W

In those old days of the lost sunshine

Of youth-when the Saturday's chores were through, And the "Sunday's wood" in the kitchen, too,

And we went visiting, "me and you,"

Out to Old Aunt Mary's?

It all comes back so clear to-day!
Though I am as bald as you are grey—
Out by the barn-lot, and down the lane,
We patter along in the dust again,

As light as the tips of the drops of the rain,
Out to Old Aunt Mary's!

We cross the pasture, and through the wood Where the old grey snag of the poplar stood, Where the hammering "red-heads" hopped awry, And the buzzard "raised" in the "clearing" sky, And lolled and circled, as we went by

Out to Old Aunt Mary's!

And then in the dust of the road again ;

And the teams we met, and the countrymen ;
And the long highway, with sunshine spread
As thick as butter on country bread,

Our cares behind, and our hearts ahead,

Out to Old Aunt Mary's!

Why, I see her now in the open door,

Where the little gourds grew up the sides and o'er The clapboard roof!-and her face-ah, me !

Wasn't it good for a boy to see—

And wasn't it good for a boy to be

Out to Old Aunt Mary's!

And oh, my brother, so far away,
This is to tell you she waits to-day
To welcome us :-Aunt Mary fell
Asleep this morning, whispering, "Tell
The boys to come!" And all is well

Out to Old Aunt Mary's!

James Whitcomb Riley.

A PETITION OF THE LEFT HAND.

TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENCY OF

EDUCATION.

I

ADDRESS myself to all the friends of youth, and

conjure them to direct their compassionate regards to my unhappy fate, in order to remove the prejudices of which I am the victim. There are twin sisters of us; and the two eyes of man do not more resemble, nor are capable of being upon better terms with each other, than my sister and myself, were it not for the partiality of our parents, who make the most injurious distinctions between us. From my infancy I have been led to consider my sister as a being of a more elevated rank. I was suffered to grow up without the least instruction, while nothing was spared in her education.

She had masters to teach her writing, drawing, music, and other accomplishments; but if by chance I touched a pencil, a pen, or a needle, I was bitterly rebuked; and more than once I have been beaten for being awkward, and wanting a graceful manner. It is true, my sister associated me with her upon some occasions; but she always made a point of taking the lead, calling upon me only from necessity, or to figure by her side.

But conceive not, sirs, that my complaints are instigated merely by vanity. No; my uneasiness is occasioned by an object much more serious. It is the practice in our family, that the whole business of providing for its subsistence falls upon my sister and myself. If any indisposition should attack my sister,—and I mention it in confidence upon this occasion, that she is subject to the gout, the rheumatism, and cramp, without making mention of other accidents,what would be the fate of our poor family?

Must not the regret of our parents be excessive, at having

placed so great a difference between sisters who are so perfectly equal? Alas! we must perish from distress; for it would not be in my power even to scrawl a suppliant petition for relief, having been obliged to employ the hand of another in transcribing the request which I have now the honour to prefer to you.

Condescend, sirs, to make my parents sensible of the injustice of an exclusive tenderness, and of the necessity of distributing their care and affection among all their children equally. I am, with a profound respect, sirs, your obedient servant, THE LEFT HAND. Benjamin Franklin.

Give me each a dainty hand;

New England's hand shall lie
On my heart, and yours near by—
You understand?

Thomas Bailey Aldrich.

WOMEN'S FASHIONS.

SHOULD
HOULD I not keepe promise in speaking a little to

Women's fashions, they would take it unkindly. I

was loath to pester better matter with such stuffe; I rather thought it meet to let them stand by themselves, like the Quæ Genus in the Grammar, being Deficients, or Redundants, not to be brought under any Rule: I shall therefore make bold for this once, to borrow a little of their loose-tongued Liberty, and misspend a word or two upon their long-wasted, but short-skirted patience; a little use of my stirrup will doe no harme.

Ridentem dicere verum, quid prohibet?

Gray Gravity itselfe can well beteam,
That Language be adapted to the Theme.
He that to Parrots speaks, must parrotize;

He that instructs a foole, may act th' unwise.

:

It is known more then enough, that I am neither Nigard, nor Cinick, to the due bravery of the true Gentry if any man mislikes a bully 'mong drossock more than I, let him take her for his labour! I honour the woman that can honour her selfe with her attire: a good Text alwayes deserves a fair Margent: I am not much offended if I see a trimme, far trimmer than she that wears it: in a word, whatever Christianity or Civility will allow, I can afford with London measure but when I heare a nugiperous Gentledame inquire what dresse the Queen is in this week: what the nudiustertian fashion of the court; I meane the very newest with egge to be in it in all haste, what ever it be; I look at her as the very gizzard of a trifle, the product of a quarter of a cypher, the epitome of nothing, fitter to be kickt, if shee were of a kickable substance, than either honour'd or humour'd.

To speak moderately, I truly confesse, it is beyond the ken of my understanding to conceive, how those women