b of his right hand to his nasal organ, throws himself into a
comical attitude. The audience roar with delight; the Star, ignorant of
the cause of what he esteems a continued insult, waves his plumes to the
audience, and with an air of contempt walks off the stage.

CHAPTER XIII.

MRS. SWIGGS COMES TO THE RESCUE OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREIGN MISSIONS.

"An excellent society--excellent, I assure you, Madame--"

"Truly, Mr. Hadger," interrupted Mrs. Swiggs, "your labors on behalf of
this Tract Society will be rewarded in heaven--"

"Dear-a-me," Mr. Hadger returns, ere Mrs. Swiggs can finish her
sentence, "don't mention such a thing. I assure you it is a labor of
love."

"Their tracts are so carefully got up. If my poor old negro property
could only read--(Mrs. Swiggs pauses.) I was going to say--if it wasn't
for the law (again she pauses), we couldn't prejudice our cause by
letting our negroes read them--"

"Excuse the interruption," Mr. Hadger says, "but it wouldn't, do,
notwithstanding (no one can be more liberal than myself on the subject
of enlightening our negro property!) the Tract Society exhibits such an
unexceptionable regard to the requirements of our cherished
institution."

This conversation passes between Mrs. Swiggs and Mr. Hadger, who, as he
says with great urbanity of manner, just dropped in to announce joyous
tidings. He has a letter from Sister Abijah Slocum, which came to hand
this morning, enclosing one delicately enveloped for Sister Swiggs.
"The Lord is our guide," says Mrs. Swiggs, hastily reaching out her hand
and receiving the letter. "Heaven will reward her for the interest she
takes in the heathen world."

"Truly, if she hath not now, she will have there a monument of gold,"
Mr. Hadger piously pursues, adding a sigh.

"There! there!--my neuralgy; it's all down my left side. I'm not long
for this world, you see!" Mrs. Swiggs breaks out suddenly, then twitches
her head and oscillates her chin. And as if some electric current had
changed the train of her thoughts, she testily seizes hold of her
Milton, and says: "I have got my Tom up again--yes I have, Mr. Hadger."

Mr. Hadger discovers the sudden flight her thoughts have taken: "I am
sure," he interposes, "that so long as Sister Slocum remains a member of
the Tract Society we may continue our patronage."

Mrs. Swiggs is pleased to remind Mr. Hadger, that although her means
have been exceedingly narrowed down, she has not, for t