them at a stride regardless of
his former self, splashed with mud in the jump, or smitten with the
horse's hoof. Makes me quite sentimental when I sit and listen to him,
and recall days that are no more. _Mrs. Gummidge_ thinking of the
Old 'Un is nothing to me thinking of the Young 'Un who came up from
Birmingham in 1876, and who from '80 to '85 walked hand in hand with
me.

We were patriots together.--Ah! placeman and peer
Are the patrons who smile on your labours to-day;
And Lords of the Treasury lustily cheer
Whatever you do and whatever you say.
Go, pocket, my JOSEPH, as much as you will,
The times are quite altered we very well know;
But will you not, will you not, talk to us still,
As you talked to us once long ago, long ago?

We were patriots together!--I know you will think
Of the cobbler's caresses, the coalheaver's cries,
Of the stones that we throw, and the toasts that we drink
Of our pamphlets and pledges, our libels and lies!
When the truth shall awake, and the country and town
Be heartily weary of BALFOUR & CO.,
My JOSEPH, hark back to the Radical frown,
Let us be what we were, long ago, long ago!"

"Bless me," I cried, "how beautiful! I didn't know that, among your
many accomplishments, you were given to dropping into poetry."

"Tut, tut!" said the SAGE, blushing, "it isn't all my own; written
years ago by MACKWORTH PRAED, about JOHN CAM HOBHOUSE. I've only
brought it up to date."

_Business done_.--Eight Hours' Bill thrown out on a Division.

_Thursday_.--Private O'GRADY, of the Welsh Fusiliers, the hero of the
hour. His annals short and simple. Got up early in the morning of St.
Patrick's Day; provided himself with handful of shamrock, which he
stuck in his glengarry. (_Note_.--O'GRADY, an Irishman, belongs to a
Welsh Regiment, and, to complete the pickle, wears a Scotch cap.) The
ignorant Saxon officer in command observing the patriot muster with
what he, all unconscious of St. Patrick's Day, thought was "a handful
of greens" in his cap, instructed the non-commissioned officer to
order him to take it out.

"I won't do't," said gallant Private O'GRADY, the hot Celtic blood
swiftly brought to boiling pitch by this insult to St. Patrick. Irish
Members vociferously cheered when STANHOPE read the passage from
Colonel's report. Another non-commissioned officer advancing from the
rear, repeated order.

"I won't do't!" roared the implacable Private