f his task, was by no means the most laborious. He had before
him various catalogues of the goods, and it remained for him to affix
the prices, to describe the qualities, and to put down the amount of
each on hand. This was no light task, and he worked hard at it into
the middle of the night. But long before that time came he had thrust
away from him the inefficient lists with which he had been supplied,
and trusted himself wholly to his imagination. So may be seen the
inspired schoolmaster who has beneath his hands the wretched verses
of a dull pupil. For awhile he attempts to reduce to reason and
prosody the futile efforts of the scholar, but anon he lays aside in
disgust the distasteful task, and turning his eyes upwards to the
Muse who has ever been faithful, he dashes off a few genial lines of
warm poetry. The happy juvenile, with wondering pen, copies the work,
and the parent's heart rejoices over the prize which his child has
won. So was it now with Robinson. What could he do with a poor gross
of hose, numbered 7 to 10? or what with a score or two of middling
kids? There were five dozen and nine left of the Katakairions. Was he
to put down such numbers as those in his sacrificial catalogue? For
awhile he kept these entries before him as a guide--as a guide which
in some sort he might follow at a wide distance. But he found that
it was impossible for him to be so guided, even at any distance, and
at last he thrust the poor figures from him altogether and trampled
them under his feet. "Tablecloths, seven dozen and a half, different
sizes." That was the last item he read, and as he pushed it away, the
following were the words which his fertile pen produced:--

The renowned Flemish Treble Table Damasks, of argentine
brightness and snow-like purity, with designs of absolute
grandeur and artistic perfection of outline. To dine eight
persons, worth 1_l,_ 8_s._ 6_d._, for 7_s._ 3_d._; to dine
twelve, worth 1_l._ 18_s._ 6_d._, for 10_s._ 11-1/2_d._;
to dine sixteen, worth 3_l._ 19_s._ 6_d._, for 19_s._
9-1/4_d._; and so on, at the same rate, to any size which
the epicurean habits of this convivial age can possibly
require.

Space will not permit us here to give the bill entire, but after this
fashion was it framed. And then the final note was as follows:--

N.B.--Many tons weight of First-Class Table Damasks and
Sheetings, soiled but not otherwise impaired; also of
Ribbons, Gl