Year: 1867

Fanny Downing, writing for the Lana


We Lore, thus explains the mysteriou:
process by which a young lady prepares
for bed. We rather like it:


Dismissing Mandy, her foster sister
and maid, Miss Preston performed the
task of disrobing for the night without
other assistance than tLat of her owr
nimble fingers


First the little lace collar and ribbon
was removed from the neck, and the
bright merino dress laid aside; next the
snowy skirts were lifted over the head,
then spring touched in front Of the
rounded waist, when, with a clicking
and metallic sound, down came the wide
expanse of crinoline, while Miss Charley
stepped out of its steel circle, considera-
bly, collapsed, but all the prettier A
somewhat similar mechanical operation
was repeated and numerous springs and
curls were set in a lively motion, and
then with stretch upward of the plump
white arms, and long sigh of relief, off
came the little French railroad cor
sets, and the dimpled shoulders of the
wearer rose in unrestricted freedom.


The snowy night gown was now slip.
ped over the head, and its delicate frills
daintily adjusted to the throat and wrist
Next the mirror was visited, and the
charming little nOucs made at the bright
face it reflected, and then seizing the
brush, the girl proceeded to apply it to
her glossy curls until they shone like
satin. Thence to the wash stand, where
teeth, white as cocoa.nut meat, were
rubbed until they CLEANED still whittier,
and the rosy face dipped in the gilded
basin of pure, cold water until it glowed
with renewed crimson. And then drawing
seat close to the fire, the yeuHg girl
laid one pretty foot lightly on her knee
began to unlace the tiny boot which
encased it; in a few moments both little
feet were 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 important difference depends the
momentous question as to which of the
two shall rule in the married life of the
msasurer 1t having been decreed by
mysterious and immutable signs, that
should the great toe be the longer, the
forthcoming lord of the lady will be her
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 present instance, both of the
soft pink toes were of such sameness of
length that the inference was sufficiently
clear that destiny decrsed 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 and out went the candle, leav-
ing the room lighted only by the rich
fire light Then unbolting the door that
Mandy, who slept in her young mistress
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 inno
cent head upon the tastetully trimmed |
pillow and went to her happy dreams.