ed and the sunbeams glanced
On MURDOCH bold, and his merry men.
When hundreds of optics, and many a pen
Were on the alert, at Sheffield Park,
The valiant deeds (between wickets) to mark
Of the Seventh Australian Cricketing lot.
MURDOCH and LYONS, BARRETT and TROTT,
Lads of their inches in flesh and bones;
TURNER and WALTERS, BLACKHAM and JONES,
GREGORY, CHARLTON and FERRIS too;
A sterling Eleven, second to few.
Whilst "odd men" TRUMBLE and BURN and BOYLE
"Stood out" of the first big match's toil,
'Gainst GRACE and STODDART, NEWHAM and READ,
SHERWIN and SHREWSBURY, stout at need,
LOHMANN and HUMPHREYS, and BRIGGS and PEEL,
And ATTEWELL with the nerves of steel.
No need to tell how they met and fought,
And bowled, and batted, and stumped, and caught;
But _Mr. Punch_, who has seen all six
Of the other Elevens before the "sticks",
And cheered them victors, or vanquished cheered,
Shoots forth his fist, as the lists are cleared,
To welcome back to an English wicket
These champions fresh of Colonial Cricket.
He will not "butter" you, boys, for _that_ you'll hate.
Only he must most sincerely congratulate
His old friend MURDOCH on starting so well.
Go it, Sir, keep it up, W. L.!
Here's wishing the lot of you health and pluck,
Decent weather and level luck.
And when your last "four" to the boundary flashes,
Take all good things home with you--saving those "ashes."

* * * * *

[Illustration: HAPPY THOUGHT.

"SUCCI DOESN'T SEEM ANY THE WORSE FOR HIS LONG ABSTINENCE, MARIA! DON'T
YOU THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO BRING UP A FEW OF OUR YOUNGER
CHILDREN AS FASTING MEN AND WOMEN? WE MIGHT BEGIN TRAINING THEM ALREADY,
YOU KNOW!"]

* * * * *

OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.

READ "As Haggards on the Rock" in _Scribner's_ for May. It is a weird
tale, but nothing whatever to do with "HAGGARD" ("RIDER" of that ilk),
which may or may not be an additional attraction, according to the taste
and fancy of the reader. "Never do I see _Scribner's Magazine_", quoth
the Baron, "without wishing to change its name, or start a competitor
under the style and title of '_Scribbler's Magazine_.' If the latter
isn't 'a colourable imitation,' it must be done, and that speedily."

_Woman_, though appearing weekly, comes out peculiarly strong. "A really
entertaining, interesting, and chatty publication", says the Baroness.