Southport Telegraph

A LOVE SLEEP.

Madame de Stael could not endure a bore. There was at Geneva a person of the first class, not inaptly named Professor Drugg, who in spite of her would occasionally succeed in bestowing all his tediousness upon her. One evening she had a party at her house, (among whom was Dumont, well known as the friend and correspondent of Sir Samuel Romilly.) when in walked the very learned and much dreaded Professor. Seizing the opportunity of the very first lull in conversation, he took from his pocket a huge manuscript, and, without the slightest provocation, proceeded to inflict the reading of it upon the company. Signs of impatience and weariness were soon manifest upon every countenance. Dumont was soon fast asleep by the combined dulness of the Prof.'s matter, and his monotonous, drawling manner of reading. As for poor Madam de Stael, she being in her own house, was compelled to submit with the best she could, to the agonies of this unmerciful course of bore ism. Matters had gone on in this way for half an hour—and what is a half hour!—when Dumont suddenly awoke, and rubbing his eyes, apologetically exclaimed, "I hope I have not been asleep long?" "My dear Dumont," cried Madam de Stael, "according to my computation of the time, you have been asleep during two entire centuries!" Drugg took the hint and his leave at the same time.