ic,
With hygienic boots that flatly flop--
Old style aesthetic.

I came a little closer, just to see.
Ye gods, her looks and form were not alarming!
A graceful, sweet-faced, dainty maiden she,
Completely charming.

The landscape that I loved was what she drew.
I felt my coolness towards her quickly thawing;
I also stayed to sketch that charming view--
Here is my drawing.

Illustration: MY LANDSCAPE.

* * * * *

Illustration: "SIC ITUR."

***

"SIC ITUR."

The Old Year flits, the New Year comes,
And, through such severance, man contrives
To parcel out in little sums
The little measurements of lives.
We feign the one a different year,
Outworn, by solemn bells outrung--
The other, foundling of our sphere,
As radiant, innocent, and young.

Farewell! we cry, to Ninety-Two,
Its lapses and encompassings,
We bid them all a fond adieu,
And fix our gaze on fresher things;
What has not been we dream will be,
The wounds will heal, the flaws will mend,
And hopes be born of Ninety-Three
That older, cherished hopes transcend.

It is not thus; Time mocks at pause,
In march continual onward goes;
Th' unfailing progress of his laws,
No respite nor effacement knows;
This year is but the force of last,
Not something new to mortal ken;
Heredity's enchainment vast
Enthrals the moments as the men.

Yet welcome still, our childish trust,
Which breathes a truth that Science mars;
Our ladder, based upon the dust,
Mounts ever nearer steadfast stars;
And, though the rungs be still the same,
The glimpses, as we strive to rise,
Are, 'spite our mists of sin and shame,
More closely neighbouring the skies.

* * * * *

MIXED NOTIONS.

No. III.--PANAMA.

SCENE, _and persons as before--namely, two_ Well-informed
Men, _an_ Inquirer, _and an_ AVERAGE MAN, _travelling up
together in a suburban morning-train to London._

_First Well-informed Man._ Jolly old mess they seem to have got into in
Paris over this Panama business. I see they arrested half-a-dozen more
of them yesterday.

_Second W. I. M._ Yes--and they haven't done yet. I knew, months and
months ago, the crash must come. That French chap, LAMPION told me all
about it. He says it'll bust up the Republic before they've done with
it.

_First