tones the text-"Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." A general roar of laughter followed the announcement. The clergyman became confused, and turned all sorts of colours. Many, in the general uproar, left the church, and it was a long time before the minister was enabled to proceed with his sermon so abruptly broken off.

A STRAY YANKEE IN TEXAS. My senses were just tottering upon the narrow confines that divide reverie from the Land of Nod, when a heavy step near me recalled my fast-departing wits, and a voice, in the once familiar, but long-forgotten tones of my fatherland, smote my ear. "Hello, Mister? how de deu? bin well? plaguy hot day; Curnil tu hum? you aint him? No? jest what I was thinking on! folks all smart? guess I'll set doun, cheap settin's standing." At the opening of this extraordinary volley I had jumped up, and saw before me a truly surprising figure for a new country. The owner of the voice was a ponderous individual, the roseate hue of whose face was rendered ruddier yet from the reflected tint of a huge and flaming red bandanna, with which the owner was endeavouring to check the perspiration which was not dropping, but fairly streaming down his hemispherical cheeks. A black silk hat, with narrow brim, adorned his head; and, despite the great heat of the day, he wore a heavy, new, and shining black overcoat, black frock coat, black satin vest, and black woollen pants, the latter rolled up, displaying the white cotton lining, instead of being "more Texano,' tucked in his ponderous "pot metal" boots. The arm that wielded the bandanna was tucked through the handle of a plethoric carpet-bag, and the other sustained, by means of a huge and nearly rounded paw at its extremity, an extra pair of boots and an umbrella. Here was a rig for a July day in Texas, with the thermometer at 105 degrees in the shade! and it is not in the least surprising that, when at length I found my voice, I broke out with "Who, in the name of all the gods at once, are you, and where did you come from?" Whereat my comfortably clad friend again opened his mouth and spoke. According to his story, which was delivered in the richest vernacular of Down-East, a brother of his wife had years previous settled far in the interior of the country, and having written to him at intervals, describing, in glowing language, the beauties and fatness of the land, the excellence of the timber, and the manifold blessings attendant upon a residence there, at length himself experienced one of them in the form of a congestive fever, and went off in a jiffy to explore another country. * * Strange as it may appear, the new-comer had never seen a mule until his advent to Texas; and one

a fine and spirited saddle-beast, with enormous ears— attracted his particular attention. He even went so far as to endeavour to "trade" for him, and although warned by all of the caution necessary to be observed by every one unaccustomed to the horses, and particularly the mules, of the country, yet he persisted in his assertion, that he could ride any of them "bare-back." He tried it. * * * What had happened was self-evident, and I could not help joining the roar of laughter with which the boys greeted this first result of Green's attempt to astonish the natives with his wondrous horsemanship. He was much irritated at his reception, and inquired "if

