“The horse was changed into a boat, and away we sailed with a fair breeze for the opposite shore, which, as we approached, appeared more beautiful than any country I had ever seen.  The shore was crowded with young people dancing, singing, and beckoning us to approach.  The boat touched the land; I thought all my troubles were past, and in the joy of my heart I leaped ashore, leaving Anty in the boat; but no sooner had my foot parted from the gunwale than the boat shot like an arrow from the bank, and drifted down the current.  I saw my young bride wringing her fair hands, weeping at if her heart would break, and crying—­

“’Why did you quit the boat so soon, Felix?  Alas, alas! we shall never meet again!’ and then with a wild and melancholy scream she vanished from my sight.  A dizziness came over my senses, I fell upon the ground in a dead faint, and when I came to myself—­I found myself all alone in my boat, with three tundhering big conger-eels fast upon my lines.  And now, neighbours, you have all my story about the Giant’s Stairs.”

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DRAW IT GENTLY.

Joseph Hume’s attention having been drawn to the great insecurity of letter envelopes, as they are now constructed, has submitted to the Post-master-General a specimen of a new safety envelope.  He states that the invention is entirely his own, and that he has applied the principle with extraordinary success in the case of his own breeches-pocket, from which he defies the most “artful dodger” in the world to extract anything.  We can add our testimony to the un-for-giving property of Joe’s monetary receptacle, and we trust that his excellent plan may be instantly adopted.  At present there is immense risk in sending inclosures through the Post-office; for all the letter-carriers are aware that there is nothing easier than

[Illustration:  DRAWING A COVER.]

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FASHIONABLE MOVEMENTS.

Yesterday Paddy Green, Esquire, called at “The Great Mogul,” where he played two games at bagatelle, and went “Yorkshire” for a pot of dog’s nose.  He smoked a short pipe home.

On Tuesday Charles Mears, I.M., accompanied by Jeremiah Donovan, called at the residence of Paddy Green, Esquire, in Vere-street, to inquire after the health of Master P. Green.

Master James Marc Anthony George Finch has succeeded Bill Jenkins as errand-boy at the butter-shop in Great Wild-street.  This change had long been expected in the neighbourhood.

On Friday Paddy Green, Esquire, did not rise till the evening.  A slight disposition to the prevailing epidemic, influenza, is stated to be the cause.  He drank copiously of rum-and-water with a piece of butter in it.

On Thursday last the lady of Paddy Green, personally attended to the laundry; a fortnight’s wash took place, when Mrs. Briggs, the charwoman, was in waiting.  Mrs. P. Green, with her accustomed liberality, sent out for a quartern of gin and a quarter of an ounce of brown rappee.