Year: 1872

Iound inst It's bottom was composed ol
the most disgusting quality. How l re-
gained my feet in the middle of that de.
testable lake, with my hair, ears, mouth
and nose filled with miscellaneous col.
ecton of wigglers, mud and slime,
never had a very clear notion. But
imagine my dismay on looking round at
discovering my canine pursuer at the
edge of the water, manifesting decided
inclination to take hold of me, but held
back by beautiful young woman, who
was laughing immoderatel at the plight
was in.


Here was an adventure and no mis-
take Wet and muddy and with consid-
cradle patches of my clothing most es-
sential to a pleasing and graceful ap-
pearance, diffused over the neighboring
bushes, was not in desirable condi-
tion in which to be presented to hand
some young lady. But as / was now
out of physical danger, my courage
quickly revived, and began to consider
how l was to get myself out of the
scrape.


Fair lady, said |, with an air of hum
BILE penitence, am in your power. l
have trespassed on your grounds, and
have only to urge in my defence that
the attraction of these divine flowers,
was too great for me, with a passionate
love for the beautiful in nature, to resist.
| wandered into by and forbidden paths
and have come to grief, and now, not in
sackcloth and ashes, but in mud and wa
ter, / await your command.


Your offence, SIR said she, sitting
her merriment with ludicrously unsuc-
cessful attempt at dignity, is a grave
one. You have destroyed my choicest
pinks, trampled upon my verbenas, tu-
lips, and everlasting flowers, broken
down my dahlias and rose bushes. and
then, not satisfied with all this mischief,
you must needs go and jump into my
fish pond and frighten into Mysteries all
my fnny pets. Indeed, so unprecident-
ed is yonr misconduct that / am at loss
what punishment to inflct upon you.'


Most beautiful Judge, plead guilty
to all that you have charged against me-
But trust that you will duly consider
the fact that my punishment is already
almost as great as can bear. l beseech
you to look upon this wreck of what !
once was, and to be mercitul.


| You certainly have suffered severely
said she, preserving he gravity with an
effort, and as you seem SO penitent, l
shall only demand further that you re-
turn here tomorrow, or as soon as prac-
ticable and repair the damage which
you have done


of course cheerfully acquiesced in
that arrangement, and thanked her in
my best style for letting me off so easily,


'And now, said she with merry
laugh, as you doubtless are somewhat
anxious to reanange your toilet, will
dismiss you from my presence


She then conducted me to the gate,
and graciously bid me good night.


On the following day, when the hour
for my walk arrived, / hastened at once
to the scene of my last nights adventure.
MY heroine, more bewitching than ever.
admitted me and conducted me to my
work. As she signi6ed her intention of
personally experimenting my labors, /
set about the task with rather more
than my usual alacrity. Sheproved to be
the most agreeable overseer imaginable
She chatted gaily while worke J, and l
soon learned that her name was Mary
Lester, that she took almost the whole
care of the flowers, that her father who
was lawyer had gone West on business
and that she was living here alone nth
her invalid mother and one servant.
She had several times seen me in the
city, and astonished me with the infor-
nation that she had been a room nate
of my sisters at distant boarding
school. She also assured me that she
had been aware of my visits to the
neighborhood, aud had, on the previous
day, from retired nook of the garden,
witnessed my enterance to the grounds.
l did not complete my work that day,
nor the next. Indeed, it was a week be-
fore l had repaired everything to my
satisfaction, and then l found it necessa-
ry to call every day for some time longer
to see how the flowers and shurbbery
which l bad transplanted we're doing"


AT this moment we heard merry laugh
behind us, and looking round we discov-
cred Aunt Mary shaking her little fist
menacingly at her happy lord. Uncle
Charles rose and seating her by my side,
assured me that he had never had occa-
sion to regret his adventure in Mr.. Les
ter's flower garden.


Don't you remember the next word
in your lesson2 It's the word after