cutting butter
The business seems to thee.

"Oh, well that the spot is barred,"
The knowing ones glibly say,
"Or we might get no chance
Of a COLES' strike here to-day."

And the marvellous game goes on.
Till the watchers have their fill;
And one drops off, and dreams
He's taken the "Red" for a pill.

Break, break, break!
And there's one that will broken be;
For the Pony I put on the other man
Will never come back to me.

* * * * *

SUGGESTION FROM "CHILDE HAROLD" AT OLYMPIA.--"I stood in Venice on the
Bridge of Size And paint," &c., &c.

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE DYNAMITE DRAGON.]

* * * * *

ON THE FIRST GREEN CHAIR.

[Illustration: Thursday, April 7. Hyde Park. Mid-day.]

Reach it, attendant; wicked winter flies off:
Place it with pomp for me to sit and stare
Up at the sun who banquets us with cries of
"Chair!"

Long have we pined in darkness most uncanny:
Now to Hyde Park return its gauze of gold,
Jewels of crocus and enhancements mani-
-fold.

Welcome, delicious zephyr, blithe new-comer,
Urging to purchase patent-leather boots,
Hats of a virgin glossiness, and summer
suits.

Welcome, attire of carnival-carousers,
Suddenly bursting on the 'wildered view.
Mine--I don't mind confessing it--are trousers
new,

These that, serene in atmosphere serenest,
Droop o'er a Chair, whose emerald taunts the trees--
Green are the leaves, and greener than the greenest
Peas!

All things must end: to-morrow may be icy:
Wither too soon the joys that freshest are;
End will sweet summer reveries, and my ci-
gar.

Ends too that master-piece of Messrs. HYAM
Bashfully hinted at in line sixteen;
Green was the Chair I sat on--and now _I_ am
green!

* * * * *

"ALL'S (FAIRLY) WELL."

SCENE--_The War Office. Sanctum of the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
H.R.H. is seated on a chair. To him enter (after being
properly complimented by a couple of Grenadiers on guard
over an area) INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF EVERYTHING, Field-Marshal
PUNCH._

_Inspector-General_ (_sharply_). Well, Sir! (_COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF comes
briskly to attention_.) No, your Royal Highness, you can be seated.
I don't want to disturb you--much! And now, how is the Easter Revi