"Can you read the motto on the Conductor's button?" I demanded. "No;" he replied, "but I think nothing would be more appropriate to his calling than the monkish phrase--'pro omnibus curo!'" At this juncture a jolt, followed by a crash, announced that we had lost a wheel. The Dowager shrieked. "We shall all be killed," cried she; "On'y to think of meeting vun's death in a common omnibus!" "Mors communis omnibus!" whispered B___d, and---- I had written thus far, when spit--spit--splutter--plop!--my end of candle slipped into the blacking bottle in which it was "sustained," and I was left to admire--the stars of night, and to observe that "Charles's wain was over the chimney;" so I threw down my pen--and, as the house was a-bed--and I am naturally of a "retiring" disposition, I sought my pallet--dreaming of literary fame!--although, in the matter of what might be in store for me, I was completely in the dark! AN INTERCEPTED LETTER FROM DICK SLAMMER TO HIS FRIEND SAM FLYKE. eppin-toosday my dear sam i've rote this ere for to let you no i'm in jolly good health and harty as a brick--and hope my tulip as your as vell----read this to sal who can't do the same herself seeing as her edication aintt bin in that line ----give her my love and tell her to take care o' the kids.----i've got a silk vipe for sal, tell her; and suffing for 'em all, for i've made a xlent spec o' the woy'ge and bagg'd some tin too i can tell you; and vont ve have a blow out ven i cums amung you----napps----that's the ass----is particklar vell and as dun his dooty like a riq'lar flint---- i rode too races ar' needn't say as i vun em for napps is a houtanhouter an no mistake! lork! didn't i make the natifs stare! and a gintlum as vos by, vanted to oan 'im an oferd any blunt for im but walker! says i there aint sick a ass as this 'ere hanimal in the hole country----besides he's like as vun o' me oan famly, for i've brot im up in a manner from the time he vos a babby!----he's up to a move or too and knows my voice jist for all the world like a Chrissen. Red-nose Bill vot had a nook 'em down here brings this and he'll tell you all about the noose----i shall foller in about, a veek or so----tell sal to keep up her sperrits and not to lush vith Bet----i dont like that ere ooman at all----a idle wagabone as is going to the Union like vinkin----i'm no temperens cove meself as you nose, sam, but enufs enuf and as good as a feast. The gintry as taken hervite a likin to Napps and me----they looks upon im as hervite a projidy----for he's licked all the donkies as run agin im----the vimmen too----(you no my insinnivating vay, sam,) and nobody nose better than me how to git the right sow by the ear----no sooner do i see 'em a comin vith their kids, than i slips of and doffs my tile, an i says, says i----do let the yung jentlum have a cast----and then the little in coorse begins a plegyin the old 'uns, and----so the jobs done! ----vot's to pay, my good man? says she