ut
Light as a feather--
Splash! and the line whizzing out
Linked us together;

Till, ere your fate I could seal,
Me you eluded;
Back came the line to the reel
(Cast not included);
Oft 'twixt the weed and the creel
Fish slip--as you did.

So, since all winter, alack!
I have bemoaned you,
Give me a chance to get back
Some of my own due
Interest earn'd on the black
Gnat that I loaned you.

Then we'll be for it, we two
(Luck to the winner!);
Meanwhile be careful what you
Take for your dinner;
Fancy confections eschew--
Blue, dun or spinner.

Scorning (you'll grant me the boon?)
Other folk's gay fly,
Under the willow till June
Sheltered and safe lie;
I shall be after you soon,
I and my May-fly.

* * * * *

"I should be very glad to have a movement started to put an
end to the extravagant, unseemly and disedifying length to
which ladies in this country have gone in adopting fashions of
dress."--_Irish Paper._

Hitherto it had been supposed that the objection to the modern modes
was their excessive brevity.

* * * * *

"Coopers Wanted, dry or tight; only Society men need
apply."--_Advt. in Daily Paper._

Inebriation is no longer popular among Society men.

* * * * *

[Illustration: MANNERS AND MODES.

QUEERING HIS PITCH. WHAT OUR ARTIST POSER HAS TO PUT UP WITH.]

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Fish Hawker (reading a book of Natural History he has
bought for his son's birthday)._ "LIZ, I BIN SWINDLED. I'VE READ ALL
FROO THE INDEX OF FISHES, AN' KIPPERS AIN'T EVEN MENTIONED."]

* * * * *

MUCH THE BETTER HALF.

"Then you mean that neither of you is coming to the concert?" said
Margery.

"Speaking for myself," said John, "the answer is in the
affirmative--or negative, just as you prefer. Any way, I'm not coming.
Your worthy brother must decide for himself."

"Our worthy brother-in-law has spoken for me, Margery," I said; "I
also regret my inability to assist at the revels."

"Then all I can say is I think you're a couple of pigs."

"Margery, Margery," said John, "really your language----I shall have
to write to the papers about you."

"That's the idea," I joined in. "'The Modern Flapper,' by
'Broad-minded but Shocked.' You'd better