t is but he dont know much about
pork the bests the safest. please send ballance and remain

Yours obedient,
Henry Gibbs.

We were still in March and pork had not yet been decontrolled, so I
returned the bill again with this brief but incisive note:--

My dear Mr. Gibbs,--I have never met your friend from Barnsley,
but am surprised that you haven't come across my specialist, whose
address is the Local Food Control Office at Harbury. Would you like to
meet him? He is very interested in pigs, also in milk and other things
in which you specialise expensively, so you would have lots to talk
about, no doubt.

Yours sincerely,
Arthur K. Wilkinson.

The receipt in full, which reached me in reply, was very satisfactory.
The pork was delicious.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Country Postman._ "I'm sorry, Ma'am, I seem to have
lost your postcard; but it only said Muriel thanked you for the parcel,
and so did John, and they were both very well and the children are happy
and she'll give your message to Margery. That'll be your other daughter,
I'm thinkin'?"]

* * * * *

FLOWERS' NAMES.

Lady's Bedstraw.

Under two secret arching hedges
Masses of Bedstraw grow,
Silvery-white among the sedges,
Like drifts of fairy-snow;
Deep's the middle, fringed the edges;
Who sleeps there? Do you know?
Do you? Or you?
Hark! for the breezes know.

"Oh, there my Lady Summer lies
Adream beneath cool April skies;
About her blossoms fall
On her long limbs and secret eyes.
Still she sleeps, virginal;
Then--hark! June's clarion call!
She lifts her wistful wilful eyes,
Springs light afoot and away she flies.
But her Bedstraw dies."

* * * * *

"We have received from ---- Manufacturing Company, New York,
makers of Distructive Stationery for Social Correspondence,
copies of their artistic Wall Calendars." _West Indian Paper._

The calendars don't interest us, but a few samples of the "distructive
stationery" would come in useful for answering bores.

* * * * *

NOCTURNE.

Of course I suppose I ought to be grateful for the opportunity of having
a front seat at one of Nature's romances, but I imagine she reaps more
applause at matinees than at soirees. I know that I--But judge for
yourself.

The _dramatis pe