nging to one of the party. But the heart
of the nation beat high with hope, until the appalling intelligence was
flashed across the wires that they were defeated. It was a cruel blow.
Strong men looked at one another in mute agony, or spoke as if there was
a corpse in the next room. The Press sent up a wail that resounded
through the land. An eminent divine pronounced it a "National
misfortune," and the pictorials containing wood-cuts of the lamented
heroes were put away, as we put away the playthings of a child that has
died.

No wonder that Mr. JEFFRY MAULBOY was looked up to and courted, for he
had a medal bestowed upon him as a Champion Paddler, and had lost a bet
of fifty dollars on the "Great International Contest."

But his towering ambition remained unsated. He realized that he lived in
a progressive age, and his superior talents enabled him to take a stand
far ahead of his fellows. By diligent application to his noble
profession, he was now a member of that exalted Institution, "The Prize
Ring of America," and the letters P.R.U.S.A. were elegantly imprinted
with blue ink upon his right arm.

There were two persons present, however, who didn't regard JEFFRY
MAULBOY as a little god. One was the Hon. MICHAEL LADLE; the other was
ANN BRUMMET.

She was putting her tongue out, and making faces at him from behind an
apple-tree. A lady who saw her said it improved her appearance.

When BELINDA chose JEFFRY, he very deliberately took a chew of tobacco,
and said he wouldn't play.

"This is the sickest croquet party I ever saw," said BELINDA. "All
backing out. Spos'en I take you then, you dear old buffer," she added,
addressing the Hon. MICHAEL.

"I may be an old buffer," said the Hon. Member from the West, but I am
young enough for anything here. As STOWE BYRON says:

"Oh, days of my childhood's hours,
I'm a gazin' on ye yit."

He was interrupted by JEFFRY MAULBOY.

"You say you are young enough for anything here," said he; "suppose you
and I try a little mill out back of the house."

"Young man," replied the Hon. MICHAEL, "if there's one mistake in life
that your parents grieve over, it is probably the mistake of your birth.
If you don't have any serious drawbacks, and are careful of your health,
you will make a first-class DEAD BEAT. When a man insults me, sir, I lay
him out, without depending in the smallest degree upon an undertaker,
but as for standing up in front of a man who mashes noses by c