FROM BLACKWOOD'S AND OTHER POPULAR MAGAZINES. BY THE LATE WILLIAM MUDFORD, ESQ., AUTHOR OF THE SILENT MEMBER, ETC., AND FORMERLY EDITOR OF THE COURIER AND THE JOHN BULL NEWSPAPERS IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE EXECUTORS, BY WILLIAM TEGG AND CO., CHEAPSIDE. CONTENTS OF VOL. II. TALES & TRIFLES. The First and Last Birthday. "Not to-day, George, but to-morrow week,'; said Mrs. Coventry. "And why to-morrow week, Sarah ?” replied her husband. "Can't you guess, sir," rejoined Mrs. Coventry, in a tone of assumed rebuke. "To-morrow week-to-morrow week," he repeated, as if really endeavouring to task his memory-" to-morrow week is" "The second of June, sir," interrupted Mrs. Coventry in the same tone of playful displeasure. "Oh! I remember now-aye to be sure-tomorrow week is the second of June-and the second of June-isn't that the second anniversary of our wedding-day, love?" "Yes, dear George, and the first birthday of my sweet boy," folding the infant which she held in her arms rapturously to her bosom. The first birthday of our first child," said he, with a sly emphasis on the word "first." "Of our first and ONLY child," murmured Mrs. Coventry, with an emphasis equally marked but far different in expression; while, as she spoke, she clasped it to her with a mournful |