PAIR'D, NOT MATCH'D-HOOD. Or wedded bliss Bards sing amiss, When we debate It is my fate I cannot make a song of it; To always have the wrong of it; For I am small, My wife is tall, For I am small, And she is tall, And that's the short and long And that's the short and long of it! And when I speak, My voice is weak, of it! For I am small, But hers—she makes a gong And that's the short and long of it; She has, in brief, Command in Chief, of it. Against my life And I'm but Aide-de-camp Or fork, and dart the prong of it; For I am small, And she is tall, of it; For I am small, And she is tall, And that's the short and long And that's the short and long For I am small, And she is tall, For I am small, And she is tall, And that's the short and long And that's the short and long MR. PICK WICK IN A DILEMMA.-DICKENS. MR. Pickwick's apartments in Goswell street, although on a limited scale, were not only of a very neat and comfortable description, but peculiarly adapted for the residence of a man of his genius and observation. His sitting-room was the first floor front, his bed-room the second floor front; and thus, whether he was sitting at his desk in the parlor, or standing before the dressing-glass in his dormitory, he had an equal opportunity of contemplating human nature in all the numerous phases it exhibits, in that not more populous than popular thoroughfare. His landlady, Mrs. Bardell-the relict and sole executrix of a deceased custom-house officer-was a comely woman of bustling manners and agreeable appearance, with a natural genius for cooking, improved by steady and long practice into an exquisite talent. There were no children, no servants, no fowls. The only other inmates of the house were a large man and a small boy; the first a lodger, the second a the offspring of Mrs. Bardell. The large man was always at home precisely at ten o'clock at night, at which hour he regularly condensed himself into the limits of a dwarfish French bedstead in the back parlor; and the infantine sports and gymnastic exercises of Master Bardell were exclusively confined to the neighboring pavements and gutters. Cleanliness and quiet reigned throughout the house; and in it Mr. Pickwick's will was law. To any one acquainted with these points of the domestic economy of the establishment, and conversant with the admirable regulation of Mr. Pickwick's mind his appearance and behaviour on the morning previous to that which had been fixed upon for the journey to Eatonville, would have been most mysterious and unaccountable. He paced the room to and fro with hurried steps, popped his head out of the window at intervals of about three minutes each, constantly referred to his watch, and exhibited many other manifestations of impatience, very unusual with him. It was evident that something of great importance was in contemplation, but what that something was, not even Mrs. Bardell herself had been enabled to discover. "Mrs. Bardell," said Mr. Pickwick at last, as that amiable. female approached the termination of a prolonged dusting of the apartment. "Sir," said Mrs. Bardell. "Your little boy is a very long time gone." "Why, it's a good long way to the Borough, sir," remonstrated Mrs. Bardell. 66 Ah," ," said Mr. Pickwick, "very true; so it is." Mr. Pickwick relapsed into silence, and Mrs. Bardell resumed her dusting. "Mrs. Bardell," said Mr. Pickwick, at the expiration of a few minutes. "Sir," said Mrs. Bardell again. 66 Do you think it's a much greater expense to keep two people than to keep one ?” 66 La, Mr. Pickwick," said Mrs. Bardell, coloring up to the very border of her cap, as she fancied she observed a species of matrimonial twinkle in the eyes of her lodger; "La, Mr. Pickwick, what a question ?" "Well, but do you?" inquired Mr. Pickwick. "That depends" said Mrs Bardell, approaching the duster very near to Mr. Pickwick's elbow, which was planted on the table; "that depends a good deal upon the person, you know, Mr. Pickwick; and whether it's a saving and careful person, sir." "That's very true," said Mr. Pickwick, "but the person I have in my eye (here he looked very hard at Mrs. Bardell) I think possesses these qualities; and has moreover a considerable knowledge of the world, and a great deal of sharpness, Mrs. Bardell; which may be of material use to me." "La, Mr. Pickwick," said Mrs. Bardell; the crimson rising to her cap-border again. "I do," said Mr. Pickwick, growing energetic as was his wont in speaking of a subject which interested him. "I do, indeed; and to tell you the truth, Mrs. Bardell, I have made up my mind." "Dear me, sir," exclaimed Mrs. Bardell. "You'll think it not very strange now," said the amiable Mr. Pickwick, with a good-humored glance at his companion, "that I never consulted you about this matter, and never mentioned it, till I sent your little boy out this morning-eh?" Mrs. Bardell could only reply by a look. She had long worshipped Mr. Pickwick at a distance, but here she was, all at once, raised to a pinnacle to which her wildest and most extravagant hopes had never dared to aspire. Mr. Pickwick was going to propose a deliberate plan, too-sent her little boy to the Borough, to get him out of the way-how thoughtful-how considerate! "Well," said Mr. Pickwick, "what do you think?” "Oh, Mr. Pickwick," said Mrs. Bardell, trembling with agitation, "you 're very kind sir." "It'll save you a great deal of trouble, wont it?" said Mr. Pickwick. "Oh, I never thought anything of the trouble sir," replied Mrs. Bardell;" and, of course, I should take more trouble to please you than ever; but it is so kind of you, Mr. Pickwick, to have so much consideration for my loneliness." "Ah, to be sure,” said Mr. Pickwick "I never thought of that. When I am in town, you'll always have somebody to sit with you. To be sure so you will." "I'm sure I ought to be a very happy woman," said Mrs. Bardell. "And your little boy" said Mr. Pickwick. "Bless his heart," interposed Mrs. Bardell, with a maternal sob. "He, too, will have a companion," resumed Mr. Pickwick, a lively one, who'll teach him, I'll be bound, more tricks in a week, than he could ever learn in a year." And Mr. Pickwick smiled placidly. "Oh you dear" said Mrs. Bardell. Mr. Pickwick started. "Oh you kind, good, playful dear," said Mrs. Bardell; and without more ado, she rose from her chair, and flung her arms round Mr. Pickwick's neck with a cataract of tears, and a chorus of sobs. "Bless my soul," cried the astonished Mr. Pickwick; “Mrs. Bardell, my good woman-dear me, what a situation-pray consider. Mrs. Bardell, don't-if any body should come" "Oh, let them come," exclaimed Mrs. Bardell, frantically; "I'll never leave you-dear, kind, good soul ;" and, with these words, Mrs. Bardell clung the tighter. "Mercy upon me," said Mr. Pickwick, struggling violently, "I hear somebody coming up the stairs. Don't, don't, there's a good creature, don't." But entreaty and remonstrance were alike unavailing; for Mrs. Bardell had fainted in Mr. Pickwick's arms; and before he could gain time to deposit her on a chair, Master Bardell entered the room, ushering in Mr. Tupman, Mr. Winkle and Mr. Snodgrass. Mr. Pickwick was struck motionless and speechless. He stood with his lovely burden in his arms, gazing vacantly on the countenances of his friends, without the slightest attempt at recognition or explanation. They, in their turn, stared at him; and Master Bardell, in his turn, stared at everybody. The astonishment of the Pickwickians was so absorbing, and the perplexity of Mr. Pickwick was so extreme, that they might have remained in exactly the same relative situation until the suspended animation of the lady was restored, had it not been for a most beautiful and touching expression of filial affection on the part of her youthful son. Clad in a tight suit of corduroy, spangled with brass buttons of a very considerable size, he at first stood at the door astounded and uncertain; but by degrees the impression that his mother must have suffered some personal damage, pervaded his partially developed mind, and considering Mr. Pickwick as the aggressor, |