It is not necessary to refer to a cook book to know what an excellent fish is the sheep's-head; you may find it in Noah Webster's large dictionary, where it is described as "the Sargus Ovis of Mitchell; esteemed delicious food"; or, you can find it in market. Mr. Withers was married to a lovely young lady who once worked an entire piano cover with worsted. They had commenced housekeeping but a few months, when one morning the husband informed his wife that he should invite a friend to dine with him that day. Mrs. Withers was in despair at this announcement, but she smiled and hid her grief; or at least her grief, in the shape of a Celtic cook, was at that time not to be seen, being employed in the kitchen, where she had invited two of her friends to "come in and ate." Mr. Withers went down town; his wife then gave directions to the cook, Biddy O'Shaughshenny by name, to buy a sheep's-head, beef, game, and so forth. 'By the way, Bridget, have you ever cooked a sheep's-head before?' 'A shape's hid is it? Then I'm thinking, ma'am, I've cooked the likes of them minny a time and oft in the owld counthry when I bided with Mister Maginnis the grate counsillor in Dublin. I did.' This was sufficient: Mrs. Withers was relieved of all care, and soon wended her way out shopping and making calls, until nearly the dinner hour. Home came Mr. Withers and friend, an Englishman by the name of Molesworth, with keen appetites. The dinner was served; oysters and soup finished, the waiter brought on a large dish covered. 'Ha, what have we here?' asked Withers, the husband. 'Something new, my dear,' answered Withers, the wife. 'I knew they were in season, and I ordered it for a surprise.' Withers lifted the cover! There WAS a sheep's head--with horns on. However a Sheep's Head is like a turbot--for a turbot--according to Albert Smith's account of the Frenchman learning English--is not unlike a _tire-botte_ (or a boot-jack) which _has_ horns. Is'nt _that_ a frantic conciliation of differences, and one which might have done honor to Petrus d'Abano, the Conciliator, himself? * * * * * There are many conscientious men whose consciences tear at the first pull--as is shown 'in the subsequent:' CONSCIENTIOUS. DEAR CONTINENTAL: Perhaps the following incident will cause a smile to ripple the good-natured features of some of your readers:--In the county of M----, the Draft Commissioner held an extra appeal for the 'conscientious men.' Now, in said county, there dwelt one Barney Mullen, who, not being exempted at the first appeal, on 'non-citizenship' grounds, was in 'great tribulation' in regard to the approaching draft. Some wag persuaded him to attend the second 'hearing,' telling him to swear that he was conscientious, and he would get his exemption papers. So Barney was at hand at the 'appointed time and place,' At last, 'it came to pass' that he got a hearing, and the Commissioner asked him what he had to say for himself.