ritain,
Laid by in lavender and hid
The year--let's say--_Tom Jones_ was written;
An old farm manor-house it is
With fantails fluttering on the gables,
A place of men and memories
And solid facts and homespun fables.

For Fact: a fortnight passed me by
Mid ancient oak and secret panel
And strawberries of late July
And distant glimpses of the Channel;
Fair morns to wake on--were they not?--
Full of the pigeons' coo and cadence,
Each day a page of CALDECOTT,
All cream and flowers and pretty maidens.

For Fable: as I smoked a pipe
And havered with a black-haired cowman,
Grey-eyed, in that fine Celtic type,
As much the poet as the ploughman--
"Seems kind of lucky here," said I;
"The very ducklings look more downy
Than others do." He grinned: "An' why?
May happen, Sir, we feeds a brownie!

"'There isn't many left,' says you;
As hearts grow hard the breed gets rarer;
Yet, when he goes, the luck goes too,
And prices fall and boards be barer;
But if so be you does your part
An' feeds him fair and treats folk proper,
Keepin' for all the kindly heart--
The lucky Lad's a certain stopper!"

***

Well, should you go by Butser way
And hit the god-sent path, and follow,
You'll find, at closing of the day,
The old house in the valley-hollow,
Laid by in lavender, forgot,
The home of peace and ancient plenty;
A brownie may be there or not--
The hearts are kind enough for twenty!

* * * * *

Cause and Effect?

"Of the five catalpa trees in the Embankment-gardens the
finest has been blighted. The tree is close to the National
Liberal Club."--_Leicester Daily Mercury._

* * * * *

[Illustration: WHAT OF THE DAWN?]

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

(EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.)

[Illustration: Snapshots of certain Members who were _not_ on
their way to or from the Conference. Their expressions reflect the
pessimistic view which they entertained from the first as to its
chance of success in their absence.

(Sir WILLIAM BYLES, Mr. HOGGE, Mr. KEIR HARDIE, Mr. JOHN WARD, Mr.
WILLIAM O'BRIEN, Mr. WINSTON CHURCHILL.)]

_House of Commons, Monday, July 20._--The T. R. Westminster is at
least equal to the old T. R. Drury Lane in capacity for producing
dramatic turns. When Members w