most indulgent person in the world, and very fond of her brother, grew so tired of hearing him, that she could not help saying, "I wish to-morrow were come!" too.

And at last, as generally happens, whether we wish for it or not, to-morrow did come; as brilliant a to-morrow as ever was anticipated, even by a school-boy in the holidays. The sun rose without a cloud-Horace is my authority, for he, "scorning the scorner sleep," was up before that bright luminary; and the ball being twenty times weighed, and the bats fifty times examined, he repaired long before ten o'clock to the place of rendezvous, Sandleford common, where the wickets were to be pitched at that hour.

On his arrival, Horace found that in spite of all his calculations a mistake had arisen in the amount of his forces; that including himself, there were ten Sandleford boys on the ground, beside his two foreign allies—a redundancy occasioned, probably, by his over anxiety to collect recruits; whilst the Malsanger captain on the other hand, had been disappointed of one of his mates, and could only muster a party of ten, himself included.

In this dilemma, the umpires proposed to divide the cousins; a suggestion to which George assented

with scornful nonchalance, and Charles with modest good humour. "You had better toss up for me!" cried the former :-" for the choice!" was Horace's civil amendment and toss they did. "Heads!" cried he of Malsanger, and heads it was; and partly caught by the young gentleman's happy knack of puffing himself; partly by the knowing manner in which he was handling his bat, George was instantly claimed by the winner, and the game began.

Malsanger went in, and it was wished that the stranger and the best of the home party should take the bats; but our great player demurred and coquetted. "It might put their side out of spirits, if by any accident he was out early in the game; he had seen a match lost, by Mr. Budd's wicket being knocked down sooner than was expected. would wait." Accordingly, it was not till four of their best batters were out, and only twelve notches gained, that he was prevailed upon to go in, and retrieve, as he said, the fortune of the day.

He

There was a little pause of expectation, during which he advanced with great confidence, jumped over the stumps backwards and forwards, and stood before the wicket, striking his bat rapidly against the ground, in token of impatience. Sandleford trembled at the sight. Even Horace Selby felt the

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effect of the fine attitude and the seeming animation, and delivered his ball less steadily than usual, anticipating that his opponent would gain at least three runs. His fears were soon quieted. "By some accident" (to use the young gentleman's own phrase), Mr. George hit up; and that exceedingly bad field, his cousin Charles, caught him out without a notch. How "the accident" happened, nobody could imagine, for the hit was wretched, and the catch was one of those brilliant tiptoe clutches with the left hand, which the spectators think impossible, and the players generally find so. However it befell, this misadventure sadly disconcerted Malsanger, as well as the luckless champion; and put Sandleford in high spirits. Horace bowled better than ever; Charles made another one-handed catch; the fielding was excellent, and the whole eleven were out for twenty-seven notches!

Sandleford then went in: Horace, and at Horace's request, his ally Charles; George being one of the bowlers. But poor George was out of luck, thoroughly out of luck;-in spite of all his efforts, the two mates got forty-six before they parted; and the whole side, a hundred and nine.

Eighty-two a head in the first innings! small hopes for Malsanger, even although George went in

immediately, determined, as he said, to conquer fortune. Small hopes for Malsanger! "Come, Charles," said Horace Selby, "let us see whether your bowling may not be as good as your batting just give your cousin one ball!"-and at the very first ball, the stumps rattled, and the discomfited cricketer slunk away, amidst the crowing of his adversaries, the reproaches of his mates, and the jeers of the lookers on, so crestfallen, that even Horace was touched by his disconsolate countenance and humbled air. His tender-hearted cousin felt a still deeper sympathy, and almost regretted the effect of his own exertions.

"It is all luck, sir," said he, in answer to a compliment from General Selby, who stood talking with him, after the conclusion of the match: "it is all luck! poor George is a much better player than I am; he was so yesterday; and will be so to-morrow. This is merely the fortune of a day—a trifle, not worth a word or a thought!"

"The object is trifling, I grant you, my good young friend," replied the General; "and luck may have had some share in the victory; but I am much mistaken, if your success and your cousin's mortification, be not of essential benefit to both. It is one of the most salutary parts of the world's discipline, THAT

MODESTY SHOULD TRIUMPH, AND PRide should HAVE A FALL."

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THE YOUNG MOURNER.

BY MRS. HOWITT.

I.

LEAVING her sports, in pensive tone, "Twas thus a fair young mourner said: "How sad we are, now we're alone,I wish my mother were not dead!

II.

"I can remember she was fair;

And how she kindly looked and smiled, When she would fondly stroke my hair,

And call me her beloved child.

III.

"Before my mother went away, You never sighed as now you do; You used to join us at our play,

And be our merriest playmate too.