314 The Young Lady's Book. 



the superiority of Penelope's boudoir to mine, or mine to heis, af- 

 low me to ask, why my brave cousin, who sits smiling at our de- 

 bate, is so anxious that nothing in my pet apartment should es- 

 cape his notice? ' 



' I will endeavor to satisfy you on that point,' said the Editor. 



* About two years ago, while seated in this identical chair, I con- 

 ceived the idea of producing and publishing a work that should be 

 deemed worthy of the acceptance of every young lady in the 

 kingdom.' — 



' I hope you do not intend to inflict another Annual upon us,' 

 said Penelope. 



' By no means,' replied the Editor ; ' so far from following the 

 beautiful, but much-beaten track of my predecessors, it is my in- 

 tention to offer the present-giving public perennial, — an ever- 

 green, that will not be merely looked at, and laid aside forever, 

 but will attract notice and merit attention at all times and at all 

 seasons; — not such a mere boquet of flowers as, however, rare 

 or beautiful, seldom tempt their warmest admirers to a second in- 

 spection, and which are always dethroned, even if they hold their 

 ephemeral sway for a year, by other blossoms, presented by the 

 same hands, at the return of the book-budding season;' — 



' But,' interrupted Aunt EHnor, with more enthusiasm than 

 usually beamed on her placid countenance, — ' to drop my neph- 

 ew's flowery metaphors, — a volume which, although rich in beau- 

 tiful embellishments, shall be so useful and instructive, as well as 

 amusing, that it will, in all probability, be as often in the hands of 

 every young lady of sense who possesses it, three or four years 

 hence, as within a month after its publication.' 



• ' That is exactly my meaning,' said the Editor, looking grate- 

 fully towards Aunt Elinor; ' and I sincerely trust I have been 

 fortunate enough to accomplish so desirable an object.' 



' And pray, cousin,' inquired Penelope, ' what is the book to 

 contain.'' ' 



' If you require a view of the contents,' replied the Editor, 

 ' I have only to say, look around you! — Lady Mary's boudoir 

 would form a very good index to the volume, and present a caj)- 

 ital epitome of a young lady's best pursuits, exercises, and recre- 

 ations. Flora has here a number of living representatives ; 

 Gnomes, in bronze, seem to bend beneath the weight of the min- 

 erals which are placed upon their shoulders; a sea-maid with her 

 conch, illumines the apartment when ' Night hath drawn "her 

 vail o'er earth and sea;' the insect world is represented by groups 

 of Oriental beetles, and splendid butterflies; the hnmniing-bird is 

 here, with many other of his fellow-tenants of ihe air, making all 



