them the better, I filled my pipe, and strolled
off the high road into a shady copse of fine
beech-trees, at the foot of one of which, and
close to a clear little rivulet, I threw myself at
full length, and thus, like Tityrus, enjoyed the
leafy shade, making my meerschaum do duty for
the shepherd's reed,

I had not been long thus, when I heard the
footsteps of some persons on the road, and
shortly after, the sound discontinuing, I judged
that they must have crossed into the sward
beneath the wood. As I listened, I detected
voices, and the next moment two figures emerged
from the cover and stood before me: they were
Vaterchen and Tintefleck.

"Sit down," said I, pointing to each in turn
to take a place at either side of me. They had,
it is true, been the cause of the great calamity
of my life, but in no sense was the fault theirs,
and I wished to show that I was generous and
open-minded. Vaterchen acceded to my
repeated invitation with a courteous humility, and
seated himself at a little distance off; but
Tintefleck threw herself on the grass, and with such
a careless "abandon," that her hair escaped
from the net that held it, and fell in great wavy
masses across my feet.

"Ay," thought I, as I looked at the graceful
outlines of her finely-shaped figure, "here is
the Amaryllis come to complete the tableau;
only I would wish fewer spangles, and a little
more simplicity."

I saw that it was necessary to reassure Vaterchen
as to my perfect sanity by some explanation
as to my strange mode of travelling, and
told him briefly, "that it was a caprice common
enough with my countrymen to assume the
knapsack, and take the road on foot; that we
fancied in this wise we obtained a nearer view
of life, and at least gained companionship with
many from whom the accident of station might
exclude us." I said this with an artful delicacy,
meant to imply that I was pointing at a
very great and valuable privilege of
pedestrianism.

He smiled with a sad, a very sad expression
on his features, and said, "But in what wise,
highly honoured sir?"—he addressed me always
as Hoch Ge-ehrter Herr—"could you promise
to yourself advantage from such associations as
these? I cannot believe you would condescend
to know us simply to carry away in memory the
little traits that must needs distinguish such
lives as ours. I would not insult my respect
for you by supposing that you come amongst
us to note the absurd contrast between our real
wretchedness and our mock gaiety; and yet
what else is there to gain? What can the poor
mountebank teach you beyond this?"

"Much," said I, with fervour, as I grasped
his hand, and shook it heartily; "much, if you
only gave me this one lesson that I now listen
to, and I learn that a man's heart can beat as
truthfully under motley as under the embroidered
coat of a minister. The man who speaks as you
do, can teach me much."

He gave a short but heavy sigh, and turned
away his head. He arose after a few minutes,
and going gently across the grass, spread his
handkerchief over the head and face of the girl,
who had at once fallen into a deep sleep.

"Poor thing," muttered he, "it is well she
can sleep! She has eaten nothing to-day!"

"But, surely," said I, "there is some village
or some wayside inn near this——"

"Yes, there is the Eckstein, a little public
about two miles further; but we didn't care to
reach it before nightfall. It is so painful to
pass many hours in a place and never call for
anything; one is ill looked on, and uncomfortable
from it; and as we have only what would
pay for our supper and lodging, we thought we'd
wear away the noon in the forest here, and arrive
at the inn by close of day."

"Let me be your travelling companion for
to-day," said I, "and let us push forward and
have our dinner together. Yes, yes, there is far
less of condescension in the offer than you
suspect. I am neither great nor milor, l am one
of a class like your own, Vaterchen, and what I
do for you to-day some one else will as probably
do for me to-morrow."

Say what I could, the old man would persist
in believing that this was only another of those
eccentricities for which Englishmen are famed;
and though, with the tact of a native good
breeding, he showed no persistence in opposition,
I saw plainly enough that he was unconvinced
by all my arguments.

While the girl slept, I asked him how he
chanced upon the choice of his present mode of
life, since there were many things in his tone and
manner that struck me as strangely unlike what
I should have ascribed to his order.

"It is a very short story," said he; "five
minutes will tell it, otherwise I might scruple to
impose on your patience. It was thus I became
what you see me."

Short as the narrative was, I must keep it for
another page.

BOXING-DAY.

MR. SKINNER STONE presents his respectful
compliments to the Editor of All the Year
Round, and begs to lay before him a statement
of certain circumstances in connexion with the
present season of the year which have come
under his observation, together with the inferences
which he has been enabled to deduce
from the same.

The residence of your informant is at the end
of a certain row of stuccoed houses in the
postal district N.W. The house is not in a line
with the other houses in Lumbago-terrace. It
is situated at the eastern extremity of that
stronghold of miasma, and projects from the
other clammy and exudacious tenements.

Lumbago-terrace is a fair specimen of the
architecture of Corinth, as adapted to the
necessities of our age and habits. It is well
known that the great glare and blaze of
sunlight to which in this country we are perpetually
subject, dazzles and scorches us during the major