did in
the way of swinging, dancing, firing off muskets, riding on a pony, &c.
Wonderful things, too, were performed by the dogs, splendid spaniels and
setters. One large black-and-tan creature walked on his fore-legs, in
the style of what children call "playing at a wheelbarrow," only he
himself, poor wretch, had to wheel the barrow. He walked demurely round
and round the stage, carrying his two unlucky hind-legs up in the air;
then he walked on three legs, and then, the most difficult task of all
for a dog, as we were assured, upon two legs on the same side. Another
beautiful white spaniel came walking in most grandly on her hind legs,
as _Madame de Pompadour_, in a long-trained dress which was borne by a
tiny monkey in livery, bearing a little lantern in his hand.

The finale was the besieging of a fortress; and to see some twenty
milk-white spaniels rushing up and down the stairs of the burning
fortress, illumined by brilliant rose-colored, green, and blue lights,
was very curious indeed. If I could have forgotten the terrible training
through which these poor creatures must have gone, I should have enjoyed
it much more. But I did not wonder, after seeing all their feats, that
our little friend had been so enchanted. He sat behind us in the
half-price seats, but for all that we continued to exchange many smiling
glances during the performance. I only wished I could have seen a whole
row of little fellows all equally delighted and surprised by their good
fortune.

THE WIFE'S STRATAGEM.

Captain Marmaduke Smith, is--judging from his present mundane,
matter-of-fact character, about the last man one would suspect of having
been at any time of his life a victim to the "tender passion." A
revelation he volunteered to two or three cronies at the club the other
evening undeceived us. The captain on this occasion, as was generally
the case on the morrow of a too great indulgence, was somewhat dull
spirited and lachrymose. The weather, too, was gloomy; a melancholy
barrel-organ had been droning dreadfully for some time beneath the
windows; and to crown all, Mr. Tape, who has a quick eye for the
sentimental, had discovered, and read aloud, a common, but sad story of
madness and suicide in the evening paper. It is not, therefore, so
surprising that tender recollections should have revived with unusual
force in the veteran's memory.

"You would hardly believe it, Tape," said Captain Smith, after a dull
pause, and em