that the eloquent young preacher had never delivered a more impassioned sermon from that pulpit: it was sublime. Oh, how bitterly he denounced "worldly-mindedness!" What a vivid picture he drew of the flourishing green bay-tree of the wicked, suddenly blasted in the moment of its pride and strength; while the righteous should shine like stars in the firmament forever and ever! Who cannot see here shadowed out the characters of Titmouse and of Horror respectively?--who hesitate between the two? And when at length, the sermon over, he sat down in his pulpit, (the congregation also sitting and singing, which had a somewhat queer effect,) and drew gracefully across his damp forehead his white pocket-handkerchief, which had been given him by Miss Tag-rag; and looked with an air of most interesting languor and exhaustion towards Mr. Tag-rag's pew, where sat that young lamb of his flock--Miss Tag-rag--her father the wealthiest man in the congregation, and she his only child--he felt a most lively and tender interest in her welfare--her spiritual welfare, and resolved to call the next morning; entertaining an humble hope of finding that his zealous labors had not been in vain, that he had not missed the mark at which he had been secretly aiming! Was one fruit of the pious pastor's exertions the benignant temper which Tag-rag, to the amazement of his shopmen, evinced the next morning, for at least an hour? Would that the like good effects had been visible in Mrs. and Miss Tag-rag; but--alas that I should have to record it!--it was so far otherwise, that they laid aside some fancy-fair work on which Mr. Horror had set them--for the whole week, devoting it, instead, to the preparation of those dresses with which they purposed the profanation of the ensuing Sunday. That day at length arrived, and precisely at six o'clock a genteel fly deposited the visitants from Satin Lodge at the splendid entrance to Alibi House. There was the big footman--shoulder-knot, red breeches, and all. Tag-rag felt a _little_ nervous. Before they had entered the gates, the fond proud parents had kissed their trembling daughter, and entreated her "to keep her spirits up!" The exhortation was needful; for when she saw the sort of style that awaited them, she became not a little agitated. When she entered the hall--ah! on a chair lay a glossy new hat, and a delicate ebony walking-stick; so he had come--was then up-stairs!--Miss Tag-rag trembled in every limb. "I don't know, my dear," whispered Mrs. Tag-rag to her husband, with a subdued sigh, as they followed the splendid footman up-stairs,--"it may be all uncommon grand; but somehow I'm afraid we're doing wrong--it's the Lord's Day--see if any good comes of it." "Tut--hold your tongue! Let's have no nonsense," sternly whispered Mr. Tag-rag to his submissive wife. "Your name, sir?" quoth the footman, in a sort of gentlemanly way.