It was a ragged head, the sandy hair of which, scrupulously parted on one side, and flattened down with pomatum, was twisted into little semicircular tails round a flat face, ornamented with a pair of small eyes, and garnished with a very dirty shirt collar, and a rusty black stock.

"Mr. Dodson ain't at home, and Mr. Fogg's particularly engaged," said the man to whom the head belonged.

"When will Mr. Dodson be back, sir," inquired Mr. Pickwick.

"Can't say."

"Will it be long before Mr. Fogg is disengaged, sir?"

"Don't know."

Here the man proceeded to mend his pen with great deliberation, while another clerk, who was mixing a Seidlitz powder, under cover of the lid of his desk, laughed approvingly.

"I think I'll wait," said Mr. Pickwick. There was no reply; so Mr. Pickwick sat down unbidden, and listened to the loud ticking of the clock, and the murmured conversation of the clerks.

"That was a game, wasn't it?" said one of the gentlemen, in a brown coat and brass buttons, inky drabs, and bluchers, at the conclusion of some inaudible relation of his previous evening's adventures.

66

Very good-very good," said the Seidlitz-powder man.

"Tom Cummins was in the chair," said the man with the brown coat; "it was half-past four when I got to Somers Town, and then I was so precious drunk, that I couldn't find the place where the latch-key went in, and was obliged to knock np the old 'ooman. I say, I wonder what old Fogg 'ud say, if he knew it. I should get the sack, I s'pose-eh?"

At this humourous notion, all the clerks laughed in concert.

"There was such a game with Fogg here, this mornin'," said the man in the brown coat, "while Jack was up stairs sorting the papers, and you two were gone to the Stamp-office, Fogg was down here opening the letters, when that chap as we issued the writ against at Camberwell, you know, came in-what's his name, again?"

66

Ramsey," said the clerk who had spoken to Mr. Pickwick.

66

"Ah, Ramsey-a precious seedy-looking customer." "Well, sir," says old Fogg, looking at him very fierce-you know his way-"Well, sir, have you come to settle ?" "Yes, I have, sir," said Ramsey, putting his hand in his pocket, and bringing out the money, "the debt's two pound ten, and the costs three pound five and here it is, sir," and he sighed like bricks, as he lugged out the money, done up in a bit of blotting-paper. Old Fogg looked first at the money, and then at him, and then he coughed in his rum way, so that I knew something was coming. "You don't know there's a declaration filed, which increases the costs materially, I suppose?" said Fogg. "You don't say that, sir," said Ramsay, starting back; "the time was only out last night, sir." "I do say it, though," said Fogg, "my clerk's just gone to file it. Hasn't Mr. Jackson gone to file that declaration in Bullman and Ramsey, Mr. Wicks?" Of course, I said yes, and then Fogg coughed again, and looked at Ramsey. 66 My God!" said Ramsey; "and here have I nearly driven myself mad, scraping this money together, and all to no purpose.' "None at all," said Fogg, coolly; “so you had better go back and scrape some more together, and bring it here in time." "I can't get it, by," said Ramsey, striking the desk with his fist. "Don't bully me, sir," said Fogg, getting into a passion on purpose. "I am not bullying you, sir," said Ramsey. "You are," said Fogg; "get out, sir; get out of this office, sir, and come back, sir, when you know how to behave yourself." Well, Ramsey tried to speak, but Fogg wouldn't let him, so he put the money in his pocket, and sneaked out. The door was scarcely shut, when old Fogg turned round to me, with a sweet smile on his face, and drew the declaration out of

his coat pocket. "Here, Wicks," says Fogg, "take a cab, and go down to the Temple as quick as you can, and file that. The costs are quite safe, for he's a steady

man with a large family, at a salary of five-and-twenty shillings a-week, and if he gives us a warrant of attorney, as he must in the end, I know his employers will see it paid; so we may as well get all we can out of him, Mr. Wicks; it's a Christian act to do it, Mr. Wicks, for with his large family and small income, he'll be all the better for a good lesson against getting into debt-won't he, Mr. Wicks, won't he?"— and he smiled so good-naturedly as he went away, that it was delightful to see him. He is a capital man of business," said Wicks, in a tone of the deepest admiration, 'capital, isn't he?"

SOLILOQUY ON THE WIDOW AND ORPHANS' FUND.

