oldiers being
disposed in double columns. The Wooden Cavalry looked remarkably well,
though some of them were evidently veterans who had been in the wars,
for there were many without arms, a few without heads, and here and
there a horse had been curtailed of a tail, or some other usual adjunct.
MASTER and MISS TODDLEKINS now brought up--from down-stairs--a
considerable body of tin soldiery of every arm--though, occasionally,
deficient of a leg--and these having been drawn up exactly opposite to
the Wooden Cavalry, both sides were prepared to give or take battle.

The proceedings commenced by the sound of a trumpet feebly blown by MISS
TODDLEKINS, and responded to on the drum by MASTER JONES, when a smart
fire of peas, ably directed by MASTER TODDLEKINS, was opened on the
wooden cavalry. The double columns of "_Johnson's Dictionary_" for a
time sheltered the forces under MASTER JONES; but a sudden _sortie_ made
by MISS TODDLEKINS shook the opposing force with such violence that
several fell _en masse_, and the _melee_ becoming general, great numbers
on both sides were savagely put to the pea-shooter. The forces under
MASTER JONES being now entirely put to the rout, their young commander
grew desperate and threw down upon the foe all his strength, combined in
one enormous volume--of the dictionary already alluded to.

The loss on both sides was considerable, and among the casualties must
be enumerated an accident of a rather harassing nature to MR. JONES
SENIOR who, while surveying the field of battle, received in a small
indentation on the right of his nose one of the largest peas of the
enemy. It is satisfactory, however, to add that the battle was decisive,
for no animosity remained on the minds of the young chiefs on either
side, who, having removed the killed and wounded, immediately spread the
_tapis vert_ with a repast of the choicest jams, which they all freely
partook of. The only soreness that remained was on the part of MR. JONES
SENIOR, but his anger was soon appeased, and the peas were speedily
forgotten.

* * * * *

A FLOURISHING BUSINESS.

Here is a bit of fine writing:--

"We have been led to imagine that the dark cloud which impended over
commerce in the time of the Star Chamber, had been scattered by the
onward progress of civil freedom--we have from early childhood been
thankful that we were not born in the days when serfdom crippled the
body and