AN OLD FRIEND.

WHAT a fine old man comes down the street, buttoned up to the chin in a shaggy great coat, which gives him somewhat the look of a bear. How sturdily he steps along; yes, he is a fine old man. His cold, clear blue eye, and his rosy face, like a winter apple; perhaps he is rather too stout, and his face is rather too rubicund; but it is the frost without, acting on the good cheer within, which gives that hue,—and a right pleasing one after all. Surely he is some high personage, for, mark, as he parades the street, how the boys cease their snow-balling, the shop-windows assume a gayer look, and, to win his eye as he the grocer fills his window with oranges, and passes, best raisins, and lays a strange image, of a foot high, against the glass pane, wrought of doe figs, raisins, and blanched almonds. The stranger sends a benevolent smile into the shop, which the courtly grocer returneth with his very best bow, and even after he is taking down orders from a good customer, his thoughts wander after the giver of the smile. The greengrocer has caught a glimpse of him, and, putting a hastily pulled handful of red-berried holly into her bosom, she comes curtseying forth to greet him from amid the boughs of shining holly and mystic mistletoe. The hearty kiss he bestows upon the fat dame makes the ragged urchins in the street laugh, and one of them, in defiance of all good breeding, sends a well-aimed. snow-ball at the old gentleman's nose. Look! how he jumps round, and now he is snow-balling his tormentors; and they run, shout, and return to the charge, till a gruff voice growls from the butcher's stall-"Get along, you warmint, I aint a-going to stand this a snow-balling one of my best friends,"-and a heavy stick is brandished by the muscular arm of master blue-apron, which disperses the young crew in a few seconds. "Sarvint, sir, sarvint; them boys is enuff to drive a saint distracted. Beautiful show of beef, sir; sirloin, from the prize ox."-And truly, the goodly show of red and white, ranged in symmetrical order among boughs of bright holly, is enough to make the heart glad. The poulterer's dainty store of fat capons and crammed turkeys induces the stranger to for a moment. I think he would have taken pause his up abode at the door; but the church-clock chimed twelve, and a coach with four bays drove up to the principal inn. The stranger took his seat on the box, and handled the reins as if he were a skilful whip. Off we go. The country looks clear and still, the frost lies on the berries of the hips and haws on the way-side, and the roads are crisp with snow. There is a large sheet of ice in yonder meadow, it covers a pond, and numerous hardy youngsters and unbearded youths are skating over its smooth surface.

Oh, but it is cold. "Seasonable weather," says the stranger, warms the heart-cold hands, warm heart." The coach stops at the gate of a country mansion, and we descend. The old gentleman offers me his arm, and we pace it to the house. The shrubberies are magnificent, and the weather as beautiful as they. I have forgotten the cold, for such a calm as lies now on inanimate nature warms and cheers the soul. And what a sight within the walls of that large house-a family party

great great aunts, grandmothers, great great grandchildren, sitting down to an early dinner. Early! Bless your heart, it is four o'clock. I remember when we dined at twelve. Simple habits make man estimable. Early to bed and early to rise, early to eat and early to pray, will make man healthy, wealthy, and wise, and point out to God the way. What sumptuous fare. Come in, they are waiting for me to say grace-always say it today. day. The old gentleman entered the hall, he laid aside his shaggy coat, which looked none the better for its morning snow-balling; and as he made his way to the dining-room, I saw him catch a blooming girl of sixteen in his arms and give her a hearty kiss. In her playful struggles to get free, a spray of mistletoe fell from his button-hole, and the sprightly maiden placed it gaily in her girdle, singing-"No mistletoe bough, no kiss, good Sir." What Jokes and laughter did he not cause-that dear old man. How he cut oranges into sick ladies for the children, and made himself into a little old dwarf to mystify their sires and frighten the young girls; for now the daylight had long been shut out, and red damask curtains hung in heavy felds over the windows. Then in the stone hall the mysteries of snap-dragon and the magic lantern were alternately tried, and when mirth seemed to flag, the summons to tea was given; and a dance to the music of a blind fiddler promised to the young ones on the carpet. How we danced-grandsires and maiden aunts, babes of two years and their pretty mothers, we danced till one by one the young ones deserted our ranks and stretched themselves in dark corners and on sofas to sleep. And now the children were dismissed to bed-the country dance was over-the fiddler sent into the servants' hall to make merry, and we drew our seats close round the fire, and talked of by-gones till all hearts were softened. At eleven o'clock the stranger began to get fidgetty, at half-past eleven he said he must go and see how the servants' hall stood for merriment; and bursts of laughter, which were faintly heard in the drawing-room, followed his appearance in those far-off regions.

