e a bright half smile
of recognition, which I returned with as profound a bow as ever
courtier bowed to queen, or devotee to Pope's sublime imperial toe.

An omnibus came rolling by, which she, with a motion of her neat
little gloved hand, bid stop. She stepped lightly into it, while I,
with my usual impetuosity, without knowing exactly what I was doing,
sprang after her. I consoled myself for my apparent rudeness by
throwing the entire blame upon the elective affinities.

On we went, and from time to time as I stole a glance at her sweet
face, I thought I detected a sly, mischievous little devil playing
around the corners of her small dimpled mouth, and about the pure lids
of her downcast long-fringed eyes. She never vouchsafed me a look,
however; and as we went on, and as I still watched her lovely face, a
dread vision arose up before me of a six-foot and well proportioned
youth, with fierce whiskers and a moustache of undisputable cut and
style, that I remembered to have seen with the young lady during our
stage-coach ride together--that I remembered, with a terrible
heart-sinking, was impressively attentive to her. I inwardly resolved
to let nature have her way, and let all the hair grow on my face that
would; what if it did grow a little reddish or so--why I should
resemble the rising sun, with my glory like a halo around me.
Seriously, I have long been of the opinion that a shaved face is as
much of a disgrace, and ought to be so considered, as a shaved head
fresh from prison. Why do we not finish the half completed work and
actually shave off the hair of our heads, our eye-brows and lashes, as
well as our beards, and thus go cool and comfortable through the
world? There would be this advantage in it, the disciples of Spurzheim
would have no trouble of making a map of our bumps at sight; and then
think what an immense saving it would be in combs and brushes, to say
nothing of pomatum, which some so freely use. I rejoice sincerely to
see the sudden rise in crops of hair, and most truly hope they will
not have as rapid a fall. Shaving is artificial and injurious,
exposing parts to cold that Nature never meant should be exposed.
Black, white or red--hair is a protection and ornament that no manly
face or head should be without. Rejoice ye, therefore, over every
repentant sinner who tarrieth in Jericho and letteth his beard to
grow.

But to return to my little omnibus companion, who by this time was
gracefully mov