DAUGHTER. O father! do that _now_. How delightful, to actually read the works of these singular creature's, and become familiar with their extraordinary ideas! Were the scintillations you spoke of the other night, that were seen all over the Western Continent, the result of the flashing of these radiant pages? F. Undoubtedly, my child; they began with the first issue of the paper, and have since regularly increased in brightness, just as It has. D. It really seems as though Earth would answer for a Moon, by and by, at this rate! F. You are quite right, HELENE; it will. Or say, rather, a Sun. For you will observe that it is a _warm_ light; not cool, as reflected light always is. It is Original. D. Well, this shows that PUNCHINELLO must have some Heart, as well as Head. Come, put on your highest power now, and let us seem to pay good old Tellus a visit! [_The indulgent Father complies, and, is at some pains to adjust the focus_.] F. Now, dear! take a good look. D. (_Looking intently_.) Oh! how splendid--how splendid! _Do_ see the beautiful things in those Shop Windows! It must be the Spring Season there! _Do_ see those lovely lumps on the backs of those creatures' heads! What place is it, Father? F. That? It's New-York; and the street is the famous Broadway. D. O dear! how I _would_ like to go shopping there, this minute!--for I see it is afternoon in that quarter. Is there no way of getting there?(!!!) F. (_Laughing heartily_.) Well, well, HELENE! That's pretty good, for the daughter of an astronomer! Do you know that at this precise moment you are Forty-five Million, Six Hundred and Fifty-four Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-one Miles and a half from those Muslins! I'll tell you, Sis, what _could_ be done: Drop a line to the Editor of PUNCHINELLO, and tell him what you want. He'll get it, some way. D. That I will, instantly! [_Turns to her portfolio, while her father turns to the telescope_.] "DEAR MR. EDITOR: Pardon the seeming _boldness_ of a _stranger:_ you are no _stranger to me!_ Long, _long_ have I deceived that _good man_, my father, by _pretending_ to know _nothing_ of the Earth, or of his _instrument!_ Many and _many_ a night, _unknown to him_, have I gone to the _Telescope_, to satisfy the _restless craving_ I feel to know more of _your Planet_, and of a _person of your sex_ whom I have _often_ beheld, and watched with _eagerness_ as he came and went. How _thrilling_ the thought, that he cannot even _know of my existence_, and that we are _forever separated!_ This, good and _dear_ Editor, is my one Thought, my one great Agony.