THE IDEAL CONVERSATION.

Miss Faithfull, let me send a line Of most sincere congratulation On your magnificent design To raise the tone of conversation; The plan you kindly recommend Rejoices many a careful mother, And, for the future, we intend, As runs the phrase, "To use no other." At breakfast-time we used to talk On topics commonplace together, Designed a picnic, planned a walk, And even criticised the weather; We gossiped in an idle way, And made in turn our several guesses About the age of Mrs. A., The price of Lady X.'s dresses. But now, according to your scheme, Each carefully-instructed maiden Discourses on a worthy theme, And comes with fact and figures laden; To-day, for instance, Muriel gave Some gems from Cicero's orations, While Maud reviewed, in language grave, The Lower Tertiary Formations. And Kate—the mischief-making Kate Who formerly would merely prattle— Described, in accents most sedate, The use of cavalry in battle. In fact, by this most noble plan, Which on your kind advice we're using, Our conversation never can Deserve your censure as amusing!