person, while the male members of the family recognized in him the wealthiest inhabitant in our town, probably at some future period to represent us in Congress, and have great influence.

The young heir took all this attention as coolly as possible, and made himself at home everywhere. He was not long in availing himself of the permission to visit us, and indeed I must say a considerable part of his time was spent in our house. Our mutual passion for music was a great bond of union-though to be sure he could have had music anywhere, for just at this time music was most assiduously cultivated by all our young ladies-but I think our first introduction went a great way in strengthening our friendship. At length came the denouement, and the last and most wonderful effect of my legacy, for to it, in the first instance, I attribute, and always shall attribute my happiness. Mr. Cuthbert proposed, and was accepted, for he would not be refused, though I in vain told him he ought to marry a beauty, and that people would call us Beauty and the Beast.

"If they do, Nellie," said he, "I shall be quite agreeable; for I always thought you a beauty; and if they call me the beast it can't be helped." And so this self-willed individual had it his own way.

Gossip at first refused to believe this startling supplement to the altogether exciting story of Jacob Braidwood's will.

"What! plain Nellie Warner induce the richest and handsomest man in the country to marry her!-the idea was incredible;" and as I told Hugh, he was very much felt for on the occasion.

"My only regret on the subject," said he, "is that I have more than five thousand dollars a year, and that you may keep your legacy, for I even grudge you that, Nellie darling. I should like my wife to have nothing to give me but herself."

His wish was gratified, for with his consent, and with the sanction of my dear father and mother, the wonderful twenty-five thousand dollars were settled on Letty. But Letty won't need the money to get a husband, for instead of being ugly, she bids fair to be a beauty; and I can wish her no better fate than that she may be as happy as her plain sister.

MINNIE AND I.

When people see how happy Minnie and I are together, they usually indulge in a strain of remarks, doubtless very flattering to my wife, but extremely uncomplimentary to me. "How that man has improved since his marriage!" "What has she done to him?" or, "How clever Mrs. Bertie must be!" are constantly whispered under my very nose.

Before I married I was one of those unfortunate individuals who are never allowed to manage their own affairs. My friends in general, and my mother in particular, apparently considered me incapable of anything, and anxious to spare me the mortification of trying unsuccessfully to learn, insisted on doing everything for me; and whether the article needed happened to be a horse, a coat, or a wife, strenuously maintained that they knew what I wanted far better than I did. Now I know I am not a genius My Latin verses were the worst I ever heard, which is saying a great deal; and had I gone in for anything that had to be reached by competitive examination, I should have most assuredly have come to grief. But I do think it

is very hard that, because a fellow is not a genius, he should be considered a fool, and be treated by his female relations as if he were a harmless lunatic.

My troubles were caused by my being too good-natured. When I left my home and came down to live at the old place, I was well pleased to leave my mother to manage everything, as she was accustomed to do. It spared me no end of trouble; and as she seemed thoroughly to enjoy the worry and annoyance of visitors and servants, it seemed a very good arrangement. I made but one proviso-I must be allowed to choose my own horses, my own wine, and my own wife. About these three I was resolute and determined, as, knowing my mother's disposition, I had need to be. At first, poor simple mortal, I really imagined the conditions of the treaty would be complied with. For three blissful months no one drove my horses without my special permission; the butler managed the cellar to perfection, and not one of the hard-favored, stuck-up, sonata-playing girls, in whom my mother's soul delights, infested our abode.

Matrimony was a sore point between my mother and me. If I could believe for one moment that any living woman possessed all the virtues which my mother was always saying her daughter-in-law must have, I would have re

mained a bachelor to the end of my days. Imagine the feelings of a man condemned to lead a handsome, well-made, highly-connected, rich, accomplished, strong-minded woman to the altar. As my mother paused, literally out of breath with the enumeration of so many virtues, my blood froze within me at the mere idea of matrimony. Not that I disliked it as a principle. Indeed I should have been thankful to have got married if I could have found a regular jolly girl with no nonsense about her; but somehow, if I did meet with such a one, no sooner was I beginning to get "spoony" upon her, than she turned round, and either became as ridiculous and missyish as one of my mother's favorites, or gave me the cold shoulder altogether. I suspect now that my mother had a hand in the business; then I was as unsuspicious as a new-born baby; and when she or my sister Fanny laughed at the cruel manner in which my last love treated me, I grew quite warm and agitated, and tried to laugh off the attack.

About four months after my return home my rest and peace of mind were suddenly destroyed by the preparations which began to be made for Fanny's marriage. The whole house was literally and truly turned topsy-turvy. I could not go down stairs without stumbling on a milliner coming up; the landing-place was piled