'
them bonds! Don't you, Jepworth?"

"They're mighty resky things to have in the house, that's one objection
to 'em," replied Jepworth, thus adding breath to Ducklow's already
kindled alarm.

"That's so!" said Ferring, emphatically. "I read in the papers almost
every day about somebody's having his cowpon bonds stole."

"I should be more afraid of fires," observed Jepworth.

"But there's this to be considered in favor of fires," said Reuben: "If
the bonds burn up, they won't have to be paid. So what is your loss is
the country's gain."

"But isn't there any--isn't there any remedy?" inquired Ducklow, scarce
able to sit in his chair.

"There's no risk at all, if a man subscribes for registered bonds," said
Reuben. "They're like railroad stock. But if you have the coupons, you
must look out for them."

"Why didn't I buy registered bonds?" said Ducklow to himself. His chair
was becoming like a keg of gunpowder with a lighted fuse inserted. The
familiar style of expression,--_"Your_ bonds," "_your_ loss," "_you_
must look out,"--used by Ferring and Reuben, was not calculated to
relieve his embarrassment. He fancied that he was suspected of owning
Government securities, and that these careless phrases were based upon
that surmise. He could keep his seat no longer.

"Wal, Reuben! I must be drivin' home, I s'pose. Left everything at loose
ends. I was in such a hurry to see ye, and find out if there's anything
I can do for ye."

"As for that," said Reuben, "I've got a trunk over in town which
couldn't be brought last night. If you will have that sent for, I'll be
obliged to ye."

"Sartin! sartin!" And Mr. Ducklow drove away, greatly to the relief of
Mrs. Ducklow, who, listening to the alarming conversation, and
remembering the bonds under the carpet, and the matches in the pantry,
and Taddy's propensity to mischief, felt herself (as she afterwards
confessed) "jest ready to fly."

WILHELM MEISTER'S APPRENTICESHIP.

It may be that I have never read to the core any one grand,
representative book. How, indeed, amid the tumult and toss of our
sea-sick life, is one to do so? How, again, while the presses of all
literary capitals swarm with books that in one way or another demand
attention, shall one do justice to books which are to be read as life is
lived,--_not_ in a minute? Only by some hardihood can one pronounce it
possible. But if to any great book I have done this justice, it is to
that above named.