Hail, thrice hail! thou hopeful source of good
And fixed maxim of generous-hearted friendship:
"The Widow and Orphans' Fund!" extatic sound
Which vibrates upon the ear with harmony unspeakable,
And fills the breast with glowing, anxious, bounteous
Energy. In thy benign influence, through future
Strange events,-even now methinks I read perspective,-
A list immense of deeds profound,

That cannot claim a record yet,

Amongst the honours and solicitude,

Dedicate to Charity and our Order!

But whilst I thus meditate upon the favourite plan,

O let me not unmindful be

Towards its divine author-Omnipotence,

At whose supreme behest, our frail, imperfect

Labours can alone acquire sufficiency;

Sublime the homage-happy the privilege!

To help the helpless-to soothe the troubled mind,

And from its eourse avert the tide of grief;

Or triumph high, when grateful hearts proclaim

Responsive how well the happy boon, in generous purpose given,

A full requital shews.

If to ruminate thus solemn

Be apposite to humanity, and the peculiar claim

Of Deity, O let the humble strain resound

Throughout our band of fellowship!

Then, indeed, may heedless folly

Coldly track her widest path,

And sullen avarice vainly croak discordant;

For meek-eyed pity, true in office here,

Intensely, fairly holds her just predominance !

The widow's tears are not petrescent,

But, like sorrow's true harbinger,

Cheerless flow from creation's tenderest depository,

To ebb most calmly when other hearts assay their worth,
And yields, in halcyon streams, one kindred sympathy.

Yet stop we thus? Oh, no! if aught in woe

Can fill the mind with apprehensions drear,

And bid a kindly impulse rise expansive-
If aught importune men to hold true compact,
And plight eternal faith with Charity-
'Tis this, 'tis this-the Orphan's weal!
Their young unconscious hearts,

Like autumn's tender plants o'ershed with mildew,
Alas! are doomed too oft 'ere bloom approach,
To cankerworm, and blight thus prematurely :

Or else, perchance, some slippery maze beguiles,
Where vice assumes her lure and myriad shapes,
To entice from honour's path with glittering guise,
Her artless, guideless, unprotected victims !
Anon, and forth a guardianship shall blaze!

My brotherhood, can we not feel our obligations now?
"Widow and Orphans' Fund!" let the welcome echo fly,
And each fraternal heart respond,

Nor quaintly wear a disposition crude,

Nor mar its just importance.

Though ample not our means, desires are free,

And quicken into use, when leagued in harmony;
Unite-defer not-counsel unfolds benevolence,

Whilst Heaven supplies the revenue and competence.

J. E.

Nottingham, November, 1836.

TWO SONNETS BY P. PROV. G. M. BAILEY.

WINTER.

Winter! I love thee in thy every dress ;
The sombre sadness of November's shades,
When fiercely wild adown the leaf-strewn glades
The rude winds pour, to me brings happiness.
But dearest art thou in thy loveliness,

When glittering rime each pensile spray invades ;
And silvery showers illume the dark arcades
Of forests deep, as thence the scared birds press.
The stilly softness of each rural sound,

When light thy mantle shrouds earth's darksome face,
Mine ear delights; yet well I love to trace,
Boine from afar sharp o'er th' repulsive ground,
The joyous shoutings of the giddy throng,
Enraptured flying the smooth ice along.

A SABBATH SCENE.

Within our village church each Sabbath day,
A scene I mark that fills my heart with joy,
And all its better thoughts ne'er fails t' employ.
An old dark pew there is, where sits a grey
Time-wrinkled man, who grateful seeks to pay,
His meed of thanks to God; a fair-haired boy
Beside his grandsire stands, while watchful nigh,
A blooming matron kneels, of both the stay.
Attentive marks, that good old man, each prayer,
And from his heart oft bursts the sigh sincere;
The matron mild her low response breathes near,
While clasps that sinless child its hands so fair;
A groupe, well worthy of the painter's art,

A groupe, oh! better far, formed after God's own heart!

Stanhope Lodge, Horsley Woodhouse, Nov. 1836.

BIRTHS.

