nd his only son, Master Alexander Augustus
Budden. One evening, as Mr. and Mrs. B. were admiring their son,
discussing his various merits, talking over his education, and disputing
whether the classics should be made an essential part thereof, the lady
pressed so strongly upon her husband the propriety of cultivating the
friendship of Mr. Minns in behalf of their son, that Mr. Budden at last
made up his mind, that it should not be his fault if he and his cousin
were not in future more intimate.

'I'll break the ice, my love,' said Mr. Budden, stirring up the sugar at
the bottom of his glass of brandy-and-water, and casting a sidelong look
at his spouse to see the effect of the announcement of his determination,
'by asking Minns down to dine with us, on Sunday.'

'Then pray, Budden, write to your cousin at once,' replied Mrs. Budden.
'Who knows, if we could only get him down here, but he might take a fancy
to our Alexander, and leave him his property?--Alick, my dear, take your
legs off the rail of the chair!'

'Very true,' said Mr. Budden, musing, 'very true indeed, my love!' On
the following morning, as Mr. Minns was sitting at his breakfast-table,
alternately biting his dry toast and casting a look upon the columns of
his morning paper, which he always read from the title to the printer's
name, he heard a loud knock at the street-door; which was shortly
afterwards followed by the entrance of his servant, who put into his
hands a particularly small card, on which was engraven in immense
letters, 'Mr. Octavius Budden, Amelia Cottage (Mrs. B.'s name was
Amelia), Poplar-walk, Stamford-hill.'

'Budden!' ejaculated Minns, 'what can bring that vulgar man here!--say
I'm asleep--say I'm out, and shall never be home again--anything to keep
him down-stairs.'

'But please, sir, the gentleman's coming up,' replied the servant, and
the fact was made evident, by an appalling creaking of boots on the
staircase accompanied by a pattering noise; the cause of which, Minns
could not, for the life of him, divine.

'Hem--show the gentleman in,' said the unfortunate bachelor. Exit
servant, and enter Octavius preceded by a large white dog, dressed in a
suit of fleecy hosiery, with pink eyes, large ears, and no perceptible
tail.

The cause of the pattering on the stairs was but too plain. Mr. Augustus
Minns staggered beneath the shock of the dog's appearance.

'My dear fellow, how are you?' said Budden, as he entered.

He alway