CONVENIENT ABSENCE.

An individual often visited a landscape painter, who had a very beautiful wife, but he always met with the husband. "Zounds," said he, one day to him, "for a painter of landscapes, you are very seldom in the country."


TARRAGON.

We recommend our correspondent, Qy? to steep shalots and tarragon in vinegar, to be used as a sauce with rump-steaks. Or he may chop the shalots and tarragon very fine, and sprinkle them over the meat. Tarragon sprinkled over mutton chops is a nice relish; and with sauce piquante flavoured with the above vinegar, makes a dish on "which the gods might dine."


PEREMPTORY CONCLUSION.

An advocate, whose pleading appeared too diffuse for the cause he was defending, had received an order from the first president to abridge it; but the former, without omitting a word of his intended address, replied in a firm tone, that all he uttered was essential. The president, hoping at length to make him silent, said to him, "The court orders you to conclude." "Well," replied the advocate, "then I conclude that the court shall hear me."


GROUNDS OF RECOGNITION.