Law J Proposed To Miltildi Muggs.

saitl to bim . tho other day , ' You know , my dear boy , tho man who can write the story for you ; ' and the same is yourself , most oratlito Theophilus . " Thus adjured , as the great Boman poet hath it , I plunged in " medias res , " and have written onfc this little domestic legend of the pasfc for the Christmas Freemason , As I remarked before , I am now an oltl boy—I may add , a very old boy—that is to say , I eschew late hours and moonlight walks . As Praed sung of old : —

" I ne-vcr wish to raise a veil , 1 never raise a sigh , I ne've-r tell a tender tale , 1 never tell a lie ; I never wareeler forth alone Upon the mountain ' s brow ; 1 weighed last winter seventeen stone—I ' m not n lover now . "

No , the sympathies and fears of old age are now mine in fruition and perfection , and that is why 1 think I am safe iu telling the story which follows these introductory lines . Matilda Moggs was tho onl y daughter of my iiiuchosteenied friends , Mr . and Mrs . Moggs . What "old Moggs , " as he was irreverently called , had been I never

knew , nor did I know any one who did . Ho was in some respects as mysterious as the Sphinx , as inscrutable us Junius , as dark ns the man in thc Iron Mask . He talked of everything , and knew most thing-swell , lie was finite au authority on " Stocks , " ancl "Shares , " and "Limited Companies , " and Cooperative Stores "; ou plays and operas , on the

"French Actors" and the English stage ; and , above all , he was most knowing on wine , c ' oals , and cigars ! Whether he had been a " T . G ., " or a " commission agent "; whether ho was a prosperous stockbroker or n retired millionaire ; whether he had much money in mines and minerals , oil and tobacco , spelter or corn , long cloths or short clothes , was a complete enigma .

To say the truth , it mattered little to me then , and it matters little , I fancy , to you , kind readers , to-day . Ho kepi a good house and a better table . He was famous for his judicious entrees and his good wine . Mrs . Moggs was always smiling , lit : was always entertaining . And ihen—anil then—there was Matilda

the charm of Woodbury bodge for many a long clay , and the cynosure of numerous anxious young men , who mixed ii ] i their admiration of Matilda , wil bout much loss io their peace of mind , with intense anxiety about her prospects , and what the old hoy meant to " settle " upon her . In those days , when I was slim , active , and well

dressed , and my tailor regarded my waist with cunp lacenev , and not as now , when he says , sadly , with a perceptil > h' rise of his eyebrows , " forly-1 wo threequarters . " 1 vveisu neighbour of ihe Moggse-s , always well received by 1 he old people , and a great , friend of Matilda ' s . She called mc her "dear friend , " anti wrote to mc as

her " dear friend , " and was , in all respects , most art . less , sympathetic , and confiding ! And , to say the truth , Matilda was ,, very pretty girl in those days . 1 fancy now that she is a frit , comfortable , unsentimental looking miililli ' -. 'iged ( elderly ?) female , who likes a good dinner , and has always , when she goes to bed al night , a g lass of warm- -well , " rnpillnirt nnd water !"

" Hut then , oh then ! and memory rises up before me , " sighing anil suing , " So to say , 1 was ( as I believed ) the favoured suitor as well as the "deal ' friend" at Woodbury Lodge . I always sat , near to Matilda ; she always had a " sol to voce " speech , a kind glanc , and a warm pressure of the hand for me , anil I was basking , as Swinburne says in one of his lino classical ballads , on the

" KeiM-atee-ea anil e , unbeaui of hope . " ] think it is where he describes Venus rising in diluted attire from the sen . Venus Anailyoine -Venus without much clothes—" una , " without ; " tlyomene , " chillies . , So I Ihough ! il all very p leasant , and , like a contented philosopher , smiled serenely oil the scene . No doubt il is sometimes dillieiilt to know what a

wnnuiu really means , A German courier I once met use-el to say " dat de most difficult matier he hacl ever to do w id in life , was to know vat was tie real minds of de woinnns . " For , as he it-ed ( o put it , "you see , inein herr , de woman ' s naturally artful , and she never will exactly tell you vval she wants and wnt she links . De woman ' like do little mysteries , and whenever she

has to decide between two or three gentlemen , she Very often docs not care for any one of dem , but will take it ) i wit a fourth . " The nueim of that travelled Confucius I found to he true as regarded inyovvii Malihia . I had seen numerous young hori'i- pay attention to the "heiress . " as she wii- culle-el without fear and without eiuolion .

