d Ralph--"is that what you mean?
Well, I don't believe I shall. But a truce to jesting, my charming
cousin. You spoke of Williamsburg, and my deterioration of manners,
did you not?"

"Yes!"

"I can prove that I have not deteriorated."

"Try, then."

"No, I would have to read all this book, which is full of compliments,
Fanny; that would take all day. Besides, I am too modest."

"Oh!" laughed Fanny, who had recovered her good humor.

"Let us hear, Mr. Ralph," said Redbud, smiling.

"Yes--let us see how the odious, college students write and talk,"
added Fanny, laughing.

"Well, I'll select one from each branch," said Ralph: "the friendly,
pathetic, poetical, and so forth. Lithe and listen, ladies, all!"

And while the company listened, even down to Longears, who lay at some
distance, regarding Ralph with respectful and appreciative attention,
as of a critic to whom a MS. is read, and who determines to be as
favorable as he can, consistent with his reputation--while they
listened, Ralph opened his book and read some verses.

We regret that only a portion of the album of Mr. Ralph Ashley has
come down to modern times--the rats having devoured a greater part of
it, no doubt attracted by the flavor of the composition, or possibly
the paste made use of in the binding. We cannot, therefore, present
the reader with many of the beautiful tributes to the character of
Ralph, recorded in the album by his admiring friends.

One of these tributes, especially, was--we are informed by vague
tradition--perfectly resplendent for its imagery and diction;
contesting seriously, we are assured, the palm, with Homer, Virgil and
our Milton; though unlike bright Patroclus and the peerless Lycidas,
the subject of the eulogy had not suffered change when it was penned.
The eulogy in question compared Ralph to Demosthenes, and said that
he must go on in his high course, and gripe the palm from Graecia's
greatest son; and that from the obscure shades of private life, his
devoted Tumles would watch the culmination of his genius, and rejoice
to reflect that they had formerly partaken of lambs-wool together in
the classic shades of William and Mary; with much more to the same
effect.

This is lost; but a few of the tributes, read aloud by Mr. Ralph, are
here inserted.

The first was poetic and pathetic:

"MY DEAR ASHLEY:

"Reclining in my apartment this evening, and reflecting upon the
pleasing scenes through which we have passed t