the guardian arms of Bruin."
And sundry other animals, and birds, and things, agreed with him,
And cried, "The boy is mad, Bear; we must preach to him, and plead
with him.
Ay, even if 'tis needful, though against our natures mild,
We must--well, we mustn't spare the rod, and spoil the--Bulgar--child."
There were several Eagles thought this way; the Lion didn't quite,
But he had a sort of feeling that this fight was not _his_ fight;
And the Bubblyjock at Stamboul was found acting with the Bear,
From rather mingled motives, which that fowl did not declare.

Well, the Bulgar boy persisting still in making his own game,
The Bear assumes a sternness it is difficult to blame,
From the Bruin point of view, at least, for strength must be put forth
Now and then, e'en by a (so-called) Divine Figure from the North.
And so Bruin rears his carcase, and his sanctimonious "mug,"
Takes a menacing expression, "Come," he cries, "into my hug,
And be happy, naughty Bulgar boy; what _can_ you have to fear?"
And the rest of the Menagerie of Europe say, "Hear! hear!"

But like another "little boy," of whom you may have heard,
With a cabalistic action as discourteous as absurd,
(The Bulgar boy maintains it means no more than prudent doubt)
He "puts his thumb unto his nose, and spreads his fingers out."

Now whether Bear will bear it, after all his love and care,
Or whether that small Bulgar boy will cave in to the Bear,
And how those Birds, the Eagles and the Bubblyjock, will turn,
Are questions none can answer now; but he who lives will learn.

* * * * *

Illustration: COSTUMES FOR THE RECESS.

* * * * *

(NOT SO) BAD HOMBURG.

TRAVEL NOTES, FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.

_Homburg, Monday._--GEORGE TREVELYAN once told me that his eminent
Uncle, having gone all abroad to Dieppe, wrote to his sister, describing
voyage from Dover by five groans. Our journey from Dover to Calais might
be described by five smiles. Sea not absolutely calm; but dancing waves,
curling in sunlight, nothing to _Victoria_--not our Gracious Sovereign,
but Queen of L. C. & D.'s fleet. Made passage smoothly and swiftly in
little over hour. Railway journey hither, by Brussels and Coblenz,
pretty fair for _le Continong_, but not a patch on the L. C. D. Express
from Victoria Station to Dover. They manage some things better abroad;
certainly not express