Ilul all of n sudden , one evening I found that a change " ha 1 come o ' er the spirit nf my pleasing . Ircuui . " I walked up to Woodbury Lodge , a- - was my wont , : iml when uuiroiiiu'o . l b y old Tiiiimins , the luiller , wilh Iii . s cii-ioui .-ii-y Miaviiy of i eeepi ion . found thai for oiice' . ¦ ) 1 : 11 ibI : i \ vu- e-ohl unci iv ! ii-img . I soon pcrccivoel

the l-eii- I' I lee change . For .-nine lime pa-l , a youih named " Podbiiry " had been a I ' reepieiil vi-itor al I lie Moggses . lie WII- a rising yinig solie-itor , and bail some nmu-ing i i ualiliou'ion- fur n | ar ; v . among oilier .- , that ol I ' oiijiirino . I led h .-urcf my Matilda laugh al had peine- . Mid . h-e' Mill , -r ' .-e jo ! -. | bail-ee'll her ill ! ere- 'l I'll in -.-,-,, i ,, | . ba , . ,. I / - - ¦ : r ,,:-i . i ; , ! ,,-,- ,, ] || rrr Herbynhi-ky VJeger . louiaiu . bin I h : .-1 a ' , 1 ii , niv-olf . Manilla is young i Matilda i- MM . '; MnliMu ; , tie ,, ug ! itlc- ' s ; but how rati

Law J Proposed To Miltildi Muggs.

sho prefer the monkey-like tricks and insane jests of a seventh-rate Joe Miller to the conversation of a man of mind ? But to-night Matilda was literally living on Bodily ' s words and tricks , so we called him . She seemed to have no eyes nor cars for anything or anyone else . Mrs . Moggs , kind soul , had a few words of comfort for

mo . Old Moggs said something sarcastically ( his wife was nofc near ) of woman ' s fickleness anel folly . But I remember well leaviug Woodbury Lodge sad and savage ,- disgusted with womankind in general , and Matilda Moggs in particular , and rather wishing that football was in season , anel that I mi g ht , as the captain , be heading the rush against the elato and elastic

Podbiiry . So , turning the idea in my mind , I determined to " clinch" ifc by proposing to Matilda herself forthwith , and asking her to he mine and onl y mine , and so cut out the prematurely confident representative of au uncurrent six and eightponoo . Accordingl y , the next morning , dressing myself with

great care , anil , I may say , greater taste , I wended on my way to Woodbury Lodge . Admitted by old Timmins , with a sort of grin on his face—which I did not then understand—I was ushered into tho drawing room , where I only found Mrs . Moggs . Whether it was that that good old dame had any suspicion of mv

unexpected appearance , or of my " get up , " I knew not , but , after her usual " nearly greeting , and saying that Matilda was in the conservatory , she sidled out of the room . Accordingly , I made for the conservatory , where I found Matilda , in a most becoming dress and a broad straw- ) ia ( , teniling her camellias with the greatest o-rai'i * and solicitude . From the smile with which she

greeted me 1 might have guessed , donkey that 1 was , what her response would be . But then , kind readers , men in love are always donkeys , that is , more or less . And so , after a littlo preliminary chatter , 1 came to the point nearest to my heart . I fear that I did not say it properly or with due effect , or as it should be said , for Matilda only laughed

and said , "Oh , Mr . Tomlinsoii , 1 never thought yon cured forme" ( and cruellest cut , eif all ) " or thought of such things . I always supposed that as you said you were not a marrying man , and were merely my friend —my dear friend ; and , if nothing else prevented me accepting your too Haltering offer , 1 may as well tell vou , in confidence , that 1 accepted Mr . Potlbury ' s offer

last evening , and my father and mother have given their approval . " Mrs . Moggs used to say her Matilda was " all soul . " I think my readers will agree that i . iy Mtitiltla was " all candour ; " and though it was huinllitifing to be crrcumvonled by Poclhm-y , I had nothing to do but to look amiable , speak sweetly , and heal a retreat .

I liiH-d hardly eoniiutie this personally depressing narrative , nor would my readers wish me to add to the " anguish of my soul , " or revive for a worthy brother Mason these painful memories of the past from the dusty recesses of his escrifore . It is but fair to add ( hat since that time I have hnd several " fair friends , " who took my advice and presents , but always threw' me

over at the last , and that I am still a dull and crabbed old bachelor , wln-e last idea is to advertise for a "domestic sewing machine . " When 1 saw old Moggs , he told me so different a story that 1 think il well to record it here , " truth " being one of those Masonic attributes for which Freemasons are always famous . 1 dined with him a few

days after the interesting episode I have so fully detailed , when Matilda had gone on a visit to a maiden aunt of her Walter ' s , from whom ho ( sordid wretch ) had " expectations . " " Vou see , " said old Moggs to me confidentially , when we two were " in earner , " : " alone and cheery , " Podbiiry dined the eveniiur before vou came , and he drank a lot

nf I'ocilcror , ' Simpkin , as my cousin from India calls it . You know , or at least there is no use concealing it now , he has been ' very bud' about Matilda for somo time , lie says , and she says , and Hie old girl says . it was ' love at Iirst sight . ' 1 don ' t believe it a bit . Old Podbiiry is a ipieer old file , and has a keen eye foi himself , for , vou will baldly believe il , we had scarcely

been three minutes togelher in private conclave , when he asked me what I was going to settle on Matilda . Hul never mind thai " ( my old friend used ( o wander a little in his conversation ) , " the fact is young Podbiiry 'popped the ipiesfion' that very night in the conservatory . " Here 1 start ed , anil hero Ihe old rascal ' s face got . red wilh laughter . " They toll tne , Tomlinson , he |

