The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-08-28 00:00:00

SELLING TRE MATRON.

On one occasion it was suggectted by one of the young.
stets that we shoubl send the nurse a present, and a corn.
mittee was forthwith formed, with extraordinary powers
to decide upon the kind awl manner of the presentation.
After much discussion it was decided unanimously that
we should, out of consideration for past services and pre-
sent conduct, make up is hamper—a regular bond fide
Christmas hamper. Opinions were divided as to the con-
tents of the hamper, one boy voting in favour of filling it
with dirty linen, whilst another suggested that a donkey
might be purchased for about 2s. 6.1. All, however, agreed
that the contents should be of a character to surprise the
weak nerves of poor Mrs. Hunt. A young Scotch boy,
who objected to any money being expended, suggested
that a well-known cat belonging to one of the beadles
might be pressed into the service. At length, after much
discussion, a boy of the name of Richardson, who was one
of the ringleaders in this affair, volunteered to go into
the hamper himself, and the ides was rapidly caught up.
A boy was sent off at once in quest of straw, whilst
another was deputed to gather together all the rotten
apples and pears he could collect. A few "dead men." in
the shape of empty bottles, were greedily trued with
water, and covered with dust and colswebn, to do duty for
"old port," and every minute arrangement was success-
fully carried out, to present Mrs. Hunt with a regular
" bumper" of a hamper. Never was such a parcel made
up with no much care. Young Richardson was placed
most carefully at the bottom with a nice layer of straw
over bins; then followed the wine; then another layer of
straw, and on the top came the apples, pears, and a few
onions, The hamper was duly fastened, labelled, and,
directed, "Mrs. Hunt, No. 10 Ward, Christ's Hospital
tendon, with Mrs. Thompson's compliments, wishing Mrs.
Hunt many happy returns of the season So heavy
was the hamper, the old port no doubt contributing
greatly to the weight, that it took four of us to carry it
into the ward. On entering we set up a most fearful
noise, all shouting at the top of our voice, "A parcel for
Mrs. Ilunt,"—who came rushing out of her cosy room with
the greatest excitement and curiosity. "Take it into the
kitchen," said the delighted recipient of the welcomer
present "Mary,"—the servant's name (for so were al
Mrs. Hunt's servants christened, regardless of the wishes
of godfathers and godmothers) "Mary, take in the par-
cel. I will be with you directly."
The girl, who had been let into the secret, neither
replied nor put in any appearance, and for one very good
reason —she was indulging behind the door in most im.
moderate laughter.
Without finishing her dinner, Mrs. Hunt, anxious to
know the eontents of such a weighty hamper, proceeded
to the kitchen to examine her treasure. The boys crowded
round the kitchen door to see how the joke would turn
out The string was then cut, and the label examined
with much minuteness. On looking through the window
we could see the countenance of the girl undergoing sun.
dry strange contortions as the examination was proceed-
ing. The first appearance of the apples, peara, and
onions was evidently disappointing. hut the poor old lady
aecounted for their appearance by stating her belief that
the parcel had been delayed many days in transit. The
" fine crusted port" gave great satisfaction, and the
bottles were arranged on the dresser with conscious pride,
and were counted over two or three times. Poor Richard-
son now began to feel the lightness of the upper region.
He had heard all the converaation, end was prepared to
play a bold game. Giving a most unearthly shout. to
which the war-whoop of a savage would have been but
as a whisper, he threw his legs up into the air, and made
a rush for the door. The boys received the hero with a
tremendous shout, sod from that day Richardson was
idolised by the school. When Mrs. Hunt had recovered
sufficiently to take stock of the situation, she repaired to
the steward to complaia of the treatment she had
received. The kind-hearted steward, though strict
enough when occasion required it, took a lenient view
of the case, it being Christmas time, and, though he
instituted inquiries, as in duty hound, to ascertain the
leader in the affair, the boys, one and all, refused to
divulge the (were!, and Mrs. Hunt was never able to dis-
cover to whom she was indebted for her Christmas
hamper.
It is only fair to add, the whole tone of the book is
favourable to the present management.
Brigrocia.--[Chatto and Winans, Piccadilly.]—The
last two omr three numbers of thin popular magazine
have been unusually gine', both from a pictorial point
of view and the pleasing admixture of light and solid
reading contained in its letterpress pages. The two
serial tales are exciting in the highest degree; and
the authors, with tantalising perspicuity, know how to
dnip the twist-con/in fed curtains upon situations
engendering eager anticipations of the number to
follow. _ .

The name of Cassell is ample guarantee that the
works published by this firm are of the highest order
in each particular division of literAture they represent.
Excellently printed and well illustrated the contents
of each publication are admirably adapted to the name
it bears . .

Odra. this month contains two highly interest.
ing serial tales, with articles from the pens of some of
our most eminent divines. . .

„..
In Cassell's Mago:ine—Paul Knox, pitman, enchains
the reader, while the short tales and articles are good
reading for a leisure hour. A fine piece of poetic
descrintive is the ” Smugglers' Cave," and " The
Queens New Subjects" gives a welcome and an
interesting account of the latest addition to the caree
and responsibilities of our Foreign Government in the
annexation of ,he Transvaal Republic.
Familiar Wild Flowers, with its superb plates, will,
on its conclusion, form one of the most lovely gift.
books conceivable. . .

The Domestic Dictionary should be at the elbow of
all the World and hie wife.
Globe Enclycopcolia. [Thomas Jack, Edinburgh.)—
This is a most valuable work, exhaustive to a degree,
beautifully printed, and far beyond the range of works
of the same kind hitherto issued.