September 24, 1836, the wife of P. P. D. G. M. Horton, of the Saint George Lodge, Newcastle, of a daughter.-September 16, the wife of P. G. Mifflin, of the Good Samaritan Lodge, Keele, of a daughter.—May 21, the wife of brother Wedenhall, of the Saint George, Newcastle, of a daughter.-September 26, the wife of Enoch Turner, C. S. of the Saint John Lodge, Burslem, of a daughter.-August 27, the wife of P. G. Geo. Durrans, of the Wellington, Huddersfield, of a daughter, which only survived a few minutes.-October 17, the wife of brother Henry Allen, of the King William the Fourth Lodge, Chesterfield, of a daughter.-November 19, the wife of brother William Watson, of the Terra Firma Lodge, Chesterfield, of a son.October 1, the wife of P. G. John Smithee, of the Heroes Glory Lodge, Halifax, of a son and heir.-November 19, 1836, Maria, the wife of brother Edward Gee, of the Walmsley's Arms Lodge, Wigan, of a son and heir.-November 20, Ann, the wife of P. G. John Bolton, of the Walmsley's Arms Lodge, of a daughter.-December 11, 1835, the wife of brother William Laycock, of the Beaumont Lodge, Kirkheaton, of a daughter.-March 13, the wife of brother John Jessaps, of the same place, of a daughter.-April 17, the wife of P. G. William Peaces, of the same place, of a daughter, and all of the Dewsbury District.-October 10, the wife of P. G. Thomas Read, of the Wellington Lodge, Manchester, of a son.-June 3, the wife of brother John Shaw, of the Wellington Lodge, Huddersfield, of a daughter.-June 16, the wife of P. G. John Wood, of the Offspring of Peace Lodge, Clifton, of a daughter.-June 30, the wife of P. V. William Lord; July 29, the wife of brother John Stott; August 7, the wife of brother James Aspinall; August 14, the wife of brother Mark Jowett; August 25, the wife of brother John Smith; August 27, the wife of P. G. Joseph Schofield; November 10, the wife of N. G. William Wood, the preceeding seven belong to the Peace Lodge, Brighouse, and had each of them a daughter.-May 29, the wife of brother George Hibert of a son: and May 28, the wife of brother Robert Ashworth, of a daughter, both of the London District.—September 10, the wife of brother Isaac Deans, of the Travellers' Rest Lodge, Norwich, of a fine son.— July 5, the wife of brother Chester, of a son; and August 1, the wife of Prov. D. G. M. Thomas Ashley, of a son, both of the Refuge of Hope Lodge, Wem.-June 23, the wife of N. G. Hibbins, of the Good Intent Lodge, Loughborough, of a son.October 28, the wife of P. Prov. G. M. Taylor, of the British Crown Lodge, of a daughter and on the 29th, the wife of N. G. Malor, of the Nelson Ball Lodge, of a daughter, both of the Oldham District.-November 10, Nancy, the wife Prov. G. M. James Lowe, of the Stayley Bridge District, of a son; in a few hours after on the 11th November, the wife of V. G. Edward Beaver, of the Foundation Stone of Truth Lodge, of a daughter; also, in one hour after, the wife of brother Henry Carless, of the King Charles the Second Lodge, of a daughter, all of the same District.-October 26, the wife of P. S. Smith, of the Philanthropic Lodge, Bedale, of a daughter.September 1, the wife of brother William Wedrop, of the Providential Lodge, Northallerton, of a daughter.-August 2, the wife of brother John Jackson, of a son and heir. Also, on the 15th, the wife of P. G. Joseph Scurrass, of a son and heir; both of the Good Intent Lodge, Bradford.-August 20, the wife of brother Geo. Howarth, of the Virtue Lodge, Tottington, of a daughter.-September 29, the wife of brother Bandle, of the Britannia Lodge, Leeds, of a son.-September 10, the wife of G. M. Yates; and November 3, the wife of V. G. Stanley, of a son, both of the Brunswick Lodge, Brighton.-November 27, the wife of P. G. Richard Rutter, of the Franklin Lodge, Manchester, of a daughter.-October 22. Ellen, the wife of brother John Jennings, of the William the Fourth Lodge, Wigan, of a daughter.

MARRIAGES.

August 2, 1836, at Stoke-upon-Trent, by the Rev. Sir Wm. Dunbar, Shearack Dishley, N. G. of the Saint George Lodge, Newcastle, to Miss Rhodes.-June 23, N. G. John Cartlich, of the Lily of the Valley Lodge, Stoke-upon Trent, to Miss Mary Corden.-July 9, brother Jesse Buxton, of the same Lodge, to Miss Martha