was in the conservatory when you proposed , and heard all you said . " My readers will enler inlo my feelings . Bui as my friend oH ' ered me u glass of 1 K 20 port I was able to ill-ink port in theno days I ( honghl . il bet ter lo ( real ( he whole maiter as a dignified philosopher . And so I replied , assuming : i very stately nir and

all it in le , " Ah , well , . Moggs , I here is no promising how lliesc affairs Urn out , I ailioiivel yo . ir charming daughter deeply , anil I ant anxious lo maintain a clo-i eonneeiion with my old friends , but , as Horace has ii 'Sic fata non vobjei-e . ' anel ii is not lo be . Let a

still remain friends , am ! may -Mr . ami Mrs . Poll bury be happy . Lot ns drink their health , and may yon live lo -ee the ' olive branches round aliotti your fable . ' " Coulel I say less , ob syiiipuihciic young man P ami could I say more , ob le-nilci-. bearl ed young woman r I feel here i hut I shall rise in the opinion of my rcaih-rs by my caneliil avowals anil my explanatory peroration . Awl if I ho Hill unmarried , what then ? As tbe obi German courier ii-oil to -ay , " ymi never ipiite know ub . 'tt a ut' / na / is is , or what a woman .- , will he . "

The Yule Log And The Christmas Free.

The Yule Log and the Christmas Free .

THE YULE LOG . sSFjpWSE are sitting round tho fire , dear hearts , all " | j | 5 » j | j true and kind , * ic 5 ' -eSo r ^' friends wo love are with us , though some &< £ * $% & $ al ' e 'oft behind ; "•& £ And as the yulo log flickers and its ashes v flick and fade , We fool tho havoc in our ranks old Time has surely made .

But let us still be happy , and let us hope and trust That those wc miss so deeply , whose bright memories never rust , Aro in all rest and peace , while wo in happiness to-day Arc marching on our journey and passing on our way ; And then the sparkling Yule Log can clearly tell us all Of tender love anel truth mid the trials which hefal .

Anel all thoso scenes and mysteries which make np our short career Still serve to call to memory kind the absent and the dear . Oh ! Yule Log of the heart , wc welcome thee once more , As hope grows dim , and Mentis aro gone , and lifo grows older evermore .

THE CHRISTMAS TREE . What sounds aro thoso which greet my ear ? What arc those shouts of joy , Which serve , in accents full and clear ,

To make mo onco more a boy ? Why , ' mid that blaze of startling light , And ' mill those shouts of youth , And ' mid those fairies fair and bright , 1 am young again in good truth .

Oh , Maggie , Minnie , Polly , Bright I'lflio , Jane , and Fan ; Oh laughing Susie , Eva , Molly , Gertrude and Mary Ann ! What mean you b y your winning ways ? What want yon with your eyes ? This scene recalls somo huppy days , Soft visions , —How timo flics !

And oh , you cheery heroes ; And <>! i , you happy boys ; What happy thoughts King Christmas throws Over your radiant joys . For yours are gifts of gladness , And as if echoing from above , Banished all care and sadness , Yours is the revelry of love .

May all happiness attend yon In the year which lies before . ; May nought of evi ! harm you , Iu to-morrow ' s ovcrmoi-o . But like as now you gather round , lit joy your Christmas Tree , May all of happiness abound , Dear child , for thine and theo .

A Student's Talq.

A Student's Talq .

BY SAVARIOUS . -j . Zr : ^ the days of Burke and Hare , resurrection men IjZ ) and tales of theirdoings were prevalent . London , s ^ s we all know has grown very considerably during g ihe last fifty years . Within this period what I am going to relate occurred . <• In a village on the borders of Epping Forest , close to the highway , exactly opposite to the

churchyard , were ( wo small cottages . Lnch cottage was occupied by a man . The two men were seldom seen by day , anil then only when driving a fast trotting black nag , well harnessed to a lightly-built market cart . Those men were apparentl y always together , and oh ! such men , rough spoken , shaggy looking , of surly

mien . < lire night , if any perPon had been on the look out , the horse anil carl with three personse in it might have , been seen leaving the back of the collages and making its way to the high roiitl , where il was driven towards Loudon . After half an hour ' s bun 1 driving it vvas brought

ti ) i in front of a roadside inn : rl Stratford . Two of the men alighlecl . leaving the third , who occupied the middle of I he seat-boaI'll . The livo men \\ ho alighfed , afier looking about in all directions , went , inlo Ihe public-house , evidently for ihe' purpii .-i 1 of getting- a " refresher , " which , in Ihis

I'u-e , iiieam anient spirits . Whilst they were absent a pee --eer-h y saluted I Iiir individual scaled iu the carl with ihe usicil '' getied nigh ! . " Receiving no answer , he liinieil his head anil spoke again ; a light streaming through a hob' in ihe window shutter .- -of the house ' -ho u ihe face of him in the earl , and Ihis face was o pallid ili-ailly-whilf , dent li-like , that the pas-cr-by