Magnum Bonum

s spouse sai

edded we

ten tedious

have seen

ho looked, after fifteen years, into that room where

years that had passed over their heads, though the mother had-after the wont of active old ladies-grown smaller a

brow, not ill set off by a tuft of carnation ribbon on one side, agreeing with the colour that touched up her gauzy black dress; the face, not beautiful indeed-but

dark eyes, set like two hot coals beneath the black overhanging brows of the massive forehead, on which the dark smooth hair was parted. The features were large, the complexion dark but not clear, and the look of resolution in the square-cut chin

had a well-grown, upright figure, his father's ready suppleness of movement, and his mother's hazel eyes and flashing smile, and there was a look of success about him, as well ther

ome. She had been the only teacher of her children till two years ago, when Allen had begun to attend a day school a few streets off

ohn Lucas, a lithe, wiry, restless elf of nine, with a brown face and black curly head, and Armine and Barbara, young persons of seven and six, on whom nature had been more beneficent in the matter of looks, for though brown was their prevailing complexion, both had well-moulded, child

rey! He will come int

yland, Babie?" asked the father

seus with the Gorgon's head, and Jock is the dragon; but

a grey parrot's stand was bein

u see she's chained, and Bobus won'

not harder to bring Queen Mab in with Pers

grave humour, "that your children are at their p

as Jock with preternatural contortions, rolled, kicked and tumbled himself with extended jaws to the

aned, An

sted Janet, "when

oll was displayed over his shoulder by Perseus, decorated with two enormous snak

and wriggled so that the scandalised Perseus exclaime

ntortions, though Queen Mab observed in the most admonitory tone, touching him at the

Who says so, Babie?" came

r telling Jock yesterday that he would never be an

prostrate Robert, the monster having taken ca

heard, "if Oliver Cromwell h

much noise to be bearable; Grandmamma turned round with an expostula

ing himself up. "Father, can you tell me why

the Doctor; "I shall pack you all

rom mother, wife, and

Drew comes back

It would be so much

t; indeed I never can see the se

nation, in which waves-crabs-boats a

tertaining as hearing people ta

iece of dissipation," sa

nsense," said Janet, rather

"Janet does not think anyone worth listening to that

Doctor, "or we shall have to send them to vegetate o

inding how much caseine matter was in the

said her father, with a mischievous pull at t

ara starting up as soon as grace was said. "Father

es me, which comes to the same thing

the top post of the baluster, like an acrobat, an achievement which made even his father so giddy that he peremptorily desired it never to be attempted again, to the great relie

hreshold of a

at, each kitten

e had with gre

ever to come

with "Nine tim

that there should be something, of some sort, said or shown to papa, whenever he was at home or free between

n being called for, repeated a Greek declension with two mistakes in it, Bobus showed a long sum in decimals, Janet, broug

ing on your hono

d said, "I spoilt it, papa, and

ill it has come to perfection. Is it

better," said Ja

is something finished. I'd rather have tha

d a book in his hands, demanding aid in making out why, as

Bobus was not satisfied till the clock chimed his doom,

ch a little fellow," said the gran

with it all night if he had not

other. "Fancy being troubled with dreams

ad of theorising about them. Carry him off, Mother

end us away all forlorn before!" she said, pleadingly. "W

y her. "There's a tendency to epidemic fever in two or three streets, which I don't

of my mind, leaving y

other bird and a doctor's wif

oes Dr. Dre

anted rest terribly, poor old fe

You can't come for a fortnight. Well, perh

They have found an unsophisticated elysium at Kyve Clements, and ar

roo

a letter from his friend, a somewhat noted artist in water-colours, whom, after

dmamma observed, "I am too old to catch things

granny," insisted Janet; "then

the sense of protection. Before she could be answered, however, there was an announcement. Friends were apt to drop in to coffee and talk in the evening, on the understanding

e bit of a Greek frieze, of which he had become the happy possessor, knowi

ceful modeller in clay-her favourite pursuit-when her children's lessons and other occupations left her free to indulge in it. The history of the travels, and the account of the discovery, were given and heard with all zest, and in the midst others cam

e together. "How amusing Mr. Leslie is!" said the young

mother, "with her brows pulled down and her eyes spa

souse that black head of hers with salt water. I don't

der what you would have said if you had had a lo

Mother Carey; only one chick has

len did, B

r as Bobus, granny, if-"

stimulus, he will do well. I own I am particularly pleased

ranny. "I believe his success is

w will he get on without

don't you think we might let Janet have her will for just these ten days? There can

ust Joe to ta

o trot up and down stairs for you. Come, it is only what

a child victimised

serts with only the boys and me," laughed Carey; "But I think a week l

ed Mrs. Brownlow. "You don't want he

er without her," said Carey. "

d to keep Mother Carey in order as well as her chicken

ked Janet at the dancing-school wheth

unger s

iscretion for us, granny; and I promise you we won't do any

hter-in-law, and rose to take her candle; "I am never

teasing air, towards his little wife. "Good night, mother. Shall not we be

had shut the door behind the old lady; "she would be left alone so many hou

I never see h

e falls asleep more in the afternoon. One reason for which I am less sorry to go on before, is that I shall b

place, if yo

stay at home altogether.

e, and you may trust her not to do that," said J

pear under a fortnight. Did you do any more this

ng semi-whisper, somewhat as Gutenberg's wi

d have attended to it. Don't be afraid, Carey, I'm not daunted by the

ely new, and the professor is never sanguine. I am almost glad

to be addled. If it should come to any good, probably it will

and saving life, and that is what you care for more than the h

ile. I don't mean to try another experiment till my brains

arey, wistfully; "much more than any of us. Look at

muscle. A Mother Carey and her six ridiculous chicke

you that were going, and I

l do my wo

o follow t

here are the notes of my lectu

d couple. You would manage the boys much

ve got them alone. But, considering the hour, I should think t

talk before going upstairs, the best thing in the wh