NOVELTIES. 47

. denied ; nor will it seem very wonderful, if it be
remembered that she had passed much of her time
with her “ Maumer,” and been surrounded, at
the period when she was learning to talk, with
untaught negroes. But, had Lucy been as clear-
sighted to her own faults as to those of others,
she would not have assumed so arrogant an air of
superiority to Mary on this subject, for she was
not herself free from inaccuracies of language, as
will be proved by the anecdote we are about to
relate.

Charles was one morning busily engaged in
making a kite, in which employment he scattered
papers and twine about the room, with little re-
gard to the fact that his sister had just been. put-
ting it in order by their mother’s wish.

“Charles!” exclaimed Lucy, angrily, ‘what
is the use of my putting the parlour in order, if
you will make such a muss 2”

“A muss!’ thought Mary, who was present;
“what can that be?’ Mouse came nearer the
word than any other she had ever heard, and she
supposed that. Charles must be cutting a paper

mouse. Still she was not quite satisfied with this