eight o’clock
    precisely
It is highly amusing to watch from a distance these self-made ladies and gentlemen sporting their borrowed plumes . Some years after she had been settled in Canada , Flora picked up a note which had been thrown out as waste paper , and which was addressed to the father of a very dirty , dishonest girl , whom she had dismissed from her service for sundry petty frauds , a few weeks before . It was addressed to Edward Brady , Esqre. , and ran as follows : -- `` Honoured Sir , `` The company of _ self _ and _ lady _ , is respectfully solicited at a _ contribution _ ball , to be given next Thursday evening , at the Three King 's Inn . Dancing to commence at eight o'clock precisely . Stewards -LCB- Patrick Malone , Esq. . -LCB- John Carroll , Esq. '' All the parties herein named were persons of the very lowest class ; and the titles thus pompously bestowed upon themselves , rendered the whole affair exquisitely ridiculous . At a _ contribution _ ball , each person brings a share of the entertainment .