An Old, Old Story.

supposes that everybody else cares for our words or our doings , Avhon in fact nobody cares one farthing . The Avorld is a i-ery " insouciant " Avorld on the Avhole , and has no time to attend to the philandering' of Orlando Sniggleton , or the maidenly blushes of Emmelina Bustleton .

I feel in this respect like an ancient crony of mine , who used to say , " AVhen people are engaged , Sir , they are , Sir , and that is quite enough for anybody to knoiv or care for . By Jove , Sir , its bad enough in itself , without telling all the world that two more donkies hai-e

shown they belong to the good old breed . " I quite agree ivith my good old friend , and even at this distance of time , I remember his words and reverence his wisdom ! It is a

very stupid , and I think vulgar habit which makes people fuss about engaged persons aud brides . In society , luckily , the custom is going out , and the sooner it is given up the better . I , for one , never am inclined to yield to it , even though my old friend Mrs . McGrubber thinks and says

that " I am a very unfeeling and ill-bred elderly gentleman ! " Be it so ' AVell , when the settlements Avere signed " pace " the old family lawyer , ( who was very slow , and made ivonclerful mistakes , as family lawyers sometimes will do , ) and all

the presents wore given—Lucy and Mainwaring ivere duly married at the parish chnrch by an Indian archdeacon , ( that is , by an archdeacon who had been in India , ) an old . and a A'aiued friend of Lucy ' s

father , duly assisted by the rector . Lucy , brilliant in good looks , aud radiant in happiness , and Maiuwaring supremely rejoicing , seemed , as every one said , " a very handsome and lucky couple . " The curate was not present , ( for his feelingsas he said to his rectorwere too

, , many for him ) , though as in three Avecks afterwards he married a Miss Jobson Avith . - £ 25 , 000 , and a good deal too good for him , we may fancy that he soon recovered his usual equanimity , and Ave may well leave him to the happiness of his own

fireside , and the full play of his domestic sympathies aud elevated tastes . After the marriage of Lucy Longhurst and Walter Mainivaring , Miss Margerison found the Cedars rather lonely ; and so Avhen they returned from their wedding

tour , the good old woman asked them to come and "live with her , and bless her daily vision , and close her old eyes when God's time came to her , " as it comes in His good Providence to us all here . Mr . Maiuwaring Avas only too ready to

please that kind old soul , and no happier , or more cheery family party can be found than that Avhich gathers together under that hospitable roof at the Cedars . Mr . Carriithors , who married Emily Monekton , has taken Mainwaring ' s little bachelor

abode , and there is a constant interchange of friendly gatherings . And as the two other Aliss Moncktons looked so charming at Lucy ' s wedding in Avhite and cerise , two very eligible young men proposed nearly simultaneously , much to the

delight of Mrs . Monekton , so that the neighbourhood promises to be a very agreeable one , for those Avho know eac'h other so Avell , and like each other so much . Old Colonel Mackintosh is still to the fore , and may be seen reading his paper

daily at the Avindow of the Senior United . Service Club . He is still as erect as ever , and as pleasant as ever , though he does not conceal his opinion that the '' army is not what it was , Sir , " and , " in my day , Sir , we did things differently . "

Notwithstanding the remarks of that good old boy , and gallant soldier , and true comrade , I am inclined to think , myself , that the English army is essentially unchangedthat you can't spoil it , aud that it will be , what it always has been , " second to none . "

Indeed , I feel sure that " John Beetlecrusher " will do his duty , as he always has done it , in every hemisphere , and against any odds . But old soldiers like old ladies , and old everybodies sometimes seem to forget that " tempora mutantcv nos et mutamur in illis" and

, that we who complained of our forefathers as " old fogies , " Avlien we Avere young and verdant , must noe cry out if the " young uns" Avill go a-head to-day , and leave us gouty , and grumbling and growling behind . Lately quite an excitement has been

created at the Cedars , by the advent of a little Lucy , who has unceasing charms alike for Miss Margerison aud Colonel Mackintosh , to say nothing of Mr . Mainwaring , the servants , and the monthl y nurse .