which have never been watered since, must have been subsisting on atmospheric moisture, which, though sufficient to preserve vitality for a time, eventually generates disease, and the plant at last perishes from want of food furnished through the proper channel. That this is the case is apparent from the destruction we sometimes see of plants which naturally prefer a moist situation, and are hardy enough to endure almost any position; and, as the season is advancing, we advise our young friends to take advantage of the first mild day, and take them all out, and after watering and cleaning them, and the places they have occupied, return them to their quarters again, of course allowing time for the superfluous water to drain away from the pots before doing so. The advantages of this plan are, that no slop or wet is made where the plants are standing, to produce after-decay, and the changing of the plants themselves is not without some benefit. Plants of any rare or other species it is desirous to propagate extensively from, should be put into gentle heat soon; but be not too hasty that way, as it does not always follow beginning so soon ensures the greatest number of progeny.

FLOWER GARDEN,

Let all additions and alterations here be assiduously carried out, so that the important work of the spring be not impeded by an accumulation of the unfinished work of the winter left to be accomplished then. If there be yet beds of Calceolarias

TO

and Verbenas standing unhurt, as there are with the writer of this Calendar, batches of cuttings from each may be taken off and struck, the latter in heat, the other in a cool moist place, as a cold frame where not exposed to currents of cold drying winds, and such beds may be also worth some covering or other, as they will likely survive the winter, and flower so much earlier than those turned out early in May. We have saved whole beds of Calceolarias by sticking boughs of evergreens amongst them and occasionally over them, and Verbenas may be done the same. About April the prevailing dry N. E. wind is often as destructive to these and other plants as the winter's frost, and they consequently look rusty and bad; but they speedily recover, and become the principal ornament of the garden in this early season. Solitary plants scattered over the ground may be similarly treated, which remark also applies to such tender plants as have escaped the winter hitherto, and are thought worthy of trying to save. Fuchsias may likely escape without the injury to their tops, which in other seasons occasions their being cut down; but the advantage of letting them stand is of less consequence than many imagine, as they do not flower any earlier; certainly, when fine large specimens are wanted, it is advisable to retain the shoots of the past year; but some plants we have, several years old, with quite a tree-like character, do not flower any sooner than the same kind (Riccartonia) does when cut down, we having repeatedly tried them together.

GOLDING PENROSE.-Accepted, and shall appear as soon as we have room.

MARIANNA. The brass wires or tubing may be bought by the inch at any brass-founder's or ironmonger's, properly so-called; viz., those who sell iron and brass, nails, tools, &c., &c.-not those who vend pots and kettles. About eight inches in length will suffice-twelve is ample; and it will only require the ends filed down smooth, and to be straight itself. There is no work published containing patterns, as the object has been to keep the art in as few hands as possible. At Dewdney's, or any of the principal artistes in hair, they may perhaps be persuaded to teach or sell a pattern "for a consideration;" but these are kept as secrets for the most part, because they betray the "tricks of the trade" too palpably. If Marianna likes to send her real address and name we will put her in communication with the author of the articles on hair-work.

SERPENTINA. We hear, from very good authority, that that peculiarly drooping, sad expression of the Duke's horse which followed in the funeral procession was brought on for the occasion by the most heartless cruelty. It appears that the poor animal was not allowed to sleep for three days and three nights previous to the funeral, and it was also continually led about in order to acquire by fatigue that interesting solemnity of manner which characterised its movements in the procession. Is not this another instance of the hollowness and callousness of worldly proceedings and of the pomps and vanities of life? We should be glad to have it in our power to contradict the statement which has been communicated to us.

C.-"The Forest Queen, and other Poems for Children" shall be noticed in our next. They appear to be admirable.

THE RACE

CHAP. IV.

CLAPHAM.

FOR GOLD.

'Really," said Mrs. Stainton warmly, "this is too bad. I hear of nothing on all sides but your talent, your fascination, and the certainty of your success in your profession; and yet you have not sufficient energy to profit by your advantages."

"My dear mother, you judge me unfairly; I have exerted myself to the utmost, but I cannot compel Miss Ravensdale to love me. Nay, I may as well confess to you that she has more than once applied to me the not very flattering appellation of the poor parson." "Ha, indeed! So Miss Alicia is beginning to plume herself upon her wealth;" said the lady with considerable indignation; "but I will humble her pride. Remember, Frederic, that your Mexican uncle has expressed a wish

to make our

acquaintance, as it was of course perfectly natural that he should do. Now I feel a full conviction that he will be immediately impressed by the better breeding and more finished education of Eustace and yourself, when he contrasts both with the supercilious and mercantile bearing of your cousin the merchant, and the stiff priggism of Mr. Lancaster. However; Percival Lyle, you will remember, has no souonly two gawky daughters, who have not even had the advantage of being finished at a fashionable establishment. Indeed, it was fortunate that I was not dependent upon the patronage of my own relations; for I have always looked upon the refusal of Mrs. Percival Lyle to entrust her children to my charge as a very gross dis

respect, for which I can only find an excuse in her ignorance of the requirements of high society. Then again, our uncle must by this time have had enough of commerce to estimate it at its proper value; and will not be sorry, depend upon it, to find that my sons are professional men. In short, Frederic, Miss Ravensdale

shall be made to feel that the Rev. Mr. Stainton-—”

"Is not a likely person to wear the willow. You are quite right, my dear mother; and the

rather as it has been hinted to me that a noble

lady of my congregation has evinced better taste; and I have considerable doubts, after all, whether a titled wife would not be more likely to push me further in my profession than a mere heiress."

