h to tell, my pockets were
lined with untold gold and notes. The Chief of the Brigands--a most
gentlemanly person--glanced at my coat with a slight shudder of pain,
and then raised his eyes to my head-gear. That seemed to satisfy him.
"Set him free!" he cried to the two ruffians who guarded me, "and
never let him see me again!" I never did!

Yours sincerely,

ONE WHO WAS SAVED BY HIS HAT,

_The Retreat, Old Closeborough._

* * * * *
[Illustration: A POLITICAL MILITARY TOURNAMENT.]

* * * * *

THE BUSMEN'S ALPHABET.

A is the Ache which the Drivers delay.
B is the Bus, which they're chained to all day.
C 's the poor Cad who is sick of his trade.
D is the Dividend that must be paid.
E 's the day's End, which finds him dead-beat.
F is the Food he has no time to eat.
G is his Good, for which nobody cares.
H is the Horse who so much better fares.
I 's the Increase in his pay that he waits,
J 's the fine Jump he'll soon take with his mates.
K is the Knife-board, which funds should provide.
L are the Ladies, who now go outside.
M is the Money that's earned every day.
N the New lines, that they start, and make pay.
O Opposition, they speedily chase.
P is the Public that fills every place.
Q is the Question, that hints at Reform.
R the Reply, that soon raises a storm.
S the Shareholder, blind in his greed.
T is the Tension which he'd better heed.
U 's the Upset he won't certainly like.
V 's the Vigorous Vengeance of strike.
W Wisdom that comes somewhat late.
X Express Action which may avert Fate!
Y, Yell triumphal, the men win the day.
Z--"Zounds!" which is all Directors can say.

* * * * *

BENDIGO.

[A Monument to BENDIGO, the famous prize-fighter, has been
lately erected at Nottingham.]

_Old Prize-fighter soliloquises_:--

If ever to the "Pelican" alone or with a friend I go,
I sigh for men of muscle who could fight a fight like BENDIGO.
He didn't fight in feather-beds, or spend his days in chattering,
But faced his man, and battered him, or took his foeman's battering.
He didn't deal in gas, or waste his time in mere retort at all;
But now the "pugs" are interviewed, and journalists report it all.
A man may call it what he will, brutality or bravery,
I'd rather have the prize-ring back than give a purse to knavery.
Knaves fight f