e was not disposed to
accept it as an equivalent for balls and dances among girls of
other classes.]

AIR.--"_My Pretty Jane_."

My pithy JAYNE, my plucky JAYNE,
_Punch_ fancies you looked sly
When you met them, met them down at Chester,
And gave them "one in the eye."
Bigotry's waning fast, my boy,
But Cant we sometimes hear,
And Chester cant is pestilent cant,
My Lord, that's pretty clear.
Then pithy JAYNE, my plucky JAYNE,
Of smiting don't be shy;
But meet them, meet the moonstruck Puritans
And tell them it's all my eye.

'Tis only play, and harmless play,
Like kissing in the ring,
When lads and lasses of spirits gay
Dance like young lambs in Spring.
That Spring will wane too fast, alas!
But while it yet is here,
Let youth enjoy, or girl or boy,
The dance to youth so dear.
Then pithy JAYNE, my plucky JAYNE,
Don't heed the bigot's cry,
But meet them, meet them down at Chester
And teach them Charity!

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.

[Illustration: Turning over fresh Leaves.]

_House of Commons, Monday, July 28._--STRATHEDEN and CAMPBELL are
amongst the most regular visitors to our lobby from House of Lords.
RAVENSWORTH and UMBRELLA run them pretty close, but come in only
a good second. Moreover, whilst RAVENSWORTH and UMBRELLA rarely go
beyond the lobby, STRATHEDEN and CAMPBELL press forward into Gallery
reserved for Peers, and there sweetly go to sleep, "Like Babes in the
Wood," says Colonel MALCOLM, turning over leaves of Orders as if he
would like to complete the simile by acting the part of the birds.
To-night STRATHEDEN and CAMPBELL leave us forlorn. They have business
in their own House; been long concerned for interests of State as
affected by the MARKISS'S persistence in combining office of Premier
with that of Foreign Secretary.

"It would be too much even for us," said STRATHEDEN, in conversation
we had before House met; "and," he continued, "though I say it what
shouldn't, I don't know any arrangement that would be happier or more
complete than if we undertook the job. What do you say, CAMPBELL?
Would you be Premier, or would you take the Foreign Seals?"

"The Premier place is yours," said CAMPBELL, gallantly; "at least,
it is now. When we first started in life we used to call ourselves
CAMPBELL and STRATHEDEN. You'll find it so in the _Peerages_ of
earlie