"He

that was decent behaviour to a feller-critter that had just escaped the jors of destruction, and might die yet from his hurts." I finally appeased him, and persuaded him to tell his tale. He had not succeeded in obtaining a saddle, and foolishly started off without one. couldn't get the critter," he said, "out of a walk to save him, and when he tried to get a limb to whip a trot out of him, he'd jerk away, and when he wanted to get off, he jumped, so he jest had to let the consarned beast have his own way." At length, however, he reached his journey's end, and leaving the mule hitched at the bars, went into the house and remained some hours, which did not in the least improve Brandy's temper. "I got a big gad," continued he, "expectin' to work my passage hum, but, by lightnin, he went off like a greased streak, and I couldn't do nothing but holler, say my prayers, and stick like death to the mane, what there was of it. We went through the woods like a steam-ingin, and when we got into the parara, I looked around for a place to light, but bimeby I lit fore I was ready, and about a rod off, too; and don't you think arter he'd chucked me slap onter ground, and broke, I guess, much's five or six ribs, he jest went on a piece and stopped, and went to feedin. Then, when I cum up near, he moved on, and so he sarved me all the way hum, and I've had to walk much's five mile, all smashed up as I be-and the darned mean critter keepin jest ahead, tantalizin." * * * Brandy, having finished his morning repast, had been turned loose, and was standing very complacently in the centre of the yard, when Green, whip in hand, clambered over the fence, and the following dialogue ensued; for monologue it was not, since Brandy sustained his part with much spirit:-Green, loquitur-"Well, now, you nasty, tobaker-leaf-eared, hipercriticle critter, don't ye feel cheap, eh?" Brandy preserves a dignified silence, intimating, by the flapping of his ears, that he perfectly understands what has been said. Green-"There, take that," attempting an application of the whip, and only succeeding in getting a smart rap with the snapper upon his cheek. "Rot these darn fool whips! as long as the moral law 'n the Ten Commandments, with the hull book o' Revelation for a snapper." After various attempts, Green began, as he said, "to get the hang of the thing," and then commenced a race around the lot, the Yankee cracking away at the mule and getting rather the larger share of the lash himself, until he finally cornered his antagonist in a kind of cul-de-sac, formed by the junction of the fence and stable at a very acute angle. Green"There, now, I guess I got you, and we'll begin to settle up." (Crack, crack, crack.) Brandy lays his ears back perfectly flat, and drawing his hind feet half way underneath him, quivers all over with rage. Green-"Ah! you don't like it, do yer? T'aint quite as good fun as chucking me a rod on to the parara, is it now ?" (Crack, crack, crack.) The mule drew his fore feet back until they joined the hinder ones-a peculiar twitching motion of his latter end betokening to an experienced eye that something might shortly be expected from that quarter. At this moment our friend's lash caught round the mule's legs, and the stock was jerked from his hand. He stepped forward, and stooped to pick it up, when, quick as lightning, the mule let fly a pair of heels, which sent Green's hat, a perfect wreck, spinning across the yard, then turning short in his tracks, dashed out of the corner, knocking Green head foremost into a pile of fresh manure.

Ar this season of the year simplicity is always the most looked for; thus, we have muslins and all the lighter materials of dress, bareges, organdies, tarlatanes, &c., many with the coloured skirts and white bodies, and they have a pretty effect when the skirts are either festouné with the same colour, or trimmed with plissés of ribbon; the double skirts also have a pretty effect. Dresses of gray, beaver colour, and marron are fashionable in taffetas; the latter is perhaps a little heavy for the summer months, but may be relieved by noeuds of pink or blue ribbon, and the white cannezous forms a pretty contrast; barege skirts of light colours with flounces may be trimmed with plissés of black moire, the basque or jacket to match as well as the mantelet of the same material; sometimes these piissés are of contrasting colours, and put on in a wave, which has a less stiff appearance; ruches also form borders to edge flounces, and the sleeves are of three frills edged to match. Narrow black velvets are much used to ornament dresses, indeed trimmings are now a little elaborate; these velvets are sometimes in rosettes, or loops of chains, or merely in numerous simple rows; not only are flounces ornamented in this manner, but the cannezous or jackets of embroidered muslin, have narrow black velvet introduced, separating the wreaths, bouquets, &c. of the rich embroidery in various fanciful designs.

Tarlatane forms a favourite material for the reunions of the present moment, and many are made with the corsage a la Vierge fulled into a band, with double skirts raised up at the side by bunches of some of the light crape flowers, now so much used. More simple toilettes are of organdy with numerous flounces, on each of which two or three rows of white fringe are placed; berthes trimmed to match. This style looks well in white or colours. Cannezous, both of black and white lace, are worn with some of the most elegant toilettes, many being made half high, others form guimpe or are open in front, and generally with jacket at the waist, and wide pagoda sleeves. Black ones may also be made of tulle, with designs in black velvet or bugles; others again are formed of inser

tions of black lace and ruches of ribbon. Bretekes or braces, as worn years ago, are coming into favour made of velvet or ribbon, terminating in noeuds and ends of ribbon.

