for her children who are dead;
Still day and night she cries to you,
"_Mes pauvres petits! La grande charrue!_"

So silently the screech-owl flies
You sometimes scarce believe your eyes,
Until you start to hear him shout
To timid mice, "Come _out_! Come _out_!"

Are baby martins in the nest
With extra-loving parents blest?
That they should murmur sleepily,
"Oh cuddle me, oh cuddle me."

When first the chiff-chaff comes your way
You're glad, it means Spring's come to stay;
But soon you wish he'd change his song
With his "Chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff" all day long.

Those white-throats in the raspberry canes!
They never take the slightest pains
To hide from you how much they steal,
But say, "Thief, thief," throughout their meal.

* * * * *

Commercial Candour.

"Your L20 at ----'s buys L25 worth elsewhere."--_Advt. in Provincial
Paper._

* * * * *

A Humane Edict.

"Notice is hereby given that the washing of motor cars and vehicles,
and the washing of widows, etc., by hose has been prohibited."

_Tasmanian Paper._

* * * * *

"Accountant wanted for Motor Companies in West End; must have
experience in Bookkeeping."--_Weekly Paper._

Not perhaps an unreasonable stipulation in the circumstances.

* * * * *

From "Books Wanted":--

"Orlando Furioso, 4 vols. 1773. Fine building."--_Publisher's
Circular._

We dare say it is. But what we are looking out for in this connection is
ADDISON'S works.

* * * * *

[Illustration: A USE FOR MODERN ART.]

* * * * *

[Illustration: "LOOK 'ERE, 'ERB, IF YER CAWN'T BE TIDY THEN FOR 'EVIN'S
SAKE TRY AN' LOOK AS IF YER WERE!"]

* * * * *

ROMA REDIVIVA.

(_A Classical Revel, after the Press accounts of last week's Italian
ball_).

Ancient history became luminous at Covent Garden last week, when the great
ghosts of the past, from ROMULUS to NERO and from EGERIA to AGRIPPINA, were
seen one-stepping gaily in _toga_ and _stola_ at the great Roman ball. It
was the night, not of the Futurists, but the Praeteritists, and right
royally did they avail themselves of their chance.

Perhaps the most arresting of all the costumes were those worn by Lord
CURZON as TARQUINIUS