of espionage which had invaded the
breakfast table, and might go far to make even luncheon intolerable."

"From my youth up," he continued, "I have never wavered in the
conviction, that of all known preserves, strawberry-jam is both the
best, and the most sustaining. I should disgrace myself if I were now,
at the eleventh hour, to declare a preference which I do not honestly
feel for gooseberry or raspberry."

This, of course, settled the matter. Mr. TUFFAN declared emphatically
against the obnoxious strawberry; and the result was that the
Association, by an enormous majority, decided to support him. The
Liberals were at first much discouraged, but they have now taken heart
again. One of their Canvassers, it seems, has succeeded in making
himself a _persona grata_ to a lady who occupies the position of
under-housemaid in the establishment of the TUFFANS. Through her he
obtained an empty pot of strawberry-jam, lately consumed by the
TUFFAN family. This has been fixed upon a long pole, with a placard
underneath it, to the following effect:--

TAKEN FROM TUFFAN'S TABLE!

VOTE FOR PLEDGER, AND HONEST CONVICTIONS!

And the device is now being carried all over the Town by the Junior
Liberal Association.

The polling takes place to-morrow. Both sides are confident, but,
on the whole, after reviewing all the circumstances of the case as
impartially as possible, taking into account everything that tells for
or against both parties, and not forgetting the effect produced by the
public secession of Mr. HONEYDEW, the tobacconist, and Ex-President
of the Liberal 500, I am disposed to believe in the victory of Mr.
PLEDGER; that is to say, unless Mr. TUFFAN should manage to secure a
sufficient number of votes to defeat his opponent.

Yours &c., THE MAN IN THE MOON.

* * * * *

MR. PUNCH'S ELECTION ADDRESS.

To the Electors of the United Kingdom!
I, PUNCH, who shoot at follies, and have wing'd 'em
For fifty years, and shall for fifty more,
Greet ye! It were to force an open door
To ask ye one and all, to give your votes
To ME! There, there, my boys! don't strain your throats!
My tympanum is tender. _Punch_ rejoices
To listen once more to "your most sweet voices,"
Only you need not howl and make them raucous.
I'm not a Party Nominee, no Caucus
Has wire-pulled Me! I'd like to see 'em do so!
I am _Man Friday_ to no party _Crusoe_,
SALISBURY, GLADSTONE, BALFOUR, HAR