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my adventures-how I was sent ambassador by the Sultan." -"And they could not have found a fellow," said Jack, who was a considerable punster, "who could have made himself more at home with the Sublime Porte than yourself."

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THE BARBER'S WEDDING DAY; OR, THE RASH VOW.

AGATHA was young, beautiful, and accomplished; and, better than all, she was sole heiress to the wealth of M. Boulonger, who had left off selling bread with the reputation of being the richest citizen of Rouen. The charms of Boulonger's fair daughter were the subject of general conversation among the bachelors of Rouen, nor did they fail to make a deep impression on many of their hearts. However, only two of her numerous admirers received the slightest encouragement.

Now, M. Boulonger had secretly chosen a hus

band for his daughter without consulting her on the subject his name was Jacques Frisonnier, the town barber, who had been in the habit of dressing his hair for the last twenty years ;-he was brother to Monsieur le Noir. The object of Agatha's choice (for she cared little about grieving her father on the present occasion) was Annibal Visapour, the barber's handsome apprentice. Many a billet doux, and many a handsome present, did Annibal deliver from his master to Agatha ; but so well did he plead his own cause (though of what precise nature his communications were. we are of course ignorant), while absent on his master's business, that Agatha quickly forgot Jacques while listening to the attractive conversation of his handsome apprentice. In this state of things, Agatha was one night informed by her father that she must either prepare to become the wife of Frisonnier, at the expiration of thirty days, or be 'mmured in a convent for life. This

He did

communication caused the young lovers much uneasiness, to use no stronger term; but Annibal was neither a German nor an Italian. not philosophically try with how much indifference he could stab himself, nor with how much goût he could murder his master; but, being a Frenchman, he considered that he should have more opportunity of seeing his mistress in Rouen than in any convent in France; and he consoled himself with the prospect of marrying, at some future period, a widow with a tidy income, instead of a maid with her father's malediction.

The allotted time was now fast drawing to a close, when Jacques Frisonnier, in a fit of generosity, and wishing to show off in his brightest colours, caused it to be given out by the towncrier, that on the day previous to that fixed for his wedding "he would cut hair and shave gratis for as many customers as would honour him with

a call; in addition to which he would present them

with a cup of excellent claret."

This announce- ›

ment was received with acclamations, and many chins bore witness to the anxiety that was felt to be shaved by the barber on the eventful day.

At five o'clock in the morning of the ever-memorable day, up jumped Frisonnier from his bed, and called his servants and apprentices; and after treating them with an excellent breakfast, during which jokes were freely circulated at the cost of their humorous host, he proceeded to sharpen his razors, in anticipation of his numerous visiters. About eight o'clock, they began to arrive in large numbers, but they were as quickly despatched. One of the customers who came accompanied by a friend, insisted on his friend being accommodated in his turn, for many were claiming their right of priority. The obsequious barber readily complied, but smiled as he tucked the cloth under his chin, for the figure before him was that of an immense shaggy goat, on whom, after chaining

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