, 1861-11-21


Once upon time Country Mouse who had
friend in town inyitedhm, for old ACQUAINTANCE
| sake, to pay him visit in the country. The in
vitatiOn being accepted in due form, the Country
Mouse, though plain and rough and somewhat
frugal 10 bis nature, opened his heart and store,
In honor Of hospitality and an old friend. There
was not carefully stored up morsel that he did
not bring forth out Of his larder peas and bar
ley, cheese-parings and nuts, hoping BY quantity
TO make up what he feared was wanting in quail
ity, to suit the palate Of his dainty guest The
Town Mouse, eOndescending to pick bit here
and bit there, while the host sat nibbling a
blade Of barley.slraw, at length exclaimed, "H0w
Is il, my good friend, that you can endure The
dullness Of this unpublished lilef Yon are liv.
ing Ike toad in hole You can't really prefer
these solitary rocks and woods to streets tecming
with carriages and men. On my honor you are
wasting your time miserably here. We must
make most Of life while Il lasts A mouse, you
know, does not live for ever. So come with me
and IN show yOu life and the town." Over
powered with such ine words and so polished
manner, the Country Mouse Assented; and they
set out together on their journey 10 town.
1t was late In the evening when they erept steal
thily into the city, and midnight ere they reached
the great house where the Town Mouse took up
his quarters Here were couches Of crimson
velvet, carvings in ivory, everything In short
that denoted wealth and luxury. On the table
were tho remains Of splendid banqnetrto pro-
cure which all the choicest shops In the town
had been ransacked the day before. II was now
the turn Of the eourtier to play the host; be
places his country friend on purple, runs 10 and
fro to supply all bis wants, presses dish upon
dish and dainty upon dainty, and, as though be
were waiting on king, tastes every course ere
ho ventures to place II before his rustic cousin.
The Country Mouse, for his part, Affects to make
himself quite at home, and blesses the good for.
tune that had wrought such change in his way
Of life; when, In the midst Of his enjoyment, Gs
he is thinking with contempt Of the poor fare be
has forsaken, on q sudden the door flies open,
and party Of jewellers, returning from a late
entertainment, bursts into the room. The al-
frghted friends jump from the table in the great
est CONSERVATION and hide themselves inthe first
corner they can reach. No sooner do they ven
ture to creep out again than the barking Of dogs
drives them back in still greater terror than be-
fore. At length, when things seemed quiet, the
Country Mouse stole out from his hiding place,
and bidding his friend goodbye, whispered In
his ear. "Oh, my good sir, this fine mode Of
living nav do Ior those who like IT,; bit give me
my barley bread in peace and security before the
iaintest feast where Fear and Care are in wait
ing"
Some old bachelor has indited the following
specimen Of masculine impertinenee. Hear him;
A woman says what she pleases to you with
out danger Of getting knocked down for Il She
can take . snOOze alter dinner, while her hus-
band has to 60 to work She can 60 forth IN
the streets without being invited 10 treat al every
coffee house. She can paint her hce f il Is too
pale, and flour h f too red She can wear ecr- |
ssts il ton thck-.oiher 11ins if too thin. She |
can eat, drink and be merry. without costing hsF
= cent and she can get divoreed from her hue |
hand uhen she sees one shs likes better.