major obeyed the summons, and re-entered his carriage.

Jerry Styles was now directed to forward the two messengers to Osterley Park; and he accordingly opened a basket, from which flew two carrier pigeons, who immediately soared into the air, and having attained their greatest altitude, and remained apparently stationary for a few seconds, darted off in the direction of Osterley Park; every eye was steadfastly fixed upon the birds; and a murmur of satisfaction and wonder ran through the ranks, as the sagacious animals lessened in the distance. (1)

The musicians now struck up a grand march; -the whole cavalcade was in motion. Mr. Beacham's chariot having been drawn on one side of the road, the carriages and horsemen proceeded to take their stations in the rear; the company in the former kissing their hands, and waving their handkerchiefs, while the latter lowered their branches, and cheered, as they passed.

The damsels, in advance of Mr. Beacham's carriage, opened their baskets, and strewed the road with flowers as they moved forward.

"Hark!" exclaimed the major: "the pigeons

have arrived at the Park, and my orders have been faithfully obeyed: they are firing a salute."

"And it has been heard at the village," said the vicar; "for the bells have just commenced their peal of welcome." But we are exhausting the patience of our readers with the details of a ceremony, in which it is very probable they may feel but little interest; although we freely confess that, to ourselves, few pageants have such attractive charms as those innocent and simple manifestations of genuine feeling which are to be met with in rural life, where the heart has not yet been chilled by that benumbing influence of what has been termed "the progress of civilisation;" and which has exchanged the free and warm impulses of our nature for cold and studied forms, or for an artful display of factitious sentiment.

During the progress of the procession through the village, Mr. Beacham had not been unmindful of the vicar's request: he poured a shower of nuts amongst the boys, which occasioned much frolic, and good-humoured contention; while the peasants caught and cracked them, without any suspicion of the Roman custom they were assisting to perpetuate.

Having arrived at Osterley Park, the horsemen formed a double line, through which the several carriages passed. The gates were then closed; and the vicar, stepping forward, thus addressed the assembled multitude:

turn.

"Well-beloved friends, and parishioners, I am desired by Major Snapwell to inform you that refreshments have been prepared in the village, of which you may all partake on your reYour admission into the Park this evening would interfere with those arrangements which are in progress for to-morrow's jubilee : let me, therefore, request that you will all retire peaceably. After your refreshment, every person who may inscribe his name in a book provided for that purpose at the village inn will receive a ticket for the ensuing fête; but, to avoid confusion, you are requested to register the district to which you belong, for it is intended that the parish of the bearer shall be notified by the colour of his ticket. The fête will commence at ten o'clock, and ample directions for your guidance will be placarded in different parts of the Park; and so, my worthy friends, I bid you all, for the present, farewell."

In compliance with this intimation, the whole assembly, after having given three hearty cheers, retired peaceably and well satisfied to the village; where several barrels of beer had been disposed in readiness for the libation.

The vicar, after he had completed his harangue, rejoined the party at the Park, where its hospitable owner had prepared a sumptuous dinner. It was, however, proposed that the vicar, with the major, and such of his guests as wished to inspect the preparations, should previously walk round the grounds. Tom and his sisters begged that they might be included in the party; a request which their father readily granted, as he said that some opportunity might occur for explaining the nature of those exhibitions which they were to witness on the following day. The same feeling induced Mr. and Mrs. Beacham and several other visitors to join the party, hoping that they also might profit from the discourse which Mr. Seymour intended to hold for the instruction of his children. The reader will probably be induced, for similar reasons, to accompany them. If he has atten tively read the preceding volumes of this work, we hope he has become convinced that the

lessons of youth may occasionally convey instruction as well as amusement to those of riper years.

Ned Hopkins having been summoned to attend the party, and receive the final orders of the vicar, they proceeded to the elm-meadow, where the grand fair was to be held, and in which were disposed a long line of booths for the motley exhibitions to which they were dedicated.

"What have we here?" exclaimed the major, as he entered the meadow; "a row of poles !"

"Ned Hopkins," cried the vicar, “how has it happened that the ropes have not been affixed to these poles? Have I not said that every arrangement must be completed this evening? Those poles," continued the vicar, addressing himself to Major Snapwell," are intended for swings, from which the younger peasants will, doubtless, derive much amusement, while their sires are engaged, in the adjoining field, by the more manly exercises of quoits, foot-racing, wrestling, hurling, &c. You are, of course, aware, gentlemen, that in admitting the swing amongst the pastimes of the day, I have the