not
the least precious of his possessions. _Foster's Life of Dickens_ will
undoubtedly remain the medium through which the outer world shall know the
great novelist." "True," interposes the Baron, "that certainly is one way
in which admiration for the works of the great novelist will be foster'd
among us. You agree? Of course you do. Proceed, sweet warbler, your
observations interest me much." Whereupon the warbler thus addressed
continued. "But, Sir, we are all conscious of a certain unpleasant taste
those volumes leave in the mouth. Some of the incidents recorded, and many
of the letters, present DICKENS with undue prominence in a possible phase
of his character, as a ruthless tradesman in literature and lecturing, with
some tendency to be overbearing in his social relations. In this little
volume of letters to his old familiar friend we find him at his best,
whether as a worker in literature or as a critic of other people's work."

BARON DE BOOKWORMS & CO.

* * * * *

[Illustration: "JOINT OCCUPATION."

(_Suggested by Cook's Tourist in Egypt._)]

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE MODERN ALEXANDER'S FEAST; OR, THE POWER OF SOUND. "WITH
RAVISHED EARS, THE MONARCH HEARS, ASSUMES THE GOD, AFFECTS TO NOD, AND
SEEMS TO SHAKE THE SPHERES!"]

* * * * *

[Illustration: QUITE UP TO DATE.

_Cousin Madge._ "WELL, GOOD-BYE, CHARLIE. SO MANY THANKS FOR TAKING CARE OF
US!" _Charlie._ "_NOT AT ALL_!"]

* * * * *

THE MODERN ALEXANDER'S FEAST

OR, THE POWER OF SOUND.

(_An Ode for the Brandenburg Diet Day; a long way after Dryden._)

["At the banquet of the Diet of Brandenburg, the GERMAN EMPEROR said:--
'The assured knowledge that your sympathy loyally attends me in my
work, inspires me with fresh strength to persevere in my task, and to
advance along the path marked out for me by Heaven. To this are added
the sense of responsibility to our Supreme Lord above, and my
unshakable conviction that He, our former ally at Rossbach and
Dennewitz, will not leave me in the lurch. He has taken such infinite
pains with our ancient Brandenburg and our House, that we cannot
suppose he has done this for no purpose.... My course is the right one,
and it will be persevered in."--_Daily Paper._]

'Twas in the royal feast Brandenburg set
For Providence's pet