We must, however, pay a passing tribute to the fair Lucinda. She did commence and finish a pair of slippers in two years, which was about the rate of a stitch per diem, for which she gained our especial favour, or, as we might more truly express it, "got the length of our foot,"-for she had them fitted; and we now behold them before us on our sofa in all the butterfly beauty of their variegated colours, and, sooth to say, our toes are in them!

Dear, indolent Lucinda! ("friend of my sole!") how amiable dost thou appear!

A sofa is the throne-slippers and morning-gown the regalia, the paraphernalia, the trappings of idleness. Plump goddess of the dreamy eye!-mother of yawns! -patroness of patchwork! whose leaden hammer is ever raised with murderous intent against the venerable sconce of old Time!-alas! how unavailingly! for thou dost only retard him in his flight, and hammer out the old greybeard to an immeasurable length !

YAWN THE SIXTH.

FRUITLESS would prove the attempts of the sapient elephant to dance on the tight rope, or that mimicman, the monkey, to excel in elocution; but three-fold are the difficulties in the paths of some who endeavour to reach the Temple of Idleness. It requires a rare and peculiar combination of mind, body, and estate.

The mental energies of many are in such a motive state of speculation and calculation as totally unfits

them for repose, which is the broad base-the pedestal -on which the loose-robed goddess reclines.

The physical powers of others, again, render them so peripatetic, so saltatory, that you might as well endeavour to stop a cannon-ball, or a steam-carriage, in its career with the simple index of your right hand, as to convince them of the loveliness of a lounge; and, however they may boast of their habits of business, certain it is these human locomotives would never succeed in the stationary line; for they are all legs and wings, like a daddy-long-legs,-which will buzz and rattle about, till it ultimately bobs into the flame and perishes.

And lastly, those who really possess the many qualifications, physical and mental, which true idleness demands, are too often destitute of the means to attain the desired object.

Money alone (the golden key which is said to open all locks-Chubb's and Bramah's inclusive)-is useless. One might as well attempt to enter a Freemasons' lodge without the sign.

Who has not heard of the rich tallow-chandler, who, disposing of his business, retired to indulge in the luxury (otium cum dignitate) of idleness?—and who returned and solicited as a favour that he might be permitted to assist his successor on "melting-days!"

Therefore, when we hear a tirade against idleness, we look upon the scoffer in the same light we regard an old maid, who, possessing neither beauty nor money to steal a heart or buy a husband, irreverently rails against love and matrimony from the commencement to the terminus of her mortal existence.

Idleness, in fine, must be as insensible to external influences as the cobbler's lapstone to the hammer-as elastic as a horse-hair cushion-as easy as an old slipper.

It must have the valuable ponderosity of gold, and its malleability-the bright reflections of the diamondthe brains of a poet-the coffers of a Croesus-the digestion of an ostrich-the-But why should we continue the catalogue?

The ignorant detractors of idleness will be amply gratified with this enumeration of the barriers and impediments which oppose the progress of her votaries.

"Time and tide tarry for no man."

"Quid times?"

"Time travels in divers paces with divers persons: I'll tell you who Time ambles withal, who Time trots withal, who Time gallops withal, and who he stands still withal."

per-time, and bed-time, and, doubtless, thyme for stuffing!

Pleasure is universally considered pastime, and New Year's Day, when gifts are exchanged, the present

time!

Chiron, Saturn's fifth son, according to the mythologists, taught Apollo music; and it is reported upon the best authority, that when his music-master's daddy grew old, and was likely to become an inmate of one of the Unions, Apollo, from motives of gratitude, got up a soirée musicale for his benefit, and contributed no little to the amiable object by playing first fiddle on the occasion.