The characters--Old Blobbs and Mrs. Blobbs, Aurelia, Celeste, Mignon, Blanche, Boosey, Fitz-Herbert, and the Maiden Aunt--whom the reader will find in these pages, may be real or not, as the reader fancies. None of them are willing, however, to have me divulge their real names, as that would destroy the little mystery which envelopes our breakfast gatherings, and would put us ill at ease when talking with the reader, as we hope to do for some time to come, through the columns of the TRIBUNE. Meanwhile, if the reader knows any large-hearted, large-handed man, who speaks very plainly and hates shams, it is quite possible that man is Old Blobbs. Mrs. Blobbs is a very good woman when she is severely let alone, and her ideas of etiquette are not shocked. Aurelia is a plain, practical, well-educated woman, who shed all her nonsense when her first baby made her appearance. Celeste is a little flighty, and would be a Girl of the Period, if that did not involve vulgarity. Mignon is the pet of our set, keenly alive to whatever is beautiful, always lively and always graceful, and Blanche is her companion--a quiet and lovable girl. Boosey is a good-hearted, weak-kneed young fellow, quite harmless and very self-opinionated, while Fitz-Herbert is an incapable we cannot shake off. The Maiden Aunt is not with us now, having gone to a better world than this. Perhaps the reader knows all these people. They are not difficult to find. These pages may prove to you, oh! reader, but a garden overrun with weeds. Should you, however, find only one simple little flower worth laying away as a souvenir, my purpose will have been answered. G. P. U. _Chicago, September 20, 1869._ _CONTENTS._ THE SEASON 1 SLEEPING IN CHURCH 3 THE ORGAN GRINDER 5 A RETROSPECT 7 WHITED SEPULCHRES 9 NOTHING AND BABIES 13 THE CIRCUS 18 BEFORE THE WEDDING 20 THE WEDDING 29 MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY 37 THE BOSTON GIRL 41 THE DEAD 44 OUR THANKSGIVING 50 MRS. GRUNDY 55 BEHIND THE SCENES 57 A CHRISTMAS CAROL 68 THE NEW YEAR 74 OLE BULL 80 SMALL TALK 82 FLAT ON THE BACK 85 GETTING OUT OF BED 91 THE TEAPOT 96 A MASQUE 101 THE MIRACLE OF CREATION 104 FASHIONABLE WEDDINGS 107 APRIL 113 A SUMMER REVERIE 116