the margin splits and rolls back, showing the black gUls beneath Hke stripes on the grey ground ; it might 

 be mistaken for a flower with revolute petals, rejoicing to open its heart to the rays of the genial morning 

 sun ; but, alas for the slu-inkiiig Agaric ! they are fatal to its moist beauty, which soon is only represented 

 by a deliquescing and, many would say, dirty little fright : but we know that there is no such tiling as dirt, 

 in its true sense, connected with these vegetable juices; they are only inky; and who that writes will 

 acknowledge ink to be dirt ? unless to draw a nice distinction made by an indulgent nurse-maid — " Well, 

 it's only a little clean dirt ! " After this, it seems contradictory to say that, in a clean house, we need not 

 dread the apparition of " toadstools." Agaricus domesticus does not scare careful housemaids ; it must be the 

 slut's own Agaric. " Under carpets on damp floors," " on old matting tlu-own in a corner," " in a basket 

 that held tea-leaves," such are the habitats pointed out ; the cellar steps and store-biUet cupboard are not 

 in the range of that vigilant functionary who wields the broom under the flag of tlie duster ! flag before 

 which bookworms et hoc genus omne tremble ! Walter Scott's Antiquary is not the solitary victim of 

 " tidiness," albeit his troubles have had the good fortune to jield so much amusement to the world at 

 large. " As soon as master is away for a day or two, we will have a good turn-out of that Library." " Is 

 it possible, madam, one of your myrmidons announced this unreproved ? Did you never hear that wives 

 were burned formerly for petti/ treason ? " " Yes ; but then think of Agaricus domesticus, of Tkelephora 

 puteana, which spreads on the wall behind the books ; look at this pot of paste, a rich forest of moulds, 

 wafted in embryo about the house by every breath ! " The housemaid has right on her side, and it ought 

 to prevail against migJit, so she may purify the " lion's den " if she does not mind the risk of his growl, 

 which follows on any atom of property not being replaced again exactly in situ. Seriously speaking, 

 however, it is very easy to train any intelligent servant into these duties ; the days are gone by when an 

 industrious damsel in the country boiled her master's antique bronzes in a copperful of strong ley, that 

 " for once they might look bright ! " A fact only proving how ideas differ as to what is " dirt." 



