"PROFESSOR WIGGLER" 73 



York, I paused for a momentary glimpse of a fine 

 display of spring silks in a shop window, when 

 Professor Wiggler, without the slightest rhyme or 

 reason, suddenly wagged his comical head across 

 my fancy, for my thoughts were far from profess- 

 ors and entomology. Following a frequent, quiet 

 pastime of mine, of tracing the pedigree of such 

 vagrant waifs of thought, I fell to pondering what 

 could have summoned my unbidden friend, and I 

 soon discovered. Why, how simple! The win- 

 dow before me was a very epitome of tender 

 vernal hues — blushes of pale blossoms, yellows of 

 pale anthers shadowed under petals, and quick- 

 ened grays of bourgeoning hill-side woods, warm 

 pulsing greens of budding leaves, each fabric bear- 

 ing its label of the latest color-fad — coral gray, 

 Chinese pink, primrose ash, old rose, and yonder 

 was a faded purple bearing the title " lilac," which, 

 of course, by its own irresistible telegraph through 

 my retina, had called up the professor, and here 

 he was. 



Yes, it must be admitted, he is a rather uncere- 

 monious and promiscuous professor, but I can 

 nevertheless recommend him to our young people 

 as a most amusing and entertaining character. 

 As I have said, I first made his acquaintance over 

 thirty years ago, and in spite of his obtrusive ways 

 in season and out of season, I nevertheless renew 

 our actual acquaintance on the lilac-bush every 



