

THE VIRGIN WIFE.
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|4M Nnc OI lIlC vi IuTSC ldlllIly
3ways bore the somewhat dubious title
Il " Philosopher" 1t was not exactly
Nickname, for-being given more in com
Iiment than in banter-it was acquiesced
y and adopted by father and mother,


tothers and sisters, and tolerated with


alile by the titular parsonage himself.
Harry had received the appelation of
aphilosopher' from an old woman, whom


i his infancy he used to tease with


lis questions, and amuse by his shrewd
RESERVATIONS. From the old woman the
mme passed into the family, and amongst
the neighbors; from thence it entered
Ehool and though it began to drop out
az familiar usage when Harry was sent to
bllsness, it was still recolected, and oc-
0sionally applied. He had, indeed'some
daim to the title. Fond of books. he was
Radng when his companions were at
Hay; and amongst his young fellow
1orkers. none were SO scdulous, SO quiet as
All difficulties were referred to his
6cision he was the living dictionary and
Encyclopedia of the workshop, and if a
HobIem was started too profound for the
Wphilosopher' to solve, it was generally
dismissed, as being beyond the range of
bis companions capacity.


Is When Harry was getting into man
hood, it became standing topic of debate


Between his mother and some neghbor
Ipatrons, whether the philosopher would
eyer take it into his head to go " a-court-
H." His mother stoutly maintained the
egative; he was too much of sober
6des she said, to think of wasting his
tme with the girls; and when any one.
Mixing up the positive side of the argu-
lent, would say, :" Wait bit-let Henry
Hone he'll look after the girls, | warrant
H, for ali his philosophy !'-the mother
enerally re,reated to her citadel of de-
knce, which was, that Harry was fonder
II poring over a dried skull, which he
hpt in box under his bed, than oflook-
H. in the face of the prettiest g.H III the
nrish.


q This same dried skull and his other
hick-knackeries were matters of common
MIX and even the most incrcdulous were
4 last SO convinced about the attachment
Of Harry to his books and ''gimcracks,"
uat it became matter of general belief
that the young philosopher was destined
p die bachelor. The girls, therefore,
pok their revenge he was called ga dry
dd stick" "a stupid-looking fellow" and
I number of other complimentary cpl
bets. At last, waggish damsel, in al
ksion to the colour of coat he had worn


r long period, dubbed him ''Plum-
&lor" a nickname which seemed likely
y supplant that of philosopher"


Harry, himself, was quite satified on
Ae point of his bachelorship. Being
Ather in advance of his male companions
the matter acknowledge, and attaching
extraordinary value to intellectual ca
pcity, he despised all mere accomplish
enls, and being, therefore, somewhat


"kward in his general manners, he came
~ despise the women" wiz whom
ese frivolous affairs seemed have
Y pen an extraordinary influence. lad he
y zen asked to profess his faith, he would
ave said. with Benedick, Because ]