* * * *

BULL AND BULLION.

(_ON GOLD, AFTER GOLDSMITH._)

When British Commerce stoops to folly,
And finds too late that Bonds betray,
What charm can soothe her melancholy,
And the big rush for bullion stay?

To save herself from shameful ruin
(Ask Monsieur LAUR!) her only chance
Lies--full revenge for Waterloo!--in
Big borrowings from generous France.

* * * * *

_Mr. Punch Among the Planets_ is the title of _Mr. Punch's_ Christmas
Number, _vice_ Almanack superseded. Ask for this, and "see that you
get it"!

* * * * *

VOX STELLARUM.--The New Comet, November 19, Boston, U.S., suddenly
appeared, and was heard to exclaim, "But, soft! I am observed!"

* * * * *

[Illustration: SCENES OF CLERICAL LIFE.--A DIOCESAN CONFERENCE.

"LOOK 'ERE, BILL! BLEST IF THESE BEAN'T A LOT O' PARSONS ON STRIKE!"]

* * * * *

"SEPARATISTS."

(_FRAGMENTS OF A MODERN "MARMION."_)

"But DOUGLAS round him drew his cloak,
Folded his arms, and thus he spoke:--
* * * * *
'The hand of DOUGLAS is his own,
And never shall in friendly grasp
The hand of such as MARMION clasp.'"
* * * * *

"The hand of such as MARMION!" Ay!
Great Singer of the knightly lay,
Thy tale of Flodden field
Is darkened by unknightly stain.
That slackened arm and burdened brain
Of him found low among the slain,
Constrained at last to yield
To a mere "base marauder's lance;"
He, firm of front and cold of glance,
The dark, the dauntless MARMION.--
The days of chivalry are gone,
Dispraisers of the present say,
Yet men arm still for party fray
As fierce as foray old;
And mail is donned, and steel is drawn,
And champions challenging at dawn
Ere night lie still and cold.
Two champions here 'midst loud applause,
Have led the lists in a joint cause
On many a tourney morn,
Have fought to vanward in the field
Full many an hour, and, sternly steeled,
One banner forward borne.
And now--ah, well, as DOUGLAS old
On MARMION looked sternly cold,
So looks this Chieftain grey
On his old comrade, though the fight
Is forward now, and many a knight
Is arming for the fray.
As "the demeanour changed and cold
Of DOUGLAS fretted MARMION bold,"
Has this old greyhaired Chieftain's chil