Wives of Windsor," where Slender com- In the very early part of Elizabeth's reign, we find the following note in Stowe's "Chronicle," March 8th, 1559-60. Eleven persons, malefactors, rode to hanging, seven men and four women; one of these men, a priest, was for cutting a purse wherein were 3s., but he was burnt in the hand before, or else the Book' would have saved him." And Hentzner, writing in the same reign, tells "that being at a show at Bartholomew's Fair, one of their company, Tobias Solander, Doctor of Physic, had his pocket picked of his purse." Yet long after this, traces of the pendent purse | are discovered; and in the museum at Canterbury, visitors are shown a large, flat, leather one, with clasps of steel or iron, which is said (with what truth, we must leave) to have belonged to Oliver Cromwell. It is certainly strong, and plain, and ugly enough to have satisfied the most Puritan principles; taste would be altogether a matter apart in connection with such an affair. The most ancient form of this branch of our subject extant, is the sporran of the Highlanders -a modification of the ancient Aulmonière, which was originally formed of leather, without, however, the savage adornment of the hair. him and his two brothers, who were in Scotland, into custody at the same time; but a nobleman of the court, Bruce's intimate friend, being apprised of his danger, and having no means of conversing with him, fell on an expedient to give him warning it was time to make his escape, and sent him, by his servant, a pair of gilt spurs and a purse of gold, leaving it to the sagacity of Bruce to discover the meaning of the present. We might mention other anecdotes to this account of the purse; but we shall only add, for the benefit of our curious readers, that a purse nearly eighteen hundred years old, that of the wife of Marcus Arrius Diomedes, which was found in her hand, near her husband's villa, Suburbana, at Pompeii, is preserved in the Museum at Naples; and that several others in the hands of females who had shared the same fate, and remained lava-buried for considerably more than a thousand years, have revisited the earth again, to prove to us that purses of gold-net were used by the ladies of ancient Magna Græcia, and that, in all probability, they wore them then, as it is the fashion with us in the present day,-in the hand. DWARFS.-The Romans were very fond of dwarfs, and used all means to prevent their growth. They were called nani and nana. Augustus's niece, Julia, was much attached to one, called Sonopas, who was only two feet and a handbreadth high. Mr. Richard Gibson, a favourite page of the back-stairs, and Mrs. Anne Shepherd, whose marriage King Charles I. honoured with his presence (and gave the bride), This reference to Scotland reminds us were of an equal stature, each measuring of the purse mysteriously dropped by a three feet, ten inches. In the Philosophidog at the feet of John Craig, the Scottish cal Transactions, we have well-authentiDominican reformer, when flying from cated accounts of two dwarfs: one born in the terrors of the Inquisition, and nearly Norfolk, who, at the age of twenty-two, exhausted with fatigue and want, in the weighed no more than thirty-four pounds, by-ways between Bologna and Milan. We with all his clothes on, and whose height, recollect, too, an episode in the life of including hat, wig, and shoes, was only Robert Bruce, with which our subject is thirty-eight inches; and another, in nearly connected, namely, his escape from Wales, who, at the age of fifteen, meathe hands of Edward the First, who, hav-sured no more than two feet seven inches, ing been informed by the traitor Comyn of his design to throw off the usurped dominion of the English on the first favourable opportunity, had set spies to watch his proceedings, intending to take and weighed only thirteen pounds, and who, at that early period of life, laboured under all the infirmities and calamities of old age. * Hume. THE WORK-TABLE FRIEND. COIFFURE À L'EUGENIE. Materials.-Two strips of black filet, each 4in. wide; 1 skein of cerise, and 1 of Vert-islay silk (French); 12 skeins of gold thread, No. 1; and a garniture. Ar this season of balls and operas it gives us sincere pleasure to present to our friends a genuine Parisian coiffure with bracelets en suite which we have received from France, by favour of a valued correspondent there. In that capital, where every day develops some new proof of taste and ingenuity, and where the elegance of all the minor appendages to dress is only equalled by its richness, the coiffure à l'Eugénie has had a succès which has astonished even the designer. It is so gay, so brilliant, yet so elegant, and withal so becoming to everybody, that it is universally approved of; and we think it has only to be introduced here to become as popular. We must first explain the materials. The filet is a cheap and excellent loom imitation of hand netting; it is true this may be done by the hand, but the expense of silk, and the waste of time, will make it at least ten times as expensive. We should therefore advise every one to purchase the imitation in preference. The French silks used in darning it are also very superior to the English both in make and dye. Perhaps our readers will be surprised at one skein only of each being named, if they are not aware that one skein of French contains at least as much as six English. The trimmings are composed of silk, beads, and passementerie. Twenty-four tassels are required, and two gold buttons. Of the tassels, eight are longer than the remainder, and have some extra orna α mentation. We give a diagram of one (a.) The lower part is a wooden. mould, covered with floss; above it a cornet, in gold passementerie, with a large white bead between it and the ball of seed beads above. Another large glass bead, above the latter, finishes the tassel. The eight longer tassels have either another gold ball, or one of the diamond-shaped ornaments seen in the button, and composed of silk and gold, or any other fanciful device. The colours are usually varied in the short and long tassels; for instance, if