I saw an old grandfather smile as if in possession of some mighty secret, and presently he whispered to meSly dog! there is a bough of mistletoe over the door!The half-hour chimed, the bell for rang and soon prayers, the whole household knelt around their head, and a serious voice repeated the words of grace and thanksgiving. And the old gentleman, who had returned, like a truant child expecting to be whipped, slipped silently into his place after the rest, and I heard his voice join in the offering of praise. Beneath the windows, a band of rural musicians struck up a stirring tune of minstrelsy as we rose from our knees. "The waits," said the master of the house. "Give them their Christmas-box."

I turned to speak to the stranger, but he had disappeared; and at that moment the pendule on the marble slab struck the hour of midnight-Christmas was indeed gone. Dear, warm-hearted old Christmas! with his gambols and his quaint sayings, he was gone, and I had not found time to wish him many happy returns of his visit-I had not found time to bid him farewell!

66

not comprehend. Perceiving this, he spoke more explicitly. The guileless young creature stopped, looked in his face with mournful reproach, and burst into tears. The nobleman took her kindly, and said, "My dear, are you an innocent girl?" "I am, I am," replied she with convulsive sobs. Oh, what have I ever done or said, that you should ask me that ?" Her words stirred the deep fountains of his better nature. "If you are innocent,' said he, "God forbid that I should make you otherwise. But you accepted my invitations and presents so readily, that I supposed you understood me." "What could I understand," said she, "except that you intended to make me your wife ?"

Though reared amid the proudest distinctions of rank, he felt no inclination to smile. He blushed and was silent. The heartless conventionalities of life stood rebuked in the presence of affectionate simplicity. He conveyed her to her home, and bade her farewell, with a thankful consciousness that he had done no irretrievable injury to her future prospects. The remembrance of her would soon be to him as the recollection of last year's butterflies. With her the wound was deeper. In her solitary chamber she wept, in bitterness of heart, over her ruined air castles. And that dress which she had stolen to make an appearance befitting his bride! Oh, what if she should be discovered? And would not the heart of her poor widowed mother break, if she should ever know that her child was a thief? Alas! her wretched forebodings were too true. The silk was traced to her; she was arrested on her way to the store, and dragged to prison. There she refused all nourishment, and wept incessantly.

On the 4th day, the keeper called upon I. T. H., and informed him that there was a young girl in prison, who appeared to be utterly friendless, and determined to die by starvation. The kind-hearted old gentleman immediately went to her assistance. He found her lying on the floor of her cell, with her face buried in her hands, sobbing as if her heart would break. He tried to comfort her, but could obtain no answer.

(To be continued.)

DURKEE'S GREEN MOUNTAIN VEGETABLE OINTMENT.

A SOVEREIGN, SAFE, AND SPEEDY REMEDY FOR RHEUMATISM, GOUT, NEURALGIA, TIC-DOULOUREUX, INFLAMMATION of the Chest and Bowels, WHITE SWELLINGS, Glandular, and all other unnatural SWELLINGS, SCROFULOUS SORES, CHILBLAINS, BURNS, SCALDS AND BURNS, INFLAMMATION OF THE EYES, BROKEN BREASTS AND SORE NIP. PLES, FISTULA, BOILS AND PILES, FRESH-CUT WOUNDS, Injuries resulting from Domestic Accidents or Mechanical Violence, Old and Inveterate Ulcers, frequently superseding the use of leeches, the lancet, the knife, and drastic purgatives,-always performing well its part in relieving a vast amount of human suffering, in a manner the most simple, inexpensive, and efficacious.

It has already proved an invaluable boon to thousands of the human family in various parts of the globe, establishing itself as a favourite in every clime, and earning a well-deserved reputation as one of the best family medicines on record. See Medical and other Vouchers.

This Ointment is sold in Pots, at 1s. 14d., 28. 9d., 4s. 6d., and 11s. each, by Barclay and Sons, Farringdon Street; Sanger, 150, Oxford Street; and all respectable Chemists and Medicine Venders throughout the kingdom.

Particular directions accompany each pot of the Ointment. Wholesale Agents, by appointment, Preston and Sons, 94, Smithfield Bars, London.

Sole Proprietors, BLAKE and CO., 529, NEW OXFORD

STREET, LONDON.

