[Illustration: _Hatter_] Mrs. Durnford instantly saw the cause of her risibility, and though a smile, which she could not repress, dimpled her face, yet she cautioned her little girl not to give way again to her demonstrations of merriment in so public a manner, especially as by so doing, she might inadvertently wound the feelings of an individual. The objects which had excited the laughter of Caroline, were a short thick made vulgar looking woman, and a tall thin boy who stood as stiff as a poker, with his hands fixed to his sides, while his mother tried to force a hat on his head, evidently too tight for him. "It is too little for me, mother," cried the boy, pouting out his lips which were none of the thinnest, "and it won't do: besides, I want one of them there new fashioned caps, which all gentlemen's sons wear now." "And what have you to do with gentlemen's sons," said his mother, trying to get the hat a little further on his head, "You know, Tommy, that your father is only a tailor. He only serves gentlemen, he is no gentleman himself. The hat is a nice hat, and a good one for the money, so you shall have it, Tommy. No new fangled frippery for my money." "But it won't come on my head, mother," exclaimed the boy, half crying for vexation, because he was not to have a cap like a gentleman's son. "I tell you what, Tommy, if you are not quiet, I'll trim your jacket for you, better than ever your father has done, as soon as I gets you home. Not do, why it fits you delightfully, and you look quite spruce and handsome in it. I won't have it come any lower, spoiling the shape of your ears. You want them to be like Sam Wilson's ears, and they are just like the ears of an ass, because he always puts his hat behind them." Poor Caroline now bit her lips, and turned another way, lest she should again offend her mamma by laughing. "I think, papa," said Theodore, "that hats are made from the fur of different animals, are they not?" "Yes, my dear. The best is the beaver, but many hats are now made of the fur of the rabbit. Emily, do you recollect to what bird we are indebted for those fine long feathers which you see in the regimental hats of our officers; and which are now so universally worn by ladies in their bonnets?" "They come from the ostrich, I believe," replied Emily. "You are right, my love, but let us follow your mamma, who seems inclined to purchase that beautiful veil from the LACE MAN. [Illustration: _Lace Shop_] That truly elegant and costly article of a lady's dress, namely lace, is brought to the highest perfection in Brussels, which you know is in Flanders, and in the French provinces in general." "But we have English lace, papa," said Miss Durnford.