“‘Step out, now,’ says she, ’but mind not to let go your held of the coach, and tell it to change itself into a ladder.’

“I had my lesson now; the coach became a ladder, reaching to the top of the wall; so up we mounted, and descended on the other side by the same means.  There was then before us a terrible dark gulf over which hung such a thick fog that a priest couldn’t see to bless himself in it.

“‘Call for a winged horse,’ whispered Anty.

“I did so, and up came a fine black horse, with a pair of great wings growing out of his back, and ready bridled and saddled to our hand.  I jumped upon his back, and took Anty up before me; when, spreading out his wings, he flew—­flew, without ever stopping until he landed us safe on the opposite shore.  We were now on the banks of a broad river.

“‘This,’ said Anty, ‘is our last difficulty.’

“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.