ion. Sister Scudder, motioning Lady Swiggs aside,
whispers in her ear: "They are all very excellent young men. They will
improve on acquaintance. They are come up for the clergy." They, in
turn, receive the distinguished stranger in a manner that is rather
abrupt than cold, and ere she has dispensed her stately courtesy, say;
"how do you do marm," and turn to resume with one another their
conversation on the wicked world. It is somewhat curious to see how much
more interested these gentry become in the wicked world when it is afar
off.

Tea very weak, butter very strong, toast very thin, and religious
conversation extremely thick, make up the repast. There is no want of
appetite. Indeed one might, under different circumstances, have imagined
Sister Scudder's clerical boarders contesting a race for an extra slice
of her very thin toast. Not the least prominent among Sister Scudder's
boarders is Brother Singleton Spyke, whom Mrs. Swiggs recognizes by the
many compliments he lavishes upon Sister Slocum, whose absence is a
source of great regret with him. She is always elbow deep in some
laudable pursuit. Her presence sheds a radiant light over everything
around; everybody mourns her when absent. Nevertheless, there is some
satisfaction in knowing that her absence is caused by her anxiety to
promote some mission of good: Brother Spyke thus muses. Seeing that
there is come among them a distinguished stranger, he gives out that
to-morrow evening there will be a gathering of the brethren at the
"House of the Foreign Missions," when the very important subject of
funds necessary to his mission to Antioch, will be discussed. Brother
Spyke, having levelled this battery at the susceptibility of Mrs.
Swiggs, is delighted to find some fourteen voices chiming in--all
complimenting his peculiar fitness for, and the worthy object of the
mission. Mrs. Swiggs sets her cup in her saucer, and in a becoming
manner, to the great joy of all present, commences an eulogium on Mr.
Spyke. Sister Slocum, in her letters, held him before her in strong
colors; spoke in such high praise of his talent, and gave so many
guarantees as to what he would do if he only got among the heathen, that
her sympathies were enlisted--she resolved to lose no time in getting to
New York, and, when there, put her shoulder right manfully to the wheel.
This declaration finds her, as if by some mysterious transport, an
object of no end of praise. Sister Scudder adjusts her