-

"Perhaps if you were only sure of the title;" said his mother thoughtfully; "but these young women of rank are so slippery; they encourage your attentions in order to gratify their own vanity, but it is seldom that they will sacrifice their pride to their affections."

"Yet there are occasions-" said the young divine, approaching the chimney-glass, and arranging a rebel curl.

"True, my dear boy; and no doubt you have a right to be ambitious; but still I confess to you that I have set my heart upon your marriage with Alicia Ravensdale. She is pretty, accomplished, and good-tempered, in addition to her money; and, as she has no mother, and her father cares for nothing beyond his counting

house, we should have no interference to dread from her family.

"Do not mistake me, mother;" replied the reverend gentleman, with an air of ineffable self-sacrifice; "I should be as well pleased as yourself could the matter be brought to bear; and I would abandon my chance of Lady Harriet without a sigh, satisfied that in the pretty Alice

I had secured a prize in the great lottery of life; but you must see as I do, that if she does not like me, I should be worthy of a strait-waistcoat did I throw cold water on the other affair."

"I do not quite understand upon what you ground your hopes of a noble alliance;" said Mrs. Stainton; "How did you ascertain that

K

you had produced this impression? And who is Lady Harriet ?"

"Remember, madre mia, that your breakfastroom is not a confessional, and that no man of sentiment ever betrays a lady's secret. Let it suffice, that the Lady Harriet in question has given it as her undisguised opinion that I have the finest voice she has ever heard, and the whitest hand she has ever seen."

"Is that all?” asked the less sanguine mother with visible disappointment.

"By no means, or I would not have troubled you with an oft-told tale; but, as I before remarked, I do not feel myself at liberty to betray a lady's secret."

"Frederic," said Mrs. Stainton gravely; "this is not, as you know, the first occasion by many in which I have found myself called upon to entreat that you will not suffer your vanity to become the ruin of your worldly prospects. In your present position there can be no doubt that you possess many advantages, and that with common prudence you cannot fail to make your way in the world; but, my dear boy, you have not common prudence; and unless you will consent to be guided by older and wiser heads than your own, I feel a painful foreboding that I shall yet live to see the overthrow of all my most cherished hopes."

"And yet, mother, you were urging me, less than an hour ago, to bring all the battery of my professional and social popularity to bear upon this unknown uncle from whom you anticipate

so much."

"That is altogether a different affair;" said Mrs. Stainton; "Mr. Lyle cannot fail to be flattered by your success, nor can your selfappreciation wound his vanity; but women are differently constituted, and you may trust to my experience when I assure you that they never forgive a man for exhausting upon himself the admiration which they look upon as their own right."

"Then what am I to do?" asked the young man, with a naïveté which it would be impossible to describe by words.

"Endeavour to forget your own identity;" was the reply; " and to be engrossed by the object of your pursuit. No Pagan goddess ever required more incense to propitiate her favour than a woman who aspires to be loved. You do not suppose that the worshippers at a shrine offer their sacrifices in their own honour."

"Very pretty and poetical;" laughed the young curate; "but you will admit that when the idol rejects the incense, it must fall back upon the votary, or be transferred to a fresh object of adoration."

Enough of this trifling;" said Mrs. Stainit would be greatly more to the purpose were you to confide in me, as in your best friend, and to tell me, without affectation or disguise, what grounds there really are for this new dream of conquest at which you have

hinted."

"Nay, now, my dear mother, you are becoming most alarmingly matter-of-fact,”

"It is quite necessary that one of us at least should be so. And really, Frederick, when I consider how much depends upon mere common sense in worldly affairs, I tremble to see you trifle with them as you do. This Lady Harriet, for example, who, in so far as I can understand, has by a mere civil remark or two succeeded in turning your brain, is another of the stumblingblocks against which I have perpetually to contend when endeavouring to help you forward in life. Have you forgotten already the saying of a wise writer, which I have quoted to you more than once, that vanity is a very useful spur to a man, but it should never appear in front'?"

"I have not forgotten it; but you are wrong in supposing that I am building without a foundation. I have been assured that

"Nonsense. I will hear no more of this folly; and if you do not wish to see me close my doors against you, I must insist upon your acting upon my judgment. For the last three years I have regarded Alicia Ravensdale as your destined wife, and I will not be thwarted. I know enough of life, and of the exigences of society, to feel quite satisfied that no peer's daughter, unless under very extraordinary circumstances, will ever consent to unite her fate to that of a mere rising lecturer at a fashionable chapel, without either family or fortune. It may be all very well for me to hint at the circumstance to my uncle when alluding to our position; but as a matter of sober speculation it is too extravagant to be entertained for a moment. I wish that I could inspire you with a little of your brother's prudence. Although your elder, he has, as you know, placed himself in my hands without a question; and what is the consequence? There is no more doubt that before she leaves my house Miss Bellingham will accept him, than that you stand before me on the hearthrug-And, by-the-bye, my dear boy, I wish you would move a little aside, for I have not felt the fire for the last half-hour-Now, although my youngest son, I did not consider Emily Bellingham a desirable match for you; I was more ambitious on your account; and you must not disappoint me.'

"What is likely to be the amount of Miss Bellingham's fortune?"

"It is impossible to say. The uncle by whom she has been adopted has never seen her, but he is expected in England during the course of the summer. He is reported to be very rich, and his last remittance from Bengal was princely."

"Then Eustace may have drawn the prize after all?"

"He may, but the issue is uncertain; Mr. Bellingham may be disappointed in his niece; or he may marry on his arrival in England; or he may die intestate, and his sister's sons may claim the property; or he may be less wealthy than is supposed: in short, nothing is certain in that quarter, while our little Alice is as safe as the Bank of England."

"That is decidedly a serious consideration; but it only brings me back to the somewhat un