partly in a bargain; that is to say, they had
saved up between them seven-and-fourpence, and
the two horses, being Arabs, were worth more,
only the man said he would take that, to favour
them. Well! And so they made their fortunes
and came prancing back to the school, with
their pockets full of gold enough to last for
ever. And so they rang at the parents' and
visitors' bell (not the back gate), and when the
bell was answered they proclaimed, ' The same
as if it was scarlet fever! Every boy goes
home for an indefinite period!' And then there
was great hurrahing, and then they kissed
Seraphina and her sister—each his own love and not
the other's on any account—and then they
ordered the Tartar into instant confinement."

"Poor man!" said my respected friend.

"Into instant confinement, Gran," repeated
Jemmy, trying to look severe and roaring with
laughter, " and he was to have nothing to eat
but the boys' dinners, and was to drink half a
cask of their beer, every day. And so then the
preparations were made for the two weddings,
and there were hampers, and potted things, and
sweet things, and nuts, and postage-stamps, and
all manner of things. And so they were so
jolly, that they let the Tartar out, and he was
jolly too."

"I am glad they let him out," says my
respected friend, "because he had only done his
duty."

"Oh but hadn't he overdone it though!"
cried Jemmy. " Well! And so then this boy
mounted his horse, with his bride in his arms,
and cantered away, and cantered on and on till
he came to a certain place where he had a
certain Gran and a certain godfather—not you
two, you know."

"No, no," we both said.

"And there he was received with great
rejoicings, and he filled the cupboard and the
bookcase with gold, and he showered it out
on his Gran and his godfather because they were
the two kindest and dearest people that ever
lived in this world. And so while they were
sitting up to their knees in gold, a knocking
was heard at the street door, and who should it
be but Bobbo, also on horseback with his bride
in his arms, and what had he come to say but
that he would take (at double rent) all the
Lodgings for ever, that were not wanted by
this boy and this Gran and this godfather, and
that they would all live together, and all be
happy! And so they were, and so it never
ended!"

"And was there no quarrelling?" asked my
respected friend, as Jemmy sat upon her lap,
and hugged her.

'No! Nobody ever quarrelled."

'And did the money never melt away?"

' No! Nobody could ever spend it all."

' And did none of them ever grow older?"

' No! Nobody ever grew older after that."

'And did none of them ever die?"

'O no, no, no, Gran!" exclaimed our dear
boy, laying his cheek upon her breast, and drawing
her closer to him. " Nobody ever died."

"Ah Major, Major," says my respected friend,
smiling benignly upon me. "This beats our
stories. Let us end with the Boy's story,
Major, for the Boy's story is the best that is
ever told!"

In submission to which request on the part
of the best of women, I have here noted it
down as faithfully as my best abilities, coupled
with my best intentions, would admit, subscribing
it with my name,

J. JACKMAN.
THE PARLOURS.
MRS. LIRRIPER'S LODGINGS.

THE END OF THE CHRISTMAS NUMBER FOR 1863.

NEW WORK BY MR. CHARLES DICKENS.

MESSRS. CHAPMAN AND HALL have the pleasure to announce that they have made arrangements
for the issue of
A NEW STORY, BY MR. CHARLES DICKENS,
TO BE PUBLISHED IN TWENTY MONTHLY PARTS.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.
Uniform with the Original Editions of " Pickwick," " Copperfield," &c.
PART I. TO BE PUBLISHED IN MAY.

On the conclusion of VERY HARD CASH, will be commenced, on the 4th of January, 1864, to be
completed in Six Numbers of ALL THE YEAR ROUND, a New Story, called
A WHITE HAND AND A BLACK THUMB.

THE NEXT VOLUME OF ALL THE YEAR ROUND, VOL. XL,
Will begin on the 15th of February, 1864, with a NEW SERIAL STORY, entitled
QUITE ALONE.
BY GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA.
To be continued from week to week, until completed in about Eight Months.