end if it ceased to buzz.--S.S.

CCCXXX.--PLEASANT DESERTS.

A CERTAIN physician was so fond of administering medicine, that, seeing
all the phials and pill-boxes of his patient completely emptied, and
ranged in order on the table, he said, "Ah, sir, it gives me pleasure to
attend you,--you _deserve_ to be ill."

CCCXXXI.--A HOME ARGUMENT.

BY one decisive argument
Tom gained his lovely Kate's consent,
To fix the bridal day.
"Why in such haste, dear Tom, to wed?
I shall not change my mind," she said.
"But then," says he, "I _may_."

CCCXXXII.--A BAD PEN.

"NATURE has written 'honest man' on his face," said a friend to Jerrold,
speaking of a person in whom Jerrold's faith was not altogether blind.
"Humph!" Jerrold replied, "then the pen must have been a very bad one."

CCCXXXIII.--WIGNELL THE ACTOR.

ONE of old Mr. Sheridan's favorite characters was _Cato_: and on its
revival at Covent Garden Theatre, a Mr. Wignell assumed his
old-established part of _Portius_; and having stepped forward with a
prodigious though accustomed strut, began:--

"The dawn is overcast; the morning lowers,
And heavily, in clouds, brings on the day."

The audience upon this began to vociferate "Prologue! prologue!
prologue!" when Wignell, finding them resolute, without betraying any
emotion, pause, or change in his voice and manner, proceeded as if it
were part of the play:--

"Ladies and gentlemen, there has been no
Prologue spoken to this play these twenty years--
The great, the important day, big with the fate
Of Cato and of Rome."

This wonderful effusion put the audience in good humor: they laughed
immoderately, clapped, and shouted "_Bravo_!" and Wignell still
continued with his usual composure and stateliness.

CCCXXXIV.--CANDOR.

A NOTORIOUS egotist, indirectly praising himself for a number of good
qualities which it was well known he had not, asked Macklin the reason
why he should have this propensity of interfering in the good of others
when he frequently met with very unsuitable returns. "The cause is plain
enough," said Macklin; "_impudence_,--nothing but stark-staring
impudence!"

CCCXXXV.--A "COLD" COMPLIMENT.

A COXCOMB, teasing Dr. Parr with an account of his petty ailments,
complained that he could never go out without catching cold in his head.
"No wonder," returned the doctor; "you always go ou