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IP I I, 14. [FEBRUARY 1, 1862.


JG FOF
ISIFICAT


R THE THRONG.
ION FOR THE NATION.


GIRLS AND BOYS COME OUT TO PLAY.
 PICKING UP STORIES.


o. IV.-THE MUSE OF THE CAT. AND why come out to play ?" asked the traveller.
 Because," returned the landlord, "this is the name of the
 !HUS I sing of the British Army, children's game complete, and for this festive time it's appropriate,
 Of the valiant men and true, too," said the landlord, with his favourite action of stooping a little, to
 Who have settled the hash of look into the ale tankard, which was half empty.
 foemen rash, The traveller was partaking of bread and cheese, and the landlord
 S And made those, who wronged looked obliquely at him.
 S us, rue,- Should you like to hear a story ?" said the traveller.
 S The Lion of brave old England, "What is it?" asked the landlord, drawing some more ale.
 Si That never was known to You shall hear," was the answer. Shadows to-night have struck
 yield, more terror to the soul of RicanR. Ha! what tell-tale things shadows
 Goes forth with our gallant are! I have wandered through the crowded streets on summer even-
 forces, ings, and seen those bobbing, jerking figures on the galante show.
 Whenever they march a-field. Among shadows my memory retains one which lies on with shud-
 But in war and peace our during, or shad'ring evil.
 soldiers When I was a single man I lived in a poor street-fourth floor.
 Have another beast beside There was another street running in an obtuse right-angled triangle
 that- to that in which I lived, higher up. It will be understood that the
 A beast, that for ever attends backs of slanting houses in a direct thoroughfare, with a gable corner,
 Sthem- face those in the opposite direction.
 The terrible nine-tailed Cat! You will be able to understand that, my lamp having gone out, I
 So here's to the British looked meditatively out of window at the blinds of the opposite win-
 a Lion, dows, of the opposite house, in the slanting street.
 And his intimate friend, The room being lighted up, the shadows of persons and things were
 the Cat! shown distinct and clear. There was a man's head. It was a man,
ing of the British Navy, by his moustache and grizzly beard-dark, about thirty-five, I take it.
noble hearts of oak, y As I watch, I lose sight of him, and another figure appears. A lady.
ag alone unconquered has flown His wife, I think, by her being unhatted, and wearing her hair tied
ae rolling battle smoke,- up, something resembling a small porter's knot behind. She is fair
ea-lion of Britain -about twenty-three, I reckon.
eth with our tars so brave, Suddenly I hear a gruff voice, then a cry of supplication, and a
a raging fray it darkens the day shriek. The shadows disappear a moment, and the light on the
nges the restless wave blind flickers as if by some rushing commotion in the room. -
ar and peace our seamen Here, said I to myself, is a pretty business. Burglary robbery !
another bast beside that- perhaps murder! I strain my eyes, and gaze anxiously with thump-
that for ever attends them- ing heart, and gasped breathing at the blind.
rrible nine-tailed Cat! Powers of mercy! Is that a dagger that I see before me? It must
ere's to the British Lion, be so. There is the man with grizzled beard. His features an'o
his intimate friend, the Cat! demoniac. He raises his hand with the dagger, and bows his head.
 which 1 take to be bald,.and my hypothesis is that he is in the act of
ate how the soldier's rewarded, malediction.
ised to a higher grade, One moment. The shadow of the lady-the wife, as I take it-
'enty get corporal punishment appears; now with her back hair down and dishevelled--doubtless in
e that's a corporal made: the struggle. He seizes her. Ha! the dagger descends, and I
irds are few in number, descend with horror and one bound down four pair to the street.
nishmonts do not lack; A policeman! Breathless, I tell him in one word. He looks
y stripe that's laid on a sleeve, calmly, doubtingly. We knock at the opposite door. It is opened. I
are fifty laid on a back. rush up four pair-dash into the room. An old man smiles, and smokes
es you whip men to murder complacently. The window is open. I look out. The window before
e very much wonder in that ? me is shuttered. Stretching my neck I find-the wrong house!
ad blood bred for the good blood shed Down again-next door-up once more-burst into the room, the
ry stroke of the Oat. policeman following.
ore's to the British Lion, What? no death! no blood! There sits the grizzly beard, and there
sse intimate fiiiund's the Cat! his wife-at supper. I look round, and hurriedly state all, and am
 interrupted by bursting laughter, in which the policeman cordially
 his you wrong the soldier, joins.
 e just as hard upon Jack, A moment explained all. They were professionals at an adjacent
 tattoo on his arm you out-do theatre, and had been rehearsing their parts in a new tragedy. So I
 'our devil's tattoo on his back; went home.
 st bears scars as noble as stars, About an hour afterwards I heard a voice opposite,-'We want
 dastardly 'tis and mean, you to come over; bring your meerschaum and some brandy.'
 and seam with disgraceful wounds So I went over to the shadows."
 his foes have never seen.
 'rows surly and mutinous,
 yourself to thank for that; THE REAT ORGANIC DISEASE.
 ade a. sad dog of a jolly dog TE O
 our cursed nine-tailed Cat. THOSE horrid organ-grinding men,


 When his intimate friend's the Cat !


 L.kiwv- ins ,eton speak of an nnciont French work of legal reference
called Terms do I'iv;" buc clients i;t ier speak com:plailningly of no
work, which may b-' called the Term's Delay.
 A REFLE.lCTION IY' SMITrl O)F TIHE STOCK EXCHANGE, WHO HAS TO 1BE
AT mIS OFerIc .vr 9 A'.--It is not easy to rise with the lark if you
have been out fo:' one rho night before.


 'To our qnlliet streets a scandal,
Do idiots sympathize with them,
 As their music's by a Handel ?


 WHY is a man who goes to a Catholic cathedral on New Year's Eve
likely to be of a bloodthirsty disposition ?-Because he probably hopes
to see a mass occur.
 WIHAT is the difference between a Dorsetshire labourer and two
thousand two hundred and forty pounds of garden mould?-One is a
son of toil, and the other is a ton of soil.


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