Malkin.-August 11, P. G. Henry Dix, of the same Lodge, to Miss Harriet Barrott. -September 11, P. G. William Bennet, of the same Lodge, to Miss Jane Peacock.May 9, brother George Chester, of the Loyal Marquis of Granby Lodge, Waltham, Leicestershire, to Miss Bishop, daughter of Mr. Bishop, carpenter and joiner, of Waltham.-October 24, at Chesterfield, brother J. Bird, to Miss Elizabeth Harby, of Mansfield.-October 31, at Chesterfield, brother James Cropper, to Miss Harriet Glossop, both of the Terra Firma Lodge.-At Dewsbury church, brother Joseph Stringer, of the Beaumont Lodge, to Ellen Grange, widow of the late P. S. John Grange, of the Amphibious Lodge, Bradley.-April 24, P. G. John Lodge, to Miss Mewsom, both of Dalton.-On Whitmonday, at the Parish Church, Mirfield, brother D. M. Holroyd, to Miss Hannah Howgate, of Battley Carr; all of the Beaumont Lodge, Kirk Heaton.-Same day, Whitmonday, Secretary Jonathan Senior, to Miss Sykes, both of Lepton.-August 14, at the Parish Church, Rochdale, brother Richard Taylor, of the Virtue Lodge, Tottington, to Elizabeth Grimshaw, of Summerseat.August 15, brother Thomas Clayton, of the Virtue Lodge, Tottington, to Ellen Bear. -September 19, at St. Mary's church, Ilkiston, brother John Silvester, of the Loyal Duke of Rutland Lodge, to Miss Ball, daughter of Mr. Thomas Ball, saw manufacturer. October 2, at Warrington church, brother John Bentham, of the Le Gendre Starkie Lodge, Wigan, to Miss Elizabeth Fairbrother, Chapel Lane, Wigan.-October 18, at Billinge, near Wigan, P. G. William Atkinson, of the William the Fourth, but now of the Queen Adelaide Lodge, Wigan, to Mrs. Sarah Fishwick, earthenware dealer, of the same place.—October 16, at Elland, brother Thomas Bottomley, of the Peace Lodge, Brighouse, to Miss Hepworth, daughter of Mr. James Hepworth, of Little Woodhouse, Rastrick.-October 30, at the Parish Church, Huddersfield, P. G. James Briggs, of the Peace Lodge, Brighouse, to Miss Yates, of the same place; this being the first marriage that has been solemnized since the rebuilding of the said noble edifice, the parties were presented with a bible and prayer book, to be kept in memory of the happy event.-September 15, brother Samuel Holmes, of the Arcanum Lodge, Crawford, to Miss Lydia Froggatt, of the same place.-P. V. G. James Smith, of the Arcanum Lodge, to Miss Hannah Brookes, sister to brother Samuel Brookes, of the same Lodge.-August 6, brother Henry Stephenson, of the Providential Lodge, Northallerton, to Miss Ann Mennell, of the same place.-September 16, brother John Turnbull, of the Philanthropic Lodge, Bedale, to Miss Margaret Moor, of the same place.-October 22nd, brother John Smith, of the North Star Lodge, Brompton, to Miss Garbut, of Great Ayton, Cleveland.-November 7, brother Robert Prest, of the Nelson Lodge, Masham, to Miss Metcalf.-July 2, P. G. John Wrathall, to Miss Harriet Witmore, of Barrow Castle.-July 21, Sec. William Walsh, of the Good Intent Lodge, Halifax, to Miss Willey, both of Skircoat.— Brother Charles Parker, of the Youths' Resolution Lodge, Mount Tabor, Halifax District, to Miss Susannah Acroyd, daughter of Mr. Jeremiah Acroyd, of Somerset place, Warley.-P. Sec. John Brook, of the Village Pride Lodge, Cleckheaton, to Miss Jane Halderson, of the same place.-Oct. 30, brother Thomas Hampshaw, of the Banquet in the Valley Lodge, Leeds District, to Mary, only daughter of Mr. James Bobinson, of Beeston.-September 19, brother, William Heywood, son of brother Isaac Heywood, joiner and cabinet maker, to Ruth, second daughter of P. V. James Whittaker, all of the Nelson Ball Lodge, Oldham.-September 19, at Merthyr Tydvil, Secretary Thomas Jones, Liberty Lodge, No. 652, to Miss Mary Gresty, of Altrincham, Cheshire.

DEATHS.

On Sunday, September 12, brother Joseph Austin, of the Saint George Lodge, Newcastle. His remains were interred on the Sunday following at Wolstanton; a very respectable body of the brethren assembled in the Lodge-room; upwards of 160 followed in procession-he has left a widow and six children to lament his loss.-July 10, host Wilson, of the Lily of the Valley Lodge, Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield District.-Brother Isaac Flint, of the Redemption Lodge, Marsden.-July 9, Mary Ann, the beloved daughter of Sidney Mills, C. S. of the Huddersfield District; aged