The Art Of Proposing.

¦ ' Well , " he said , " I called and lunched , and then the mamma , a very discreet old party , left us , and the other sisters left us , and Ethel and I Avere a ! alone . I began to feel very queer , Avhen , as luck Avould have it , she began to talk to me about her ' Bully . '

' Charming bird , ' I said . ' Oh , yes ! ' Avas her ansAver , ' and he does sing so beautifully , and I am so fond of him . ' ' Oh !' said I , seizing the opportunity , 'he is a very fine bird , but he Avants a mate . ' 'A mate ! ' she said . 'Yes'I ansAvered

, , ' two is company , one is none . ' And as I saAV it Avas no use dallying or daAvdling any longer—the thing had to be done—I Aveut on to say , 'Don ' t you think it ' s much better to be tAvo than one V ' That

depends , she said , looking at me , ' AVIIO the other party is . ' ' But don't you think , ' I asked her again , ' that it is nice for tAvo people to go together , and to get on together , than to be all single-handed in the Avorld . ' 'I'm never alone , ' she

carelessly answered , ' I ' ve lots of sisters , brothers and cousins . ' 'Bother the cousins , ' I said ' sotto A * oce , ' meaning of course the male ones . But , draAving a little nearer to her I said very sloAvly , and my words would not come , 'I'll get Bully a male

ifif—if— . ' ' If Avhat , Mr . Rumbold , ' she said , and she looked so knoAving , 'If—if , you Avou ' t object to be Mrs . Rumbold . ' She burst out laughing , aud then she said : ' Well , I suppose it must be so ; though , Rummy , yours is the rummiest proposal

I ever heard of , all proceeding from a Bully . ' So the ice Avas broken , and all Avas arranged between us it la mode ; and here I am an engaged man , and Ave are to be married hi six weeks . " " Wellnow you see , Rummy , " I at last

, replied , after having congratulated him , ' you see Avhat comes of taking my advice , and ' running straight . ' Halfyou men treat Avomen as if they had neither feeling nor sense , neither heart nor understanding , and no voice in the matter . "

" Oh ! ' said Rummy , " to tell you the truth , I ' ve been very bad for the last three months , and I believe that she always has liked me . " I need hardly say that the marriage of Walter Rumbold and Ethel Harrington took p lace under the most auspicious circumstances . I neA'er saAV a more joyous gathering , or a prettier breakfast . Everything Avith them has gone as merry as the

The Art Of Proposing.

marriage bell , and they are a very contented , good-luoking , happy couple . Mrs . Rumbold often says to me , " Thank you , Mr . Tomlinson , for your kind and appropriate advice to Rummy . Who knoAvs if he had not taken it , and followed it to a TAvhether he and I should ever

, have got together . " " Verbtrm , " then , " sat sapienti , " UOAV as of old . I leave so affecting an illustration , and such sage counsels , to the appreciation of all my readers , Avhether old or young , male or female ; and as I think my theory is

unimpeachable , I dedicate respectfully my "Art of Proposing" to everyone who knows and feels that his Kismet is sealed at last , and that the awkwardest hour of human life has dawned upon an embarrassed biped . T . T .

A Withered Flower.

A WITHERED FLOWER .

0 floAver dim and Avithered , 0 . floAver of faded hue , Thou takest me back to other hours , To friends and hearts most true ; Thou tellest yet a tender tale Of a dear old past to me ,

Thou Avhisperest soft Avords of li ght , Aud love ' s OAVU minstrelsy . We are standing side by side , She and I together , We are talking of coming days

, Of good and evil weather , When we shall both be breasting The surging Avaves of strife , And find some gentle sunshine To bless the " weird" of life .

We are looking on a May Day , Reckless of care and pain , We are making up sweet posies Of Avild flower ' s in the lane ; Or in the fairy garden Are gazing Avith delight ,

On parterres of grateful odour , On borders trim and bright . Aud the hour at last has come , At last the word is spoken , Aud then and there that flower , Of earnest love tho token ,