e small bullet out of my spring-pea rifle
managed to crack the parchment-like skin which covers his drum, and
at the same time broken one of his sticks. Then, he fell. Carried him
home on my back. What larks! Killed four-and-twenty blackbirds at
one shot as they were all sitting in a row on a rail. They were so
frightened of me, _it made 'em quail!!_ Wonderful transformation,
wasn't it? But fact, all the same. Four-and-twenty quail All on
a rail. Killed eighty "Koran," a Mahomedan bird, very scarce, and
therefore bring in a considerable Mahomet, or, (ahem) profit? See?
Shot a "Tittup"--so called on account of its peculiar action after
drinking; also three early German Beerbirds, or, as the Dutchmen call
them, "Spring-boks." There is another origin for this name, which is
also likely, and that is that they don't appear when there's an early
spring, but when the spring is rather backward then they come forward.
Whichever you like, my little dear, you pays your money, &c., &c.
After all these exciting adventures--"The game is cook'd, and now
we'll go to dinner!"--quotation from early Dramatist, by Yours ever,
[Illustration]

* * * * *

WORTH NOTICING.

O poor Mr. ATKINSON, victim of fate,
Who bowed when you ought to have lifted your hat,
When the Session is over it's far--far too late,
To give notice of this and give notice of that.
Your attempts to be funny are amazing to see,
It's a dangerous venture to pose as a wit.
Though the voters of Boston _may_ love their M.P.,
It _may_ end in their giving _you_ notice--to quit!

* * * * *

OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.

[Illustration]

_Short Papers in Magazines_.--"A starry night Is the shepherd's
delight," and as this sort of night is to the pastor, so are
short stories in Monthly Magazines to the Baron. Moreover, his
recommendation of them is, as he knows from numerous grateful
Correspondents, "a boon and a blessing" to such as follow his lead. He
owns to a partiality for the weird, and if he can come across a brief
"curdler," he at once singles it out for the delectation of those
whose taste is in the same direction. But no curdler has he come
across for some considerable time; but for short essays and tales
to be read by ladies in some quiet half-hour before toiletting or
untoiletting, or by the weaker sex in the smoking-room, the Baron
begs to commend "THACKERAY's Portraits of Himself,"