake-like and subtle it wound its way round hills, and over every obstacle that would have appeared capable of arresting it. The island, as viewed at night from the ship, looked like a large city with its castles, and towers, and walls, sacked and set on fire by the enemy.

7

Exhibition, constantly came before my imagination, whenever the burning element took a particular form in its direction; for sometimes it was like thousands of signal fires; at others, from a dark blank there would suddenly arise a brilliant illumination! From top to bottom of the Kippel range of mountains was there this continuous display for about a month; and on Cove-hill, and to its very summit, the picture was equally brilliant. It was, in fact, beyond anything I could have conceived, and the grandeur of it at night thrilled the soul, and enchained the mind. What surprised me was, that from so simple a thing, as throwing a piece of lighted paper on the grass, such a terrible conflagration, now covering a space of several miles wide and broad, should have been produced. Often did I think of the words of the Apostle James, Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!'"'

GOING A SLEIGHING.

I MUST ask the kind reader to hastily accompany me over that very disagreeable season, the beginning of the winter, and allow me to greet him on a beautiful bright clear and cold morning in the first week of the Christmas month, upon which day I had arranged to attempt my first sleigh drive. I was very fortunate in procuring a capital pair of ponies about 14 hands, excellent goers, especially one, a little brown pony, which could step with the greatest ease 14 miles an hour, and with very good action. I had also provided myself with a very light box sleigh. On the words "all right" being given, away they went, gliding along; the little bells on the ponies' heads tinkling merrily, and the ponies themselves evidently enjoying their first sleigh drive at least, first of that winter. Never shall I forget the delightful sensation of that maiden drive. Having cleared the very sharp corners round the fortifications of the citadel, and having got on to the St. Louis road, away we went at a rattling pace, so smoothly, so noiselessly, that, except for the bells (which the law enforces every one to carry as a warning) we moved along perfectly mute. I then returned, and had a drive through the town; I soon found the only difficulty to be guarded against was turning round a sharp corner, when the sleigh, if going fast, is apt slew or slide round, and sometimes one finds oneself and sleigh where one's horses ought to be. The winter during which I had the good fortune to be at Quebec was a particularly gay one. Sleighing, pic-nics, excursions to the cone at Montmorency, snow-shoeing parties, etc., occupied the day, while the evenings were no less agreeably spent at festive scenes, both public and private, and occasionally amateur theatricals-in all of which amusements we received every kindness from the truly good and hospitable people of Quebec. Ranking first in my humble opinion among our many amusements, I shall endeavour to give some idea of the Sleigh Club and its necessary enjoyments. We were fortunate in getting up a most excellent club, which met in the Place d'Armes " once every week at 12 o'clock, on which occasions we used generally to muster three or four teams of four, ten or twelve in double harness, several tandems, and single sleighs of all descriptions, making up in all a line of equipages which might reach the best part of a mile. At the meet a president and vice-president were chosen, whose respective duties were to lead and bring up the rear. The president was supposed not to tell any one where he intended to drive to; but, upon the word being given, off he started at a rattling pace through the town, and often through the most intricate streets and lanes, the rule being that every one should follow and keep in his place, and preserve his distance from the sleigh in front. Finally, the leader would start off for some country-place, some six or eight miles out, where, at a small inn, a halt was made of half an hour. I ought to have mentioned that each gentleman is supposed to be accompanied by a lady friend. Well, in course of time, it became my turn to lead, and, having put my ponies in tandem, I determined to lead the club a dance. It happened to be a very fine day; we had a large meet; and, at the given word, away I went straight for the country, having determined to reserve the driving part till our return to the town, when I put on the steam; but I aspired to do too much, and came to grief; for on turning round a sharp corner into a narrow lane, my impetuous little leader bolted, and brought my wheeler and shafts against the angle, breaking both of the latter; this, I need hardly say, put an effectual stop to my leadership. -New York Correspondent.

A funny fellow says that as there appears to be a dilemma as to the proper mode of making a Jew swear, he suggests the treading on his