A COUNTRY Woman, who was very anxious to hear a certain clergyman preach, at some distance from her place of residence, put a black pudding in her bosom, to serve as a refreshment. The clergyman, happening to preach on our darling sins, used the expression so often, "Pull them out of your bosom," that the woman, in a pet, pulled out the pudding, and threw it at him, saying, “There, take it; what need for making all this noise about a small black pudding ?"

THE LEADING BallADS OF THE DAY

Seem to be "MARY ASTORE,” “THE TEAR," and "THE SUNSHINE OF OUR HOME," the latter constantly sung with rapturous applause by Miss Dolby. This accomplished vocalist is rising rapidly to the acme of public favour, and her beautiful rendering of this touching song (which, by the way, Edward Land composed expressly for her) is at least equal to any of her numerous triumphs. The poetry (Mr. Carpenter's) inspired the composer, and he has transmitted the inspiration, clothed in melody, to the accomplished singer, who never fails to charm her audience with the heartful strains. "Mary Astore," by Stephen Glover, and "The Tear," by Kücken, are taking a like position in popular favoour,'and afford Miss Dolby new opportunities of shading her fair brow with undying laurels.-Observer, Dec. 19, 1852.

BRINLEY RICHARDS'S LA REINE BLANCHE, Grand Galop, 48. Recollections of Wales (for the pianoforte), eight numbers, 3s. each; the Homeward March, 3s.; the Angel's Song, 2s.; the Vision, 2s.; the Sturm Marsch Galop, 3s. Also, in numbers, "The Classical Pianist," and "The Student's Practice," both series fingered by Mr. Brinley Richards. Speaking of the Galop, the Editor of the Musical World describes it as fully worthy of the light and airy fingers of M. Emile Prudent. "Few living composers for the pianoforte," he continues, "excel Mr. Richards in this species of writing; he knows the art of combining the ad captandum with the better qualities of the musician. His Galop is not merely brilliant--it is elegant, well written, and, in more than one instance, recherché."

LONDON: ROBERT COCKS & CO., NEW BURLINGTON STREET, PUBLISHERS TO THE QUEEN. N.B.-Gratis on application, Robert Cocks & Co.'s Musical Almanack for 1853.

HEALTH FOR A SHILLING!

HOLLOWAY'S PILLS.

A DANGEROUS LIVER COMPLAINT AND SPASMS IN THE STOMACH EFFECTUALLY CURED.

Copy of a Letter from Mr. Bostock, Druggist, of Ashton-underLyne, dated July 31, 1852.

To Professor HOLLOWAY.

DEAR SIR, I have much pleasure in handing to you a testimonial of the efficacy of your Medicines. A person in this neighbourhood with whom I am well acquainted was afflicted for a long time with violent spasmodic pains in the stomach and liver, arising from frequent colds, smells of paint, and the effects of a stooping position which he was obliged to assume in his business. The spasms were of an alarming character, and frequently left him in a weak and debilitated condition. At length he heard of the salutary effects of your invaluable Pills, and was induced to give them a trial. The first dose gave him considerable relief, and by following them up in accordance with your directions, they have acted so wonderfully in cleansing the liver and stomach, and strengthening the digestive organs, that he has been restored to the enjoyment of good health. I remain, dear sir, yours faithfully, WILLIAM BOSTOCK.

(Signed)

Sold at the Establishment of Professor HOLLOWAY, 244, Strand, (near Temple Bar,) London, and by all respectable Druggists and Dealers in Medicines throughout the Civilized World, at the following prices:-1s. 1 d., 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., 11s., 22s., and 33s. each Box. There is a considerable saving by taking the larger sizes.

N.B.-Directions for the guidance of Patients in every Disorder are affixed to each Box.

WE notice with pleasure the return of that comfortable dress the douillette, which many of our fair readers may not remember. They are a kind of wrapping dress made of reps, or even sarcenet, of any pretty dark colour, slightly wadded, fastening down the front with bows of ribbon the same colour, and ceinture round the waist with ends. When the skirt is open at the side the ceinture has no ends, the body is high and closes in front, the sleeves wide and terminating with cuffs. The open body is not however interdicted, and when used with these dresses generally has a revers forming pele

rine behind.

For morning wear, the cloth, cachemire, and merino dresses continue to be made of dark colours, and the jackets of these dresses are made very much deeper than for any other toilette; they are sometimes close, sometimes open, and ornamented with velvet in bands or scollops, when open, a white embroidered waistcoat is worn, trimmed with a ruche of lace; but they look very neat for morning wear with tight underbody, buttoning up to the throat, the buttons also continuing down the skirt, and the jacket left quite open, embroidered all round with braid; but many dresses are still worn of the Amazon form.

