Year: 1867

Fanny Downing thus explains the
mysterious process by which a 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 removed from a neck. and the
bright merino dress laid aside; next
the snowy skirts were lifted over the
head, then a'spring touched in front of
the rounded waist, when with & click
ing and metallic sound, down came the
wide expsnse of crinoline, while Miss
Charley stepped out of its steel eirele1
considerably collapsed, but all the.
prettier. A somewhat similar meehani-
cal operation was repeated and nnmsr-
GUS springs and eurls were set in q live
-ly motion, and then with stretch up.
ward of the plump white arms, and q
long drawn sigh Of relief, off came the
little French railroad" corsets, and
the dimpled shoulders of the Wearer
rose in unrestricted freedom.


The snowy night gown was now
slipped over the head, and its delicate
frills daintily adjusted to the throat
and wrist. Next the mirror was visit
ed, and the charming little nloltes made
at the bright face it reflected, and
seizing the brush, the girl proceeded
to apply it to her glossy curls until they
shone like satin. -. - .-ff


Thence to the wash stand, where
teeth, white as. eocoanut meat, were
rubbed until they cleaned still whittier,
and the rosy face dipped in the gilded
basin of pure, cold water until it glow.
ed with renewed crimson. And then
drawing low seat close to thefre, the
young girl laid one pretty foot lightly
on her knee and began to unlaee the
tiny boot which encased il; in few
moments both little feet WeIe bare in
their childish beauty, and pressed down
on the hot bricks of the hearth, while
careful measurement was made as to
the relative lengths of the big toe and
the one next to it, for in this import
ant difference depends the momentous
question as to which of two shall rule
in the future married life of the meas
urer; having been decreed by myste-
rious and immutsble signs, that should
the greater toe be the longer, the forth
coming lord Of the lady viii be her
masters as well, while if the second
has pre-emince, q similar fate Is in store
for herself, and her only master will be
her own sweet will. boz el- q


In the present instances, both of the
soft. pink toes were Of such sameness
of length, that the inference was sufi-
eiently clear that destiny decreed the
married life Of Miss Charley Preston
should be state Of equal rights.


The young lady sat still and amused
herself by doing little prospecting in
the way Of gazing down into the Goals
glowing before her, and then taking
her bible from its stand. she read the
lessons appointed for the evening, then
knelt and said her simple prayers. A
puff Of fragrant breath, from a pair of
rosy lips, aad out went the candle,
leaving the room lighted only by the
rich FIRE light. Then unbolted the
door that Mandy, who slept in her
young MISTRESS room, might gain ac-
cess, when it should please her to leave
the delights of the kitchen, the young
girl turned back thesoft blankets and
snowy sheets Of her bed, made the i'm
preston Of her round figure in its doHny
depth, laid her innocent head upon
the tAstefally trimmed pillow, and
went to her happy dreams.