`` Gladly would I give it if I could , but I only know that it was the whim of my timid Viola , and I yielded to it . Now , my children , let the play end . Unmask and receive my blessing . '' But neither bent the knee , for the young bridegroom replied in a tone that startled all listeners as the mask fell , disclosing the noble face of Ferdinand Devereux , the artist lover , and leaning on the breast where now flashed the star of an English earl was the lovely Viola , radiant with joy and beauty . `` My lord , you scornfully bade me claim your daughter when I could boast as high a name and vast a fortune as the Count Antonio . I can do more , for even your ambitious soul can not refuse the Earl of Devereux and De Vere , when he gives his ancient name and boundless wealth in return for the beloved hand of this fair lady , now my wife . '' The count stood like one changed to stone , and turning to the bewildered crowd , Ferdinand added , with a gay smile of triumph , `` To you , my gallant friends , I can only wish that your wooing may prosper as mine has done , and that you may all win as fair a bride as I have by this masked marriage . '' S. PICKWICK Why is the P. C. like the Tower of Babel ? It is full of unruly members . _________ THE HISTORY OF A SQUASH Once upon a time a farmer planted a little seed in his garden , and after a while it sprouted and became a vine and bore many squashes . One day in October , when they were ripe , he picked one and took it to market . A gorcerman bought and put it in his shop . That same morning , a little girl in a brown hat and blue dress , with a round face and snub nose , went and bought it for her mother . She lugged it home , cut it up , and boiled it in the big pot , mashed some of it with salt and butter , for dinner . And to the rest she added a pint of milk , two eggs , four spoons of sugar , nutmeg , and some crackers , put it in a deep dish , and baked it till it was brown and nice , and next day it was eaten by a family named March . T. TUPMAN _________ Mr. Pickwick , Sir : -- I address you upon the subject of sin the sinner I mean is a man named Winkle who makes trouble in his club by laughing and sometimes wo n't write his piece in this fine paper I hope you will pardon his badness and let him send a French fable because he ca n't write out of his head as he has so many lessons to do and no brains in future I will try to take time by the fetlock and prepare some work which will be all commy la fo that means all right I am in haste as it is nearly school time . Yours respectably , N. WINKLE -LSB- The above is a manly and handsome acknowledgment of past misdemeanors . If our young friend studied punctuation , it would be well . -RSB- _________ A SAD ACCIDENT On Friday last , we were startled by a violent shock in our basement , followed by cries of distress . On rushing in a body to the cellar , we discovered our beloved President prostrate upon the floor , having tripped and fallen while getting wood for domestic purposes .
A perfect scene of ruin met our eyes , for in his fall Mr. XXXXX had plunged his head and shoulders into a tub of water , upset a keg of soft soap upon his manly form , and torn his garments badly .
Babel Ferdinand Pickwick fetlock gorcerman morning right snub spoons squashes