The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-01 00:00:00

THE OLD-FASHIONED MA-BOARD.

This was, literally, a board ; being an oval tray of
, polished Honduras mahogany, with a slightly raised edge ;
the cups were those tiny handleless importations from
China, now only seen in old curiosity chops, or preser►ed
as family relics, their vary size bearing testimony how
costly was the fragrant and refreshing beverage they held :
the dumpling-shaped tea-pot and the slop-basin corre-
sponded in size and grotesque pattern with the cups and
saucers ; the silver teaspoons, necessarily small and light,
were delicately shaped, with shell-like bowls : the sugar-
basket and cream-ewer of silver filigree, were lined with
jasper, and the (to us) Liliputian tea equipage was com-
pleted by a pair of quaintly carved mother-o'-pearl sugar-
tongs hinged with tortoise-shell. Nor must the casket
which contained the precious leaf be overlooked, since the
old lady herself pointed it out to her guest as the work
and gift of the unfortunate Mistress Grenville, thirty years
before, on the day they both were married; and she conse-
quently resigned her post of lady's maid. It was a tea-
caddy of paper filigree work ; a class of elegant trifling-
with-time industry, extinct since the schooldays of our
grandmothers. On a frame of common wood were gummed
closely rolled strips of variously coloured paper, the one
set of edges being fastened to the box, the other present-
ing its many convolutions to view. These little rolls or
filigrees were arranged in different devices, the rolls being
sometimes -slightly opened and compressed into the forms
of leaves, petals, &c. It was tedious work ; yet if it exer-
cised patience and ingenuity, and filled the vacuum now
supplied by the pen and press, it was not altogether " busy
idleness."

The extracts we have given, dissimilar as they
are, may give some inadequate idea of the very
attractive manner in which Mrs. Linnaeus Banks
has related to us the interesting and somewhat
marvellous history of " God's Providence House."

Manuscript Arithmetic; Progressive and Practical.
By a School Manager. T. Murby.

These lessons, we are told, have been published
at the recommendation of one of her Majesty's
inspectors, who has seen the results of their use
during three years in a school where the arithmetic
was reported " excellent." By means of these
manuscript books the diligent pupil may study
alone, and materially develope his practical know-
ledge.

THE lIARVEST IN LINCOLNSHIRE.—IIarvest ope-
rations were checked in the beginning of the week
by the moisture of Monday. On Tuesday, with a rising
barometer, the weather became more favourable, and a fine
breeze from the north-west tended to dry the outstanding
corn. A great deal of wheat remains in the fields cut, and
the crops in some parts of the county are decidedly good.
In the district around Burgh a great deal remains out in
the fields, but the crops are good, and a full average yield
Is anticipated. In the district around Wainfleet there is
a good deal yet to be led, and the crops are spoken of satis-
factorily. In other parts of the county wheat is not, how-
ever, turning out so well either in quality or quantity, so
that as a whole an average yield must not bo expected.
Barleys are yielding favourably. There is a good deal dis-
colored, but malting samples will not be scarce. The yield
varies in different districts, but as a whole it is well spoken
of. Oats are light and must be below the average. A
good many beans are cut, and the crop is variable. The
pastures are looking remarkably well, and turnips and
marigold hate wry much improved.