o you think I've a wig?"

* * * * *

ORIGIN OF THE PHRASE "TO BOOT."

_Bote_ or _Bota_, in our old law books, signifies recompense, repentance,
or fine paid by way of expiation, and is derived from the Saxon. Hence our
common phrase "to boot," speaking of something given by way of
compensation. P.T.W.

* * * * *

OLD SONG.

"Syr Tankarde he is as bold a wight
As ever Old England bred;
His armoure it is of the silver bright,
And his coloure is ruby red;
And whene'er on the bully ye calle,
He is readye to give ye a falle;
But if long in the battle with him ye be,
Ye weaker are ye, and the stronger is he,
For Syr Tankarde is victor of alle."

"A barley-corn he mounts for a speare,
His helmet with hops is hung,
He lightes the eye with a laughing leere,
With a carolle he tipps the tongue--
And he marshals a valyant hoste
Of spices and crabbes and toaste;
And the stoutest of yeomen they well can o'erthrow,
When he leads them in beakers and jugs to the foe,--
And Syr Tankarde his prowess may boaste."

* * * * *

FRENCH--ENGLISH LOVE.

The following is a copy of a letter addressed some years ago to a lady of
fortune at Portsmouth, upwards of four score years of age, by a French
prisoner of war at Porchester Castle:--

"_Porchester_.--_Madam_--Me rite de English very leet, and me very fears
you no saave vat me speak; but me be told dat you vant one very fine man
for your hosband; upon my soul me love you very well; and thou you be very
old woman, and very cross, and ugly, and all de devil, and the English no
like you, upon my soul we have one great passion for you, and me like you
very well for all dat; and me told dat de man for you must be one very
clen man, and no love de drink. Me be all dat: indeed me be one very grand
man in France--upon my soul me be one count, me have one grand equipage in
France, and me be very good for de esprit: indeed me be one grand
beau-a-la-mode--one officier in de regiment: me be very good for de
Engleterres. Indeed you be one very good old woman upon my soul; and if
you have one inclination for one man, me be dat gentleman for you--one
grand man for you. Me will be your hosband, and take de care for yourself,
for de house, for de gardin, for de Schoff, for de drink, and for de
little childs dat shall come.