we indulge in no hidden sarcasm upon a married life. Mixed up with the pleasure and joy of the occasion, are the many regrets at quitting home, the tears of parting between parent and child, the consciousness of leaving the dearest and kindest friends of the happiest portion of human life, to encounter its cares and troubles with others still

'although his mode of expressing his opinion is somewhat homely, and occasionally incomprehensible.'

'That's wot we call tying it up in a small parcel,

A CHRISTMAS CAROL 'I care not for Spring; on his fickle wing Let the

idling about, apparently persuading himself that he was doing something with a spade and a wheel-barrow.

Above the hoarse loud hum, arose, from time to time, a boisterous laugh; or a scrap of some jingling song, shouted forth, by one of the giddy crowd, would strike upon the ear, for an instant, and then be lost amidst the roar of voices and the tramp of footsteps; the breaking of the billows of the restless sea of life, that rolled heavily on,

'come, Sir, this is rayther too rich, as the young lady said when she remonstrated with the pastry-cook, arter he'd sold her a pork pie as had got nothin' but fat inside.

'he's in a horrid state o' love; reg'larly comfoozled,

It's a capital prescription, sir. I takes it reg'lar, and I can warrant it to drive away any illness as is caused by too much jollity.'