Velouténe is a material much in favour just now, as well as thick taffetas, popelines, and light cloths, which are often embroidered. The make of the body varies; the Elizabethan and Maria Louisa are both favourites, and suited the one to slight the other to stout figures; the jacket bodies are equally admired and becoming to slender figures; braid is much used, particularly for the cloth dresses. The plan now of making two or even three bodies to the same skirt is very convenient, as the morning dress may, in a few minutes, be converted into a dinner dress, by substituting a Watteau or Raphael body; or again, for an evening toilette, with low body with birthe and short sleeves. Light-coloured poplins

VOL. 26.

place of flowers; the bodies, though low, made with jacket at the waist, and berthe round the top, trimmed with fringe as the skirt. Black taffetas dresses, with flounces edged with velvet plaid ribbons, are pretty, the trimmings of the body corresponding. Lace berthes continue to be fashionable on evening dresses, but latterly the style has been a little varied; instead of the simple frill put on a little full they are more fancifully arranged, forming rather a trimming than a

frill.

Gold and silver are expected to be much used this season in ball dresses, and also mixed with the new guipure; the lama dresses of former days are thus reappearing, and certainly nothing can be more elegant. Flowers are also profusely introduced on ball dresses, in wreaths, heading flounces, or detached bouquets, looping up the double skirt and placed on the body and sleeves, with flowers to correspond in the hair; these ornaments in flowers are equally applicable for tulle or organdy dresses; those of tulle are often with trimmings of bouillons, headed by small wreath or cordons of flowers; the tarlatan dresses are pretty, with stripes of gold or silver wove in the material, graduated in width. Many of the dresses of richer material, the richer brochés, &c., have the skirt looped up at the side by a noeud of splendid ribbon intermixed with gold, the ends floating on an underskirt of white moire: the short sleeves should correspond with the style of this skirt, and the Grecian body would be the most oppropriate. Dresses of tarlatan or tulle, made with triple skirts, each edged with by a gold galloon, are very elegant. Vandykes are all the rage, and introduced in every possible way, whether as flounce, frill, collar, or trimming.

Head-dresses, generally speaking, are worn very backward; the dress hats are fashionable, also wreaths in which gold or silver blond are intermixed; some have flowers of velvet, with foliage of gold falling low on the neck; some are composed also of small feathers, mixed with gold; very elegant wreaths are made of white velvet narcissus, with centre of gold and pendant branches of delicate gold flowers mixing with the foliage; others are of wild flowers, with herbage of gold; many of the flowers are mixed with leaves made of gold lace.

The mixture of Terry velvet and satin forms pretty capotes, the edge being transparent, and the satin in bouillons with bands of the velvet, and the round crown covered by a half

outside the bonnets should correspond with those inside. Very elegant dress bonnets are made of light, of even white, Terry velvet and satin, with ostrich feather drooping and at the side, and wreath of spring flowers inside. We never remember a winter when straw bonnets have been so much worn; they formerly were exclusively reserved for summer wear, but now even the open straws have their advocates; by ornamenting them with velvet or satin they form a pretty contrast to the former universal black velvet bonnet; and these, when now worn, are ornamented often with straw and the open edge of lace: there seems in all things a tendency to avoid a heavy appearance. Leghorns are also occasionally seen trimmed with velvet. The bonnets continue open in form, and rather deeper over the forehead, with quite low crowns; but at this moment we cannot look for much novelty.

The Talma form of manteau, blended with the burnous, appears to be the one generally preferred this season, both for the useful cloth cloak, or the more elegant one used as an opera cloak, when the material forms the difference: the latter being of showy colours, in cachemire, lined with satin, and these generally are with hoods; but the cloth are oftener without, and trimmed with broad braid in one or more rows, or embroidered in bold patterns all round, with a narrower though by no means a narrow braid. The Talma manteaux are also worn by children, both girls and boys, the trimmings forming the principal difference. We give with this number the model of one for a child of five or six years of age. Though the season has been so mild furs have been equally fashionable, and many cloaks are trimmed with them; for carriage wear those of velvet, trimmed with ermine or grêbe, are very elegant; by young persons, chinchilla has been used in Paris, it contrasts prettily with pink.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGRAVINGS.

PLATE I.

Carriage Dress.-Redingote of glacé silk, with high body fastening up the front with velvet buttons, and trimming formed of alternate vandykes of velvet and silk, edged with gimp rising up the skirt en tablier, and continued on the body to the shoulders. Capote of pink satin and Terry velvet.

