in receiving excuses from many
whose presence she wished for. Amongst these was Mr. and Mrs.
Heartsease, most valuable plants; indeed, she had thought herself sure
of their company, and they had intended waiting on her. At all
entertainments of every kind they are expected, and they generally
accept the invitations they receive, but before the day of engagement
arrives they are obliged to send their excuses, owing to indisposition,
which keeps them confined to a small circle of friends.

Some of the party at Mrs. Rose's were delighted; others only aimed to be
thought pleased, but alas! too many were inclined to quiz the breakfast,
Mrs. Rose, and everything they saw or met with, yet even these to her
pretended the greatest felicity at what they partook of, and the
sincerest regard and esteem for her, and were absurdly lavish in the
admiration of her taste, and after all poor Mrs. Rose was so fatigued
that she was attended for a considerable time by Doctor Gardener, and
could associate with no other plant but her maid Valerian, having so
completely lost her bloom by her dissipation that she came out no more
this season, though she had sufficient foliage to ensure her life, and
much more than suited her ideas of Tonish appearance, for,
notwithstanding the slights she received in her confinement, when she
could be of no use to the gay world, and her own sufferings, she still
possessed so much vanity and lightness of manner that it was with the
greatest difficulty the doctor could keep her properly clothed, though
he explained to her its necessity, as did Mr. Pluto Rose its propriety,
but she was a slave to fashion, and nearly became one of its martyrs.

The Three Cakes

'There was a little boy named Henry,' said Mr. Glassington, 'about your
age. His parents had but lately fixed him at a boarding-school.'

He was a special boy, for ever at his book, and happened once to get the
highest place at exercises. His mother was told it. She could nohow keep
from dreaming of the pleasure; and when morning came, she got up early,
went to speak with the cook and said as follows:

'Cook, you are to make a cake for Henry, who yesterday was very good at
school.'

'With all my heart,' replied the cook, and set immediately about it. It
was as big as--let me see--as big as--as a hat when flapped. The cook
had stuffed it with nice almonds, large pistachio nuts, and candied
lemon-peel, and iced it over with a coat of sugar, so t