to heel!

Skies are overcast;
Slowly comes the spring,
Quarry's tracked--at last,
Strong, though, on the wing.
Steady! Not so fast!
Waiting game's the thing.

'Tother WILLIAM'S style
Rather spoiled this pup.
_Steady_! Wait awhile!
H-RC-RT's like a Krupp.
I can stroll, and smile--
Till the birds get up.

Half-bred dogs--well, well,
Mustn't talk like that!
Else they'll call _me_ "swell."
_Down! What are you at_?
Scurry and pell-mell
Do not 'bell the cat.'

Sport is not a mere
Game of "Spill and pelt"
Patience! End is near.
_Down_! Brute wants a welt!
Modern breed runs queer;
That I long have felt.

'Tother WILLIAM snorts,
L-BBY only grins;
But at most all sports
It is _judgment_ wins.
Breed, though, now consorts
With mongrels--for its sins!

Long the sport I've loved,
Mean to try again,
I should be reproved
Did I speak too plain:
But--are dogs improved
By that Irish strain?

Steady, my lad, steady!
Nearly slipped me then!
You're too hot and heady--
(Like no end of men!--)
_Near_!--but not _quite_ ready.
Steady! _I_'ll say when!

* * * * *

VESTRYMEN CLIMBING DOWN.--Say the unfortunate Nonconformist Vestrymen of
St. George's, Southwark,--"We won't pay the Rector's Rate; but we won't go
to prison, at any rate."

* * * * *

PRUDES AND NUDES.

[An "Officer of high rank" has written to _Truth_, complaining of the
naked statues and pictures he saw at Londonderry House, at a sale on
behalf of Irish Home Industries.]

ATTEND and hear the story of a most uncommon _militaire_,
Whom the sight of naked statues caused to tingle to his boots,
Who was seen to beat his breast, and (which was far more flat and silly)
tear
His hair by blushing handfuls from its shocked and modest roots.

It was dreadful! There were Duchesses (Heav'n bless their handsome
faces!)
And a host of pretty Countesses, and Maidens by the score,
And they sold some Irish Industries--embroideries and laces--
And MADGE described to AMY all the pretty frocks they wore.

But the statues and the paintings didn't seem at all to worry them,
Having work to do they did it just as quiet as a mouse,
Though this soldier took his daughter and his wife, and tried to hurry
them
In the cau