the silk of the former be in cerise, in the others it will be green. The cords also are different. The button (6) is in gold passementerie, the lozenge on it in b vert-islay and gold, and the small macaroon (as it is called), in cerise and gold; thus blending all the colours. The diagram (c) gives the mode of netting stitch by stitch, the longest length being across nine holes. The Vandykes The head-dress is in one length of 14 yard with two extra ends, each 1 fingers. It goes round the front of the head, and then twines round the plaits at the back, the four ends drooping low on the shoulders. The bracelets are in two pieces each. One goes round the black elastic, which forms the foundation; the other is converted into two ends and a small bow. A gold button is placed on each, and the ends are trimmed like those of the coif fure. Blue and claret, blue and cerise, and many other combinations are very pretty; and for mourning, gray with silver may be worn. There is a great difference in the value of the trimmings. Some are a guinea or more; but very pretty ones, with all the requisite silks, net and gold thread, may be had for that price. of weariness. But you, happily, have no care, no need to toil; all that is required of you is to render yourself a source of comfort and happiness to your dear papa, who works so hard to give his little daughter everything that is good for her. He knows what a resource needlework is to a woman, and is very anxious you should be expert at it; and, if I remember rightly, your box is stored with every implement you can possibly require. Indeed I thought it one of the handsomest gifts on the Christmas-tree." "So it was, mamma. And how splendid the tree looked when it was lighted up; there was not such a pretty one at any of the other parties we went to. Oh, mamma! how I do wish you would let me have a party, and a tree, next Christ mas!" "I would, with pleasure, my love, if I could afford the expense. But you would WORK-TABLE FOR JUVENILES; not like to have no presents on them OR, LITTLE MARY'S HALF HOLIDAYS. "Он dear mamma, only see what a miserable afternoon it is; how it is pouring! Do you think there is any chance at all of its clearing up?" "Indeed, my love, I fear there is not. But how fortunate that it is a half-holiday, and that you are not obliged to go in the rain to school, or else to lose your place in class." 66 Yes, mamma, but I should have had such a pleasant game with my cousins. Now, I have nothing to amuse myself with." 66 What, no books! no work! What has become of the pretty workbox your kind aunt gave you from the Christmastree? And the nice set of books that were your uncle's present? You were greatly delighted with them at the time, but I fear you have ceased to care for them entirely. I never see the workbox open." "Because work is such a dull amusement, dear mamma! Stitch stitch! stitch! Like the poem you were reading to me one day." suitable for your uncles or aunts; and to purchase such is beyond my power." 66 Why could I not make some, mamma? Helen made a great many of the handsomest things on their tree. Why could not I do so?" 66 Why, indeed? Except that you think stitch! stitch! stitch! is such a very dull amusement." "Oh, mamma! pray forget I ever said so! If I were working to please you, or papa, or anybody I loved, it would not be dull." "No, my love! To toil for those we love can never be a dull or a painful task to a woman, even if the toil be great, and the thanks small. But when it is merely the light and elegant occupation of a few hours a week, it is indeed a pleasure. And so, my little girl, if you will really take pains to work well and diligently, I will furnish the materials, and teach you how to use them; and I think there is no doubt you will find by December that you have abundance of the principal decorations for a very elegant Christmas-tree. But remember, if once you begin, I shall expect you to persevere; and till then you will not have much time to spare for play on any half-holidays." "Ah! my dear child. If you had to toil for your bread as some poor little girls have to do,-children as young as yourself, dear Mary, perhaps as tenderly loved and delicately nurtured, then, indeed, "Indeed, mamma, I will persevere. you might have cause for that heavy sigh | But you are quite sure you will like me to spend every half-holiday in fancywork? I heard you say, the other day, that it was very wrong of Miss Clayton to spend so much time in crochet and embroidery." "Very true; but have you never heard that what may be right for certain people, and under certain circumstances, may be quite wrong when actors and situations are altered? Miss Clayton's only aim is her personal decoration; whatever she does is for herself only,-to have her collars and handkerchiefs elegantly embroidered, to decorate her own apartments, these are the objects of her industry, and the time so selfishly wasted might be employed in relieving her invalid mother of the care of her house, and in teaching her younger sisters. Therefore, I said she was wrong; but your motive is a different one. And in itself, Mary, needlework is an elegant amusement, giving exercise to some of the best qualities of a woman. Diligence, patience, perseverance, and a great many other virtues are brought into exercise, and taste and refinement are cultivated." "I think my half-holidays will be very pleasant ones, mamma!" "I hope they will; when you are doing work you quite understand, I shall be able to read to you, also. But we may as well begin at once. Where is your workbox? Let us see what it contains." "In the top are knitting and nettingneedles, meshes, and crochet-hooks. "Let us examine them. Really, these crochet-hooks are very nice. What beautiful ivory handles!