Walking Dress.-Robe of black silk with bands of velvet wove in the material. Mantelet of glacé silk, with pointed pelerine, trimmed with a broad band of velvet, and narrow velvet in a lozenge or chain pattern. Bonnet of green satin ornamented with black lace, and bunch of velvet flowers.

Boy's Dress.-Blouse of cachemire trimmed with a broad biais of dark green velvet and narrower one at each side, with ornamental buttons down the centre; the sleeves are wide and open, with band of velvet round the edge; and girdle with tassels. Felt hat, with band of velvet and buckle.

Promenade Dress.-Robe of popeline with flounces. Pardessus of ruby velvet, with pattern stamped on it; the sleeves are open and rounded, with lace ones under. Bonnet of Terry velvet and satin, with feathers.

Walking Dress.-Robe of striped silk, with full body and pagoda sleeves. Mantelet shawl of dark blue velvet trimmed with black lace. Bonnet of mais satin and velvet in bouillons.

PLATE II.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of white taffetas with triple skirt, each being finished by a scolloped edge, and looped up at the sides by bunches of flowers; the body is open, with revers corresponding with the skirt. Head-dress of hair in bandeaux, with wreath of foliage.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of moire, with mantelet of velvet trimmed with gimp. Bonnet of drawn silk with ruche edge, and small bunch of feathers at the side.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of popeline, with body open to the waist, having double revers scolloped-in each scollop is a lozenge of black velvet; the skirt is ornamented en tablier by similar lozenges of velvet; the sleeves are open to the elbow, finished to correspond with under sleeves of lace. Bonnet of white pluche, with lace edge and inside loops of narrow pink velvet ribbon.

Evening Dress.-Robe of tarlatane, with triple skirt embroidered with pink silk en chainette; the body is full in bouillons, with small jacket of ruby velvet. The hair in plain bandeaux, with two small tinted feathers at the side.

Walking Dress-Robe of reps and pardessus of black velvet, with large loose sleeves, the whole trimmed with sable fur. Bonnet of green satin and velvet, with black lace edge.

PLATE III.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of taffetas, with jacket of the same ornamented by bands of velvet and buttons; also similar trimming up the centre of the en tablier. Bonnet of green velvet and satin, lined with pink, and vandyke edge.

Evening Dress.-Robe peignoir of white muslin; the skirt is open, edged by insertion and frill, with pink ribbon under, and bows of pink ribbon up the centre of the under skirt and body which is, with pelerine, finished by a broad frill. Small lace cap, with trimmings of narrow pink ribbon.

Walking Dress.-Robe redingote of taffetas, with open body, having three pinked frills forming revers; two rows of similar frills ornament the skirt en tablier; the half long sleeves are scolloped at the edge. Bonnet of Terry velvet, with wreath of small flowers inside.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of taffetas, with jacket body; the skirt has four flounces, vandyked and trimmed with narrow velvet. Pardessus of black velvet, with vandyked trimming of stamped velvet laid on. Bonnet of pink satin and Terry velvet, in bouillons.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of moire, with Amazon body and open sleeves, trimmed with velvet. Shawl of cachemire." Bonnet of velvet and paille de riz, lined with blue.

PLATE IV.

Child's robe of white spotted muslin, with narrow flounces of the same. The boddice is crossed with narrow scarlet ribbon. The sleeves are trimmed with wider ribbon of the same colour, and sable to match. Pelerine of white lace, with velvet (blue) and ribbon trimmings.

First bonnet of green silk, lined with white satin. Second ditto of fancy straw, trimmed with pink ribbon and black lace.

Third ditto of blue drawn satin, trimmed with black lace; strings and lining of amber satin.

Fourth ditto of crimson velvet lined with white, and trimmed with feathers.

First cap of white lace, and narrow ribbon and pink flowers. Second ditto of white lace with green ribbon,

DESCRIPTION OF MODEL.

THE pattern accompanying this number is of a circular cloak or Talma, without seam, for a child of four or five years of age, and may be increased as required for older children: for boys, it is made of cloth, with a wide braid all round, and closes in front with buttons; for little girls, of the same age, it should be made a trifle smaller, and is often made of the same material as the dress, or of cachemire, and may be rather more ornamented, or finished with a fringe-it is pretty for young ladies of course, in larger dimensions, of dark cloths, trimmed with a wide and narrow velvet all round of the same colour.