THE following is dreadfully touching, and what is more, it is pointed. It cannot possibly affect any of our subscribers, however, for there is not one of them but would scorn the implication of being a delinquent to the "Lady's Book." We need hardly say that it is an imitation of Hood's "Song of the Shirt":-- "Toil, toil, toil! As the constant drop on a stone, So this ceaseless, endless work, Wears away body and bone! Though the Poet sputter and write, Though the Orator bully and bawl, If it were not for the Editor's pen, What were the use of it all? Toil, toil, toil, Christians, Mormons, and Jews: Is there a man on this weary earth But grows richer by reading the news? Richer, richer, richer, As they read it by sunlight and taper? And yet there isn't a soul of them all But grudges to pay for his paper!" * * * * * THE INSTRUCTIVE CHARACTER OF THE LADY'S BOOK.--This is the point that we wish to urge upon the public; that every number is full of instruction as well as amusement. Several of our exchanges have commented upon this matter. Our title would seem to mislead--and why it should, it is hard to tell. We would not publish a book for a lady, and pay so poor a compliment to her understanding as to fill it with mere trifling matter. We aim at nobler purposes, and we challenge an investigation and a comparison with any magazine, as to which contains the most instructive matter, either to a lady or gentleman. Look at our descriptions of Factories of various kinds; our Model Cottages; our receipts upon every subject; our essays; our practical instructions to every lady how to cut and make her own dresses; the various kinds of needlework for ladies; our accounts of the several gold regions, Nineveh, Babylon, &c. The editor of the "Ithaca Chronicle" says: "We have just received the January No., for 1854, and can truly say it is more welcome to our table than any other magazine we now receive. The present number contains one hundred pages of reading matter--not flimsy trash--but of such as is instructive to any person who will read it with a desire to gain knowledge." * * * * * YOUNG HYSON AND POTATOES.--The "Stroudsburg Jeffersonian" says: "Our wife would rather go without her Young Hyson at any time (and she is passionately fond of it too), than miss the smiles of Godey; or a new dress, rather than to be without his patterns for making it." The "Christian Advocate" of Missouri expresses his astonishment that we are acquainted with the virtue of the potato:--