—and see, Mary, there are figures engraved on them, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24. Five sizes, selected from the coarsest to the finest." "How very convenient, mamma; to know the number of the hook, without using a gauge! Even Helen зays, she never can tell how to gauge a crochethook." "It is indeed very difficult; and the idea of engraving the number on the handle, is an excellent one. Then, look at the hook itself; just what a crochet-hook ought to be, perfectly smooth, and tapering very gradually to the point, without any of the sharpness which makes some crochet-hooks so like fish-hooks." "If I had had one of these hooks, when I was making your anti-macassar, mamma, I should not have torn my finger so much. Don't you remember I was obliged to wear a sheath, it was SO sore?" "Yes, my dear; Mr. Boulton's hooks are certainly beautiful. It would be almost impossible to work badly with one. I do not wonder, now I compare these hooks with common ones, that he got a prize-medal at the Exhibition. These knitting-needles, too, are beautifully tapered; pointed, without being sharp. It must be quite a pleasure to work with them!" "And here is an ivory gauge, mamma. This is quite a new thing, is it not? Your gauge is made of card-board?" "Yes; and as the holes are apt to be injured by thrusting too large a needle through them, the ivory one is a great improvement. These gauges are cut out of the best part of the tusk, slices of which are sawn off, to make these rounds. I have been told that they would not answer the purpose, if cut lengthways from the ivory. I believe these gauges are also an invention of Mr. Boulton. "Well, it is very useful; and see, mamma, what a stock of sewing-needles of all sorts! then there are pins of different sizes, and some needles with sealing - wax heads. What are they for?" "To use instead of pins for any fine and delicate work. The smallest pins almost will leave a mark in a piece of French cambric, or in velvet, for instance: and, if such substances require to be pinned, these fine needles are used for the purpose." "In this division of the work-box, mamma, there are sewing-silks of all colours, wound on cards. Then there are scissars, stiletto, knife, and two bodkins, besides two thimbles. But, mamma, is this ivory thimble of any use, or is it only for ornament?" "It is intended to be worn when you are doing embroidery, or any other very delicate work; as the silver thimbles sometimes become damp from the heat of the hand, and injure the delicate tints of silks. I think we have now examined every thing except the sewing-cottons. These are, see, the same as are used in the needlework designs in the Family Friend,Evans's Boar's-head cottons." 'Yes, mamma, I see they have a Boar's-head on the label. Why is that?" "I have understood it is the family crest of the manufacturers. For many years this cotton has been celebrated for its strength and evenness; indeed, from its being universally considered as the standard cotton we may conclude it has superior qualities. Some day I should like to take you over a cotton manufactory. You would like to see the process by which the raw cotton is made into such a beautiful material as this reel of thread, marked No. 150." "But surely, mamma, there cannot be any great difference in the quality of cotton. It seems to me that a reel of cotton is a reel of cotton; and that one is as good as another." "Is there any difference between the quality of this bit of calico at 3d. a yard, and a piece of India muslin ? Both are the produce of the same plant. There is nearly as much difference between one kind of sewing or crochet cotton and another. Even the raw cottons vary greatly in quality and value. Egypt, America, and the South Sea Islands furnish it. The Boar's Head Cotton is made of the best." "What a number of people must have been employed to get together the contents of this box. An elephant has been killed for the thimble and gauge, mines have been dug for the steel and silver, silkworms have given the silk, the cotton, too, has been grown in foreign lands; is there anything else, mamma?" o'clock! How quickly the time has gone. But I have done no work!" "No; but next half-holiday we will begin in good earnest. Meantime, I will give you a most appropriate companion for your work-box. These nine volumes of the Family Friend, in which you will find all sorts of pretty patterns and instructions for stitches in crochet, knitting, and other work. You must learn to understand all the terms before we begin." "So I will, mamma,—and many many thanks. I am sure I ought to take pains, since you are so kind. How pleasant my half-holidays will be, and how delightful it will be to give presents of my own making!" "I am glad you think so, dear child. May you ever find your own happiness in seeking to make that of others. There is no surer way of attaining it: "They who joy would win, Must share it; Happiness was born a twin."" The THE PRAYERS OF CHILdren.practice, I believe, is universal, among all parents who feel it to be their duty to bring up their children in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord," to begin as early as possible to lead them to unite in the prayers which are made with them, and also to pray for themselves. This is regarded as an essential element of their religious training; while an abundant experience shows what a mighty influence it has upon their future religious development and character. The recollection of the times and circumstances when the "You have forgotten the mother-of-pious mother prayed with her little one, pearl handles, my dear; for these pearls have been fished up from the Persian Gulf, or the coast of Ceylon. And the box, itself, Mary, is of one of the most beautiful manufactures of modern times. It is called papier maché." and taught him how to offer up his own prayer, and of the morning and evening devotions of the family circle where he heard the voice of a venerated father supplicating the throne of grace, clings to his memory through all the changing scenes of life, and often, in the waywardness or recklessness of youth, and the irreligious worldly-mindedness of manhood, rouses his conscience to give its faithful admonitions, and produces the most salutary and hopeful impressions upon his heart. How many it has rescued from ruin! How many it has been the means, under Divine grace, of turning from the broad way of destruction into the path of life !—Rev. T. H. Gallaudet. |