Year: 1867

How YOUNG LADY GOES TO BED. - Fanny
Downing, writing for The Land Ne Loce, thus
explains the mysterious process by which
young lady prepares for bed


Dismissing Mandy, her foster sister and maid,
Miss Preston performed the task of disrobing for
the night, without other assistance than that OF
her own nimble fingers.


First the little lace collar and ribbon were re-
moved from the neck and the bright merno
dress laid aside next the snowy skirts were lift
| ed over the head, then spring touched in front
of the rounded waist, when with a clicking and
metallic sound, down came the wide expanso OF
crinoline, while Miss Charley stepped out OF its
steel circle, considerably collapsed, but all the
prettier. somewhat similar mechanical oper-
alton was repeated and numerous springs and
curls were set in a lively motion, and then with
stretch upward of the plump white arms, and
q long drawn sigh of relief, off came the little
French "ralroad 5" corsets, and the dimpled
shoulders of the rose in unrestricted free
dom.


The snowy night-gown was slipped over
the head, and its delicate frlls daintily adjusted
to the throat and wrists. Next the mirror
visited and the charming little moucs made at
the bright face it reflected, and then seizng the
brush, the girl applied it to her glossy curls
til they shone like satin.


Thence to the wash-stand where teeth, white
as cocoanut meat, were rubbed until they CLEAN.
ed still whiter, and the rosy face dipped in the
gilded basin of pure, cold water until it glowed
with renewed crimson. And then drawing "A
low seat to the fire. the young girl laid one pretty
foot lightly on her knee and began to unlace the
tiny boot which encased it in few moments
both little feet were bare in their childish beau
ty, and pressed down the hot bricks of the
hearth while a careful measurement was made
as to the relative lengths of the big toe and the
one next to it, for in this important difference
depends the momentous question as to which of
two shall rule in the married life of the measurer.
1t having been decreed by the mysterious and
immutable signs, that should the great toe be
the longer, the forthcoming lord of the lady will
be her master as we'll, while if the second has
the pre-emnence, a similar fate will be in store
for herself, and her only master will be her own
sweet self.


In the present instance, hoth of the soft, pink
toes were of such sameness of length, that the
inference was sufficiently clear that destiny de-
creed the married life of Miss Charley Preston
should be a state of equal rights.


The young lady sat still and amused herself
by doing little prospecting in the way of gaz
ing Down into the Goals glowing before her, and
then taking her Bible from its stand she read
the lesson appointed for the evening, then knelt
and said her simple prayers. puff of fragrant
breath from pair of rosy lips, and out went the
candle, leaving the room lighted only by the rich
fire light Then unbolting the door that Mandy,
who slept in the mistress room, might gain
cess, when it pleased her to leave the delights of
the kitchen, the young girl turned back the soft
blankets and snowy sheets of her bed, made the
impress of her rounded figure in its downy
depth, laid her innocent head upon the tastefully
trimmed pillow, and went to happy dreams.