ds may
be succinctly given by one definition: "Dry, what is not wet." Could
anything be more lucid?

Among the stories by Miss Edgeworth are three rarely mentioned by
critics, and yet among the most natural and entertaining of her short
tales. They were also printed by Jacob Johnson in Philadelphia, in
eighteen hundred and five, under the simple title, "Three Stories for
Children." "Little Dog Trusty" is a dog any small child would like to
read about; "The Orangeman" was a character familiar to English
children; and "The Cherry Orchard" is a tale of a day's pleasure whose
spirit American children could readily seize. In each Miss Edgeworth had
a story to tell, and she told it well, even though "she walked," as has
been often said, "as mentor beside her characters."

Of Miss Edgeworth's many tales, "Waste Not, Want Not" was long
considered a model. In it what Mr. Edgeworth styled the "shafts of
ridicule" were aimed at the rich nephew of Mr. Gresham. Mr. Gresham
(whose prototype we strongly suspect was Mr. Edgeworth himself) "lived
neither in idleness nor extravagance," and was desirous of adopting an
heir to his considerable property. Therefore, he invited two nephews to
visit him, with the object of choosing the more suitable for his
purpose; apparently he had only to signify his wish and no parental
objection to his plan would be interposed. The boys arrive: Hal, whose
mama spends her days at Bath over cards with Lady Diana Sweepstake, is
an ill-bred child, neither deferential to his uncle, nor with appetite
for buns when queen-cakes may be had. His cousin Ben, on the contrary,
has been taught those virtuous habits that make for a respectful
attitude toward rich uncles and assure a dissertation upon the
beneficial effect of buns _versus_ queen-cakes. The boys, having had
their characters thus definitely shown, proceed to live up to them in
every particular. From start to finish it is the virtuous Ben--his
generosity, thrift, and foresight are never allowed to lapse for an
instant--who triumphs in every episode. He saves his string, "good
whipcord," when requested by Mr. Gresham to untie a parcel, and it
thereafter serves to spin a fine new top, to help Hal out of a
difficulty with his toy, and in the final incident of the story, an
archery contest, our provident hero, finding his bowstring "cracked,"
calmly draws from his pocket the still excellent piece of cord, and
affixing it to his bow, wins the match. Hal betray