at not having the opportunity to make it
before a full table. Mr. Bowles, too, had been ordered to appear bright
and nice, in his new livery and top-boots, to wait on the family at
dinner, and show, by his attentions to the young gentleman, that he was
a well-brought-up servant. In fine, the lady so embarrassed the young
gentleman with her attentions, that he was glad when dinner was over. I
ought not to forget to mention that Chapman, though he was less
demonstrative, took several occasions to assure the young gentleman of
the high respect he had always held him in--especially on account of his
father and mother.

Tite went home when dinner was over; but returned again in the evening,
for there was an attraction there he could not resist. And it was then
that Mrs. Chapman joined their hands, invoked a blessing on their heads
and called them her children.

"I always did like the young gentleman--I am sure I always did," she
added, with an air of condescension. "My daughter knows I always did. It
was not on the young gentleman's account that I entertained a little
misgiving (just a little) in reconciling the family connection." Pausing
suddenly, the lady turned to Mattie in a somewhat confused manner: "My
daughter, my daughter," she returned, "you must overlook a number of
little things. You will--won't you? Now, don't say I am vain. But it was
such a queer--yes, such a vulgar and very common name to carry into
society."

"There's just one favor I have to ask, my daughter. I am sure the young
gentleman won't object to it--I am sure he won't." Again Mrs. Chapman
paused, and seemed a little confused.

"Certainly, ma, certainly," replied Mattie, with a pleasant smile,
"anything to please my dear mother."

"Well, then," resumed Mrs. Chapman, mildly: "There'll be no harm in
changing the name a little--just a little, for the sake of the effect it
will have on society. The young gentleman, I am sure he will (he has got
the means to do it, you see) set up a nice establishment in the city,
and (looking forward a little, you know) you will have a set of society
of your own. Things change so, you see. You wouldn't mind changing the
name so that it will read Von Toodleburg? T.B. Von Toodleburg would be
so much nicer."

I may mention here that such was the name the family took and flourished
under at a subsequent period, as will appear in the second series of
this work.

"Fix things, name and all, to your liking, my dear mo