hy, a thrill of appreciation swept through me as I
realised what was at once the worthiest and the likeliest explanation.

Who shall plumb the depths of the affection of a true pedestrian for
his boots, the companions and comfort of so many a pilgrimage? Who but
the climber, the hill-tramp, knows the pang of regret with which he
faces at last the truth that his favourite boots are past repair, the
sorrow and self-reproach with which he permits them to be consigned to
Erebus?

I saw it all. As the Roman veteran hung upon the temple wall of Mars
the arms he might no longer wield, so hither came some lofty-minded
climber, bearing in devoted hands his outworn and faithful boot, to
leave it sadly and with reverence in this most worthy resting-place,
here to repose at the end of all the roads it had trod, on the highest
of all the native hills it had climbed.

W.K.H.

* * * * *

=Another Impending Apology.=

"Mr. Roberts, Member of Parliament, has arrived. Mr. Roberts is a
tall and well-built gentleman with a posing appearance."

_Mysore Patriot_.

* * * * *

"Families supplied in 18, 12 or 6 gallon casks."--_Hertford
brewer's notice_.

Where's your DIOGENES now?

* * * * *

"The dinner was in the House of Commons, and I sat next to Henry.
I was tremendously impressed by his conversation and his clean
Cromwellian face."

_From a famous autobiography._

It was, we trust, the CROMWELL touch rather than the cleanness that
was so impressive.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Ancient Gardener_ (_who has just been paid_). "OI SAY,
MAISTER, THERE'S SUMMAT WRONG WI' MA BRASS."

_Employer._ "WHAT'S THAT, JOHN?"

_A.G._ "WHA, SITHEE, THA'S GI'EN MA ONE TA MONY."

_Employer._ "YOU'RE VERY HONEST, JOHN."

_A.G._ "WEEL, THA SEES I THOAT IT MID 'A' BIN A TRAP."]

* * * * *

NEW RHYMES FOR OLD CHILDREN.

THE EARWIG.

How odd it is that our Papas
Keep taking us to cinemas,
But still expect the same old scares,
The tiger-cats, the woolly bears,
The lions on the nursery stairs
To frighten as of old!
Considering everybody knows
A girl can throttle one of those
While choking with the other hand
The captain of a robber band,
They leave one pretty cold.
The lion has no status now;
One has one's terr