funk, or don't care,
Filled his soul; but when slogging's the game he's all there.
Mere posing, not playing the game,--yet he _scores_!
I wonder how WILL likes the ring's frantic roars
At their flashy young favourite?

_Bowler_ (_aside_). Humph! he lays on!
I did hope, with that ball, that his wicket was gone.
'Twas a curly one, one of my regular old sort.
Good batting _and_ bowling, that's true Cricket sport,
As CLARKE, Grand Old Trundler, declared was the case
When he bowled and PILCH batted.

_Champion Bat_ (_aside_). Just twig HARCOURT's face!
Thought he'd had me ere now. Can't you hear his "How's _that_?"--
If I gave him a chance?

_Captain_. He's a fine slogging bat,
But behind the sticks--humph! Well, let's see, lad, your score
Wants but eight of the "century." Ninety-two more
Towards your "average," ARTHUR! The Cricketer's Bard
Will be rhyming your doings!

_Champion Bat_. An awful "reward"!
But shall we play on?

_Captain_ (_thoughtfully_). Well, now, what do you think?
From fighting it out to the end I don't shrink,
But time's running short; _we_ stand well for a win:
They _say_ that their eager desire's to go in.
Perhaps if they got their desire they'd be posed.
Suppose we declare that our innings is closed?

[_Left considering it._

* * * * *

"PROBABLE STARTERS."

The Gentleman who sits on a pin with its business-end uppermost.

The Follower "not Allowed," on Missus making a quite unexpected
appearance in the Kitchen.

Clerk, who having written to say that he is unable to attend to
business as he is laid up with symptoms of influenza, comes face to
face with the Senior Partner on the river at Bolton Lock.

LOTHARIO on his knees to his dearest friend's Wife. Enter Husband.

* * * * *

"TEXTUEL."--Mr. TOOLE was horrified at overhearing portions of a
conversation between two Gentlemen who were evidently provincial
Managers, one of whom was saying, "Yes, I agree with you. We have
settled to re-open our pits at a reduction of ten per cent." "I
beg pardon, Gentlemen," anxiously put in the Comedian, who had just
returned from the race-course, having been tooled down to Epsom and
back on a drag; "but I am going on tour, and if the price of admission
to the pit is to be so largely reduced