In evening dresses the bodies remain pointed, whether for silk tarlatane or organdy; many dresses have the bodies with basques, but these are mostly of silk. With clear materials, wide ceintures with long ends are fashionable; the double skirts are much in favour with the thin materials of summer wear, and ribbons are much used to trim them, either put on plain or bouffante, or in a succession of coques. For silk dresses the flounces are often edged with bands of moire of a different colour, and embroidered in wreaths of foliage of velvet and lace; the bodies of these dresses are high, closing with a double row of buttons. The bareges for autumnal wear will be lined with silk of some other colour, which will have a more substantial look as cooler days come on; and these dresses it is said will be with full bodies both back and front, having ceintures with nœuds or buckles, the sleeves composed of alternate bouillons and frills. The bodies à la Vierge, that is, full low bodies put into a band of a square form, are much in favour for dinner dresses and country wear, and with a cannezous over are very pretty.

For the juvenile belles of ten and twelve years of age, taffetas frocks are made ornamented with velvets of contrasting colours, and very pretty mantelets are similarly made; nor are these youthful ladies excluded from the skirt of taffetas, and cannezous jacket of muslin. The large Leghorn hats are still worn by them, but for the country or sea side. brown straws are worn inclining very much over the face.

The simplicity of the straw bonnet accords well with toilettes of morning or travelling use. Some are fine in quality, simply trimmed with a nœud of ribbon, and veil of tulle embroidered in colours to match the straw or ribbon, but a few field flowers are also sometimes introduced, or trimmings of black velvet with rose at the side. More elegant bonnets are formed of bands of paille de riz, worked with straw and bouillons of tulle, ornamented by a yellow rose with foliage of black velvet; inside, rose buds mixed with tulle and foliage. Very pretty bonnets are made of white tulle in bouillons with a flower at the side, and fine Leghorns are ornamented by small feathers on each side, encircled by a band of velvet. Many of the straw bonnets for country wear are trimmed with black velvet and wild flowers, the form advancing more on the forehead a little in the Mary Stuart style. Black lace bonnets are frequently ornamented by bunches of grapes and

roses in crape, the noeuds and ends instead of being of taffetas are of velvet. Autumnal straw are now preparing and will shortly replace the very light description worn during the summer months.

Pretty mantelets are made of bands of muslin and frills of lace or embroidery; the same style may be made in black silk and lace. For negligé or morning wear mantelets are made of a pretty and becoming form of Alpaga. Many of the scarf mantelets are the same as the dress, and are very narrow, but trimmed with wide laces; one of guipure was ornamented by several ruches of coloured ribbon in rows on the scarf, and three frills of guipure at the edge. The pelerines and Talmas for travelling are mostly made with hoods, and many of the mantelets are so much covered by trimmings as almost to conceal the foundation: they consist mostly of embroidery in relief; velvet intermixed with ribbon, braid, or lace, rich fringes, and stamped, as well as ribbon or moire bands.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGRAVINGS.
PLATE I.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of barege, with open body edged by a plissé of ribbon; the skirt is full, drawn up by bands of ribbon and nœuds, forming a bouillon border of much depth; the sleeves are bouffant, confined by bands of plissé ribbon. Capote of tulle and lace.

Evening Dress-Robe of grenadine, with graduated flounces covering the skirt, edged by ribbon ruches; the body is open, with two frills forming revers; white bouillon sleeves confined by ribbon. Head-dress of hair, with nœuds and ends of pink ribbon.

Walking Dress.-Robe of Swiss muslin, with flounces and full body. Mantelet of taffetas trimmed with lace, headed by ribbon ruches. Capote of white crape, with flowers.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of checked silk, with flounces edged by velvet; open jacket body similarly trimmed with velvet. Chemisette of muslin, with ruche round the throat. Capote of white lace.

Walking Dress.-Robe of taffetas, with open body, ornamented by frills forming revers, and meeting at the waist with noeuds and ends; pagoda sleeves, with white ones under, and plain skirt. Bonnet of fancy straw and silk, with feathers.

PLATE II.

Public Déjeuner Dress.-Robe of taffetas d'ete; the skirt covered by three deep flounces scolloped ; jacket body open and confined by nœuds of velvet; double sleeves, with white ones under. Capote à bouillons of tulle, with flowers.

