This is a most laughable game, and, though very simple, rarely fails to excite great mirth. One of the party assumes the post of " reader ;" whilst her companions each choose a trade or profession, being careful not to fix on those too closely resembling each other. The reader then commences reading aloud some short article from a newspaper or book (something of the narrative kind being most effective), every now and then pausing, and glancing at one of the other players, who, without a moment's hesitation, must substitute for the word about to be pronounced some one relating to her trade or profession; the reader afterwards going on as though no interruption had taken place.

We give an example: —

Julia. I will be reader; you, Mary, shall be a butcher; Constance, a milliner; Jane, a baker; Fanny, a grocer; Clara, a hardware-merchant ; Ellen, a fruiterer; Annie, a dry-goods-merchant; and Kate, a market-woman.

Now to begin.

Julia. Boiling with indignation at Louis' insulting defiance, Ronald returned to his {looks at Mary) —

Mary. Sirloin —

Julia. In the (looks at Constance) —

Constance. Show-room.

Julia. Determined at daybreak to summon him forth to (looks at Jane) —

Jane. Hot rolls —

Julia. Or (looks at Fanny) —

Fanny. Best Mocha coffee.

Julia. He often repeated the words "her" (looks at Clara) —

Clara. Flatirons —

Julia. Have never wandered from you. Ah, if this should indeed be the case ! and that Alice loved (looks at Ellen) —

Ellen. Fresh raspberries —

Julia. After all! But from Louis his honor demanded (looks at Annie) —

Annie. A pair of lamb's-wool stockings —

Julia. And (looks at Kate) —

Kate. The finest Stilton, thirty cents per pound Julia. Either of which he feared the proud (looks at Mary) —

Mary. Calfs head Julia. Would never stoop to grant. Yet to level a (looks at Constance) —

Constance. Spool of cotton —

Julia. Against the brother of Alice, against him to whom he had been a constant friend and companion in (looks at Jane) —

Jane. Sally Lunns Julia. And (looks at Fanny) —

Fanny. Turkey figs —

Julia. And perhaps by a single (looks at Clara) —

Clara. Coal-scuttle —

Julia. To destroy him, the (looks at Ellen) —

Ellen. Crab-apples Julia. And (looks at Annie) —

Annie. Doeskin driving-gloves Julia. Of his amiable (looks at Kate) —

Kate. Pats of fresh butter —

Julia. And (looks at Mary) —

Mary. Mutton-chops —

Julia. He felt that, should this happen, he could never forgive himself. But there was no (looks at Constance) —

Constance. Blonde veil and orange-blossom —

Julia. It was (looks at Jane) —

Jane. Crusty loaves —

Julia. And (looks at Fanny) —

Fanny. Brown sugar, etc.

The paragraph, from Grant's " Romance of War," which Julia has been reading, stands, without the interpolations, thus: "Boiling with rage at Louis' insulting defiance, Ronald returned to his quarters in the Alcanzar, determined at daybreak to summon him forth to fight or to apologize. He often repeated the words, ' Her heart has never wandered from you.' Ah, if this should indeed be the case, and that Alice loved him, after all! But from Louis his honor demanded a full explanation and ample apology, either of which he feared the proud spirit of the other would never stoop to grant. Yet to level a deadly weapon against the brother of Alice, against him to whom he had been a constant friend and companion in childhood and maturer youth, and perhaps by a single shot to destroy him, the hopes and the peace of his amiable father and sister, — he felt, that, should this happen, he could never forgive himself. But there was no alternative : it was death or dishonor."