Old John and the rest of the servants, however, had no parental string at which Mrs. Pilcher could tug, and the consequence was, that they decided that she was an insufferable bore.  Old John, in particular, felt the ill effects of the heir of Applebite’s appearance in the family, and to such a degree did they interfere with his old comforts, without increasing his pecuniary resources, that he determined one morning, when taking up his master’s shaving water, absolutely to give warning; for what with the morning calls, and continual ringing for glasses—­the perpetual communication kept up between the laundry-maid and the mangle, and of which he was the circulating medium—­the insolence of the nurse, who had ordered him to carry five soiled—­never mind—­down stairs:  all these annoyances combined, the old servant declared were too much for him.

Collumpsion laid his hand on John’s shoulder, and pointing to some of the little evidences of paternity which had found their way even into his dormitory, said, “John, think what I suffer; do not leave me; I’ll raise your wages, and engage a boy to help you; but you are the only thing that reminds me of my happy bachelorhood—­you are the only one that can feel a—­feel a—­”

“Caudle regard,” interrupted John.

“Caudle be ——.”  The “rest is silence,” for at that moment Mrs. Waddledot entered the room, gave a short scream, and went out again.

The month passed, and a hackney-coach, containing a bundle and the respectable Mrs. Pilcher, &c., rumbled from the door of No. 24, to the infinite delight of old John the footman, Betty the housemaid, Esther the nurserymaid, Susan the cook, and Agamemnon Collumpsion Applebite the proprietor.

How transitory is earthly happiness!  How certain its uncertainty!  A little week had passed, and the “Heir of Applebite” gave notice of his intention to come into his property during an early minority, for his once happy progenitor began to entertain serious intentions of employing a coroner’s jury to sit upon himself, owing to the incessant and “ear-piercing pipe” of his little cherub.  Vainly did he bury his head beneath the pillow, until he was suffused with perspiration—­the cry reached him there and then.  Cold air was pumped into the bed by Mrs. Applebite, as she rocked to and fro, in the hope of quieting the “son of the sleepless.”  Collumpsion was in constant communication with the dressing-table—­now for moist-sugar to stay the hiccough—­then for dill-water to allay the stomach-ache.  To save his little cherub from convulsions, twice was he converted into a night-patrole, with the thermometer below zero—­a bad fire, with a large slate in it, and an empty coal-scuttle.

* * * * *

SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.