upon the world in the capacity of page or under-footman in a second family, his vacated place in our house being immediately filled by another candidate for domestic honours.

In like manner two little girls generally orphans were submitted to the training of good old Tursey, and the cook, housemaid, or dairymaid, according to the intended style of their education in household duties elsewhere. But to return.

"You understand that, Johnny, of course?" questioned Jeffry.

"Ye-s, please, sir. But please, sir, I never do get into a boostle. I couldn't do it no ways-I know I couldn't."

"Bless the boy! couldn't get into a boostle? Why, you are never out of one, in my opinion -never, except when my monishing hand is laid upon you! What in the name of common sense does the boy mean?"

and

A short pause ensued, during which master page were of course staring at each other with puzzled, questioning looks, for presently Jeffry exclaimed, in accents of increasing irritation,

"What is it you do mean, John Tucket?

Speak out, will you, and don't stand staring at me like a little idiot!"

Thus commanded, Johnny answered with frightened earnestness,

"I couldn't do it if I tried ever so!-'deed I couldn't, please, sir. please, sir. A boostle ain't big enough for a chap like me; and then it be only shut up on one side-t' other be all open!"

An explosive burst of suppressed laughter from Thomas followed this explanation.

66

Beg pardon, Mr. Jeffry-didn't mean to be rude-but couldn't help it. Oh, it's capital!— fit for Punch!" and again Thomas's keen perception of the ludicrous checked his utter

ance.

"What does it all mean? I should thank you to enlighten me, Mr. Thomas," interposed the now unmistakably offended butler, speaking in marked tones, which plainly warned footman and page he was not to be further trifled with; not that poor little simple Johnny had dreamed of committing such an act of insubordination.

"Don't you see, Mr. Jeffry," replied Thomas, "he thinks as how you mean one of-of--” (another explosive burst of merriment, and a

brief silence, during which the lively Thomas struggled to recover composure, adding rapidly -"one of them things the ladies flare out their dresses with-ha, ha, ha, ha!—it's really the bestest thing I have ever heard! Where did you come across one, Master Tucket?"

"Mother had some on them to wash, please, sir; and to stick 'em out. My, didn't they look queer!-and how they was sticked out!— and wasn't they stiff! I could have sot on 'em well, but I couldn't ha' got into one nohow!" A choking laugh from the facetious footman followed these remarks.

"Mother told me they was called boostles," continued Johnny, "and-and-please, sir, that's all."

It was too good to keep only for myself, and back I ran, and as well as I could speak for laughing gave grandmamma a repetition, word for word, of the little comedy.

Upon my return to the hall matters were restored to their normal state of peace. Thomas, with assumed expression of great respect, stood listening to Jeffry, who, in big important tone, was again holding forth to Johnny, taking advantage of the opportunity also, I felt sure,

to bestow a few flips upon Thomas, whose éxuberance of youthful and animal spirits often jarred upon the dignified butler's sense of propriety.

"Remember, therefore, Johnny, you can get into a boostle in a variety of ways, and none more easy or more frequent than by encouraging those foolish high spirits that make you disrespectful to your superiors, and which is merely the useless crackling of thorns under a pot." Such were the concluding words of good old Jeffry's address as I entered the hall.

I had begged to be allowed to take Johnny to the picnic, and, as a great favour on the part of our butler, my request was granted. In using the term, "as a great favour," I say it advisedly; for I assure you that Johnny himself was not regarded as a more simple child, requiring Mr. Jeffry's experienced advice, reproofs, and directions, than was I; and it is my firm conviction that the dear, self-opinionated old man did not believe I had added one year of wisdom or knowledge to those of age which had succeeded the day he so tenderly bore me in his arms into the hall, upon my arrival from that land of tigers and scorpions.