Young Lady Giddygad, came down
  From spending half a year in town,
  With cranium full of balls and plays,
  Routs, fetes, and fashionable ways,
  Caus’d in her country-town, so quiet,
  Unus’d to modish din and riot,
  No small confusion and amaze,
  “Quite a sensation,” is the phrase,
  Like that, which puss, or pug, may feel
  When rous’d from slumber by your heel,
  Or drowsy ass, at rider’s knock,
  Or——­should you term him block;
  Quoi qu’il en soit, first, gossips gape,
  Then envy, scandalize, and ape! 
  Quoth Mrs. Thrifty:  “Nancy, dear,
  My Lady sends out cards I hear,
  With, I suppose, ’tis now polite,
  Merely ‘At Home,’ on such a night,
  Now child, altho’ I dare not say
  We can afford to be so gay,
  We’re as well born as Lady G——­
  And may be, as well bred as she! 
  That is, quite in a sober way
  So as we’ve nothing more to pay: 
  For instance, when folks choose to come,
  And I don’t choose to be ‘At Home,’
  I’ll have a notice stuck, you know,
  On the hall door, to tell them so: 
  ’Twill save our Rachel’s legs you see,
  And soon the top will copy me! 
  But, Nancy, d’ye hear, now write
  That I’m ‘At Home’ on Thursday night;
  ’Tis a good fashion, for ’tis what
  Most fashions in this age are not
  A saving one:  ah, prithee think,
  How it saves time, and quills, and ink!”
  So, duteous Nancy seiz’d a pen,
  To ladies, and to gentlemen
  Sent quickly out the cards; as quick
  Came one again:  “Poh! fiddlestick
  An answer, yes?—­come, let me see,
  My spectacles!” cried Mistress T——­
  “Hum—­Mrs. Thrifty,—­Thursday night—­’At
  Home’—­oh malice! fiendish spite,”
  (Quoth the good dame in furious ire,
  Whilst the card, fed the greedy fire)
  “No, never, never, will I strive
  To be genteel, as I’m alive,
  Beneath my own ‘At Home’ was cramm’d,
  There stay, good madam, and be d—­d!"[2]

M.L.B.

    [2] A fact.

* * * * *

MAHOMET THE GREAT AND HIS MISTRESS.

An Anecdote.

(For the Mirror.)

After the taking of Constantinople by the Turks, in the year 1453, several captives, distinguished either for their rank or their beauty, were presented to the victorious Mahomet the Great.  Irene, a most beautiful Greek lady, was one of those unfortunate captives.  The emperor was so delighted with her person, that he dedicated himself wholly to her embraces, spending day and night in her company, and neglected his most pressing affairs.  His officers, especially the Janissaries, were extremely exasperated at his conduct; and loudly exclaimed against their degenerate and effeminate prince, as they were then pleased to call him.  Mustapha Bassa, who had been brought