Child's Dress-Frock of barege, trimmed with plissés of ribbon; pardessus of taffetas meeting at the waist with nœuds and long ends. Leghorn hat trimmed with white ribbon.

Young Lady's Dress.-Robe of foulard, with flounces and jacket body, with vandyked revers; chemisette of embroidered muslin. Bonnet of guipure straw, trimmed with ruches of white silk.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of taffetas, with double skirt, the upper one being festonné at the edge and ornamented by a stamped velvet trimming; small round mantelet in vandykes trimmed with deep frill of white lace. Capote of black lace with nœuds and long ends of velvet.

Promenade Dress.-Robe of grenadine, à disposition; the skirt is covered by flounces, with ribbon ruche at the edge: the body is high, but open in front and trimmed with ribbon ruches; the sleeves in bouillons, with white lace ruffles. Capote of paille de riz and lace, with wreath of flowers.

PLATE III.

Young Lady's Dinner Dress.-Robe of barege, with double skirt, each edged by lace and headed by a bouillon; jacket body trimmed to match, with double sleeves.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of pink popeline, with open body and plissé of ribbon round the open part; noeuds of ribbon descending the centre of the skirt. Mantelet shawl of embroidered muslin. Capote of lace and ribbon.

Walking Dress.-Robe of barege, with flounces and mantelet of silk trimmed with fringe, headed by stamped velvet. Capote of white silk, with flowers.

Carriage Dress.-Robe of marron silk; the skirt is covered by flounces of black lace; open jacket body, with double sleeves, trimmed with black lace. Capote of silk covered with ribbon ruches.

Walking Dress-Robe of moire with plain skirt; and jacket body festonné at the edge. Bonnet of fancy coloured straw, trimmed with pink ribbon.

PLATE IV.

Promenade Dress.-Robe of grenadine, with flounces, embroidered and edged by a very narrow ruche; mantelet shawl, embroidered to match the dress. Bonnet of white crape and tulle intermixed with flowers.

Walking Dress.-Robe of foulard, with open body and pelerine revers, with a scolloped edge. Bonnet of silk, with ruche at the edge.

Public Déjeuner Dress.-Robe of organdy; the skirt is covered with flounces, the body open with three small frills forming revers, the sleeves in bouillons confined by frills. Bonnet of crape and blond with flowers.

Evening Dress.-Robe of tarlatane with flounces edged with lace, pointed body with berthe formed of frills edged with lace, and the short sleeves covered with frills. Head-dress of hair with lappets and flowers.

Walking Dress-Robe of small striped silk, with flounces edged by a ribbon; high full body with revers formed of frills meeting at the waist, with noeud and ends; triple sleeve, rather short, with white one under. Capote of guipure and

silk.

PLATE V.

Bonnet of fancy straw and blue crape, trimmed with narrow satin ribbon of the same colour. A wreath of yellow roses is placed inside on a puffing of blond.

Carriage chapeau, composed of white lace and tulle trimmed with small bouquets of scarlet poppies and ears of barley, mixed with ends of ribbon.

Promenade ditto of lavender satin and white blond trimmed with orange-coloured ribbon and black velvet.

Morning bonnet of rice straw trimmed with pale green ribbon and blue corn flowers.

Primrose-coloured chapeau, with white marabout feathers round the front and at, the sides over rows of lace. The wreath inside is of scarlet and white flowers.

First cap, of black blond with a deep fringe of gold over the back, fastened at the sides with bows of crimson ribbon. Second ditto, of tulle trimmed with white flowers and pink figured ribbon.

Evening cap, of Maltese lace and emerald ribbon, trimmed with bunches of green and purple grapes on each side. Morning cap, of worked cambric, with bows of violet satin ribbon.

Child's hat, of tuscan straw with trimmings of broad pink ribbon edged with white.

DESCRIPTION OF MODEL.

OUR Model for this number is of a small round pelerine of the Talma form; the open gusset or decoupures on the shoul