From the Ne,o- York Mirror. A GOOD JOKE.
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One fine winter evening, early m the present century, Colonel - (BIank-a queer name, is it not ? and his maiden sister, Patty, were sitting, one on each side of delightful hickory fire, enjoying their Otium cum dignitatus, without any inter- ruption, for neither of them had spoken a word for at least an hour; and that, con- sidering the sex of Miss Patty, was certain ly very remarkable. The colonel was sit- ting cross-legged, in a great armchair, with his pipe in one hand newspaper in the other, spectacles on-fast asleep.- Miss Patty was moving herself gently backward and forward, in low rocking chair, sitting as straight as an arrow-knit- ting. Close at her feet was Miss Fuss, her paws folded gracefully under her, dos ing very composedly, and evincing her sat- isfaction by murmurng forth a monoto- nous, though rather musical p-u-r-r- while MT. Carlo was stretched out at full length on the rug in front of the fire, and like his master-sound asleep.

 At length, the colonel, rousing from his nap, took off his spectacIes, and rubbing his eyes, then glancing them at huge pile of papers, that lay on the table near him, said -yawning at the same time most emphat- ically-

 Il wish Henry was here to help me a. bout my rents.'

 Well, I really wish he was,' answered his sister.

 T can't expect him this month, yet yawned the colonel.

 Hadn't you better send for him then 2 said his sister.

 Upon this, the dog got up and walked to- wards the door.

 'Where are you going, Carlo 2 said the old gentleman.

 The dog looked in his masters face, wagged his tail little, but never said word, and pursued his way towards the door, and as he could not very we'll open it himself, Miss Patty got up and opened it for him. The colonel seemed perfectly satisfied, and was composing himself for another nap, when the loud and joyful barking of the dog, announcing the ap- proach of some one, induced him to alter his determination. Presently the door O. pened,a young man gaily entered the room.

 Why, William Henry, is that you' Sdlu Aunt Eatty.

 Harry, my boy, Pm heartily glad to see you,' said the colonel, getting entirely out of his chair, and giving his nephew substantial shake 1.-the hand. 'Pray what has brought you home so suddenlyl'

 Do tell,' said aunt Patty, peeking over her spectacles.

 'Oh! don't know,' said Henry. 'It's rather dull in town, so l thought I would just step up and see how you all come on.'

 Well, l'm deuced glad to see you-sit down. said the colonel.

 'So do,' said his sister.

 But Henry, instead of doing as he was bid, hopped out of the room, but soon hop ped in again, with bottle in each hand, and giving one of them to the old lady, he said,

 .There, aunt, is a bottle of first rate snuff for you and here, uncle, is one of capital Maraschino.'

 'Thank you, my boy said the colonel. Positively, it does my heart good to see you in such fine spirits

 And mine too,' said his sister. 'What did you have to pay for this snutf?'

 Here Carlo began to jump upon him so he was not obliged to hear the question, but busted himself in keeping off the dog.

 Down, Carlon shouted the colonel, little s,ernly; and downwen the dog, with look so humble and dejected that the colonel began to feel sorry that he had spoken so cross. So, stretching out his hand he patted the dog affectionately on the head-saying,

 'Why, Carlo, poor Carlo, you needn't feel so bad; only wanted you to be little mole polite.'

 Carlo pricked up his ears, and showed other signs of returning animation, though he did not immediately recover his spirits. But he looked up with an expression that seemed to say, You need make no apolo- gy, sir and settled himself in digni6ed sic fence, under his masters chair.

 In the mean time, Henry (anxious, eith- CT to help his uncle or himself, cannot say which, had broken the seal from :he top of the bottle of cordial, and drawn the cork, while aunt Patty got some glasses.

 Well, my boy said inc colonel. whose good hun,or increased every moment, what's the news in Bostona any thing happened?'

 .No-yes,' said Henry, bursting into a violent fit of laughter. Yes, continued he as soon as he had recovered himself T have got one of the best jokes to tell

 r.