Year: 1867

Fanny Downing, writing for The Land W,
Love, 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 disrobiug for
the night, without other assistance than that of
her own nimble fingers. First the little lace
collar and ribbon were removed from the 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 clicking and metallic sound, down
came the wide expanse of criuoline, while Miss
Charley stepped out Of its steel circle considera


bly, collapsed, but all the pretter. A somewhat
similar mechanical operation was repeated, and
numerous springs aud curls were set 10 a lively
motion, and then with n stretch upward Of the
plump, white arms aud long drawn sigh of re-
lief, on came the little French "raiiroad'i cor
sets, and the dimpled shoulders of the wearer
rose in unrestricted freedom. The snowy night
gown was now slipped over the head, and its
delicate fills daiutly adjusted to the throat and
wrists. Next the mirror was visited, and charm
lug little moueS made at the bright face it re-
heeted, and then seizing the brush, the girl pro-
ceeded to apply it to her glossy curls until they
shone like satin. Thence to the washstand,
where teeth, white as cocosuut meat were rub.
bed until they CLEANED whittier, and the rosy face
dipped in the gilded basin of pure water until il
glowed with renewed crimson And then draw


ing low seat close to the fire, the young girl
laid one pretty foot lightly on her knee and be,
gan to unlace the tiny boot which encased il.
and in a few moments both little feet were bare
in their childish beauty, and were pressed down
on the hot bricks of the hearth, while a careful
measurement was made as to the relative lengths
of the big toe and the next to it, for on this i'm
portant difference depends the momentous cues,
ton as to which of the two shall rule in the
future married life of the measurer-it having
been decreed by mysterious and immutabIe signs
that should the big toe be the longer the forth
coming lord of the lady will be the master as
well, while if the second has the pre- -eminence
similar fate is in store for herself and her only
master will be her own sweet will. In the press
ent instance, both of the soft, pink toes were of
such semeness of length that the inference was
sufficiently clear that destiny decreed the mar,
ried 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 gazing down into the Goals glow.
ing before her, and then taking her Bible from
its stand, she read the lesson appointed for the
evening, then knet and said her evening prayers.
A put-ot fragrant breath from a pair of rosy
lips, and out went the candle, leaving the room
lighted only by the rtch freight. Then unbolt-
ing the door that Mandy, who slept in her young
mistresss room, might gain access, when it
should please 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 tastefuly trim;
med pillow and went to her happy dreams