is no truth in the rumour that, by way of reprisal, Mr.
HUGHES intends to put in for CARL's vacant throne.

* * * * *

RIME FAIRIES.

Last night about the country-side
The nimble fairies flew,
And forests on the latticed pane
In quaint devices drew,
The grasses standing straight and tall,
The ferns with curious frond,
And just a peephole left to show
The misty world beyond.

The voices of the murmuring streams
They silenced one by one,
And bound their feet with gleaming chains
So they no more could run;
They hung the icicles about,
And you would laugh to see
Just how they flung the diamonds down
Upon the whole bare tree;
And every little blade of grass
A thing of beauty stood,
And when they'd finished it was just
Like an enchanted wood.

They paused beside the old barn door;
A spider's web hung there
As fragile as a little dream,
As delicate and fair;
They decked it with a thousand gems
Of oh! such dazzling sheen,
It was the very loveliest thing
That you have ever seen!

The sun from his soft bed of cloud
Came pale and timidly;
He knew if he let loose his rays
The mischief there would be;
He woke the sleeping world to life
With finger-tips of gold,
And up from meadow, wood and stream
The shimmering mists unrolled;
He lit the candles of the dawn
On every bush and tree;
The fairies on their homing wings
Looked back and laughed with glee,
"We've made a Fairyland for you,
O Mortals, wake and see."

* * * * *

"It is also extremely likely that the Democrats have induced
a considerable number of former Centre voters in South Germany
to join them."--_Christian World_.

"Democrats" would seem to be the German equivalent of "Home Rulers."

* * * * *

Extract from a recent novel:--

"She wore under it a white blouse of thin stuff, snowy white
... the big floppy sleeves gently bellowed in the slight
breeze."

It sounds rather a loud dress. Possibly _le dernier cri_.

* * * * *

"It is like a red rag to a bull to the 'bus drivers to see
those lorries running about picking up members of the public.

We are trying to keep our heads, but our shoulders are bending
under the pressure, and presently, I am afraid,