own knowledge of the subject, and says she
brought up seven children besides Maria Jane.
But, how do I know that she might not have
brought them up, much better? Maria Jane
herself, is far from strong, and is subject to
headaches, and nervous indigestion. Besides
which, I learn from the statistical tables
that one child in five, dies within the first
year of its life; and one child in three, within
the fifth. That don't look as if we could
never improve in these particulars, I think!

P. P. S. Augustus George is in convulsions.

THE TYRANT OF MINNIGISSENGEN.

"YOUR Serene Highness must not forget
that the eyes of Europe are upon us!"
exclaimed the Baron Von Rrobrecht, Prime
Minister, Commander of the Forces, Privy
Councillor, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the principality of Hesse Minnigissengen.

"But, my dear Baron," returned the Prince,
pointing out the passage, "my cousin's letter
expressly states that his visit is to be without
ceremony."

The Baron Von Rrobrecht proudly drew
himself up to his full height. It being a court-
day he was in full dress; the "Reception"—
which lasted exactly eight minutes—was just
over. The display upon the Baron's small round
person, would have led a stranger to believe,
that, in him, were concentrated the highest
honours of the greatest realm in Europe. His
coat was stiff with embroidery; and, would
have been, but for the dimming ravages of
Time, gorgeous with gold; it was fastened at
the waist with a rainbow of sashes, girdles, and
lace; while a grotesque menagerie of honorific
animals dangled at his breast. Having
expanded his person to its utmost dimensions,
to give the greater impressiveness to his
arguments, he proceeded to say, "Your
Highness will permit me to observe, that in this
affair, your Highness's consequence and
consideration, in the eyes of foreign courts, are
in question. When I had the honour to be
attached to the person of the late Prince, your
father, we were, under similar circumstances,
accustomed to spare no expense."

"Very true; and more than once you were
obliged to pledge to the Jews the diamonds of
the Princess, my late beloved mother."

"But, then," interrupted the First Minister,
eagerly, "we enjoyed, amongst the neighbouring
principalities, the reputation of being the
most polished and elegant court in Germany.
And," persisted the Baron, "to what did we
owe your illustrious predecessor's marriage;
which brought him a revenue of ten thousand
florins? Why, to the magnificence of his
court, when your august uncle visited it.
Dazzled by his brilliant reception, the Grand
Duke of Saxe Kissankumagen bestowed on us
his sister in marriage."

At the word "marriage" the Prince sighed,
and said, abstractedly, "Well, Rrobrecht;
receive my cousin as you think best:" and
then sighed again, and was soon plunged into
a reverie.

"Nine of the palace servants must have
new liveries," said Rrobrecht, commencing his
arrangements. "Your Serene Highness will
excuse my absence. I must hasten to the
tailor!"

That announcement suddenly aroused the
royal dreamer.

"To the tailor?" he repeated.

"To the tailor," said the functionary, once
more.

"Then I will accompany you."

Popularity was thought at that time—to
the great discomfort of that thorough absolutist,
the Baron Von Rrobrecht—to be a
necessary adjunct to the throne of Hesse
Minnigissengen. Revolution was stalking
rapidly over Germany; and it was necessary
that the Prince should be familiar with his
people. This was not difficult; for his capital
consisted of seventy-eight houses, and a
population that did not exceed three hundred and
two souls; ten per cent of whom were babies
in arms.

The tailor's house was, beyond contradiction,
the prettiest dwelling in Minnigissenbourgh;
it was approached by a quadruple
row of acacias, which were then in full bloom.
Under these trees his Serene Highness
expressed his intention of taking "a turn,"
while his Prime Minister entered the house
to negociate the transaction in liveries.

"The business I have come upon is this,"
said Rrobrecht to Herr Hubert
Oberschneider; "we require fifteen new state
liveries complete by the end of the week."

"Impossible!" said the tailor, drily.

"Nevertheless," rejoined the Baron,
haughtily, "we must have them. His Serene
Highness's cousin, his Royal Highness the
Prince of Saxe Kissankumigen is about to
pay us a visit."

"/, too, am expecting a visitor," rejoined
the tailor; "my nephew—and the two or three
first days after his arrival are destined to
merry-making.—No work will be done."

"So!" exclaimed Rrobrecht, with severity.
"These are the fruits of that excessive
familiarity with which his Highness indulges his
subjects. It renders them impertinent."

Mr. Oberschneider lit his pipe. "Baron
Rrobrecht," he said, with the utmost
composure, "you have the option of giving the
Prince's custom to any other tailor you please;
I do not seek it. I do not even demand
payment of my little bill of four hundred and odd
florins. Thank Heaven, I am not in need of
them at present. But," continued the tailor,
"why do you require fifteen suits, since there
are only nine domestics at the palace; one of
whom is, to my certain knowledge, bed-
ridden?"

"Because," replied Rrobrecht, "we are
going, provisionally, to double the number of
our retainers." As the tailor went on smoking
his pipe, with an irreverent indifference which