He finished eating, lighted a cigarette and called for a cup of coffee.  It was then, I think, the thought came to him.

The other man’s cup, saucer and money were still there.

His hand fluttered uncertainly over the cloth among the crockery.  There seemed to be nobody looking.  His fingers slid under the other man’s saucer and in a moment the money was under his own.

He rose, took his hat and bill and went.

We left soon after.

“How mean!” said my wife.  “Did you see?  He made the other man’s tip do.  Even a woman wouldn’t have done that.”

It seemed severe, I thought, but that is what she said.

* * * * *

    “The rats were chased out of camp and their skins tanned and
    made into dainty purses and handbags.”—­Manchester Guardian.

The rats having in their hurry left their skins behind them.

* * * * *

    “The front door of the Lord Mayor’s coachman opens on to a
    long, narrow staircase.”—­Weekly Dispatch.

Very interesting, no doubt; but the general public would have preferred to learn something about his bow-window.

* * * * *

IN WINTER.

  Boreas blows on his high wood whistle,
    Over the coppice and down the lane
  Where the goldfinch chirps from the haulm of the thistle
    And mangolds gleam in the farmer’s wain. 
  Last year’s dead and the new year sleeping
    Under its mantle of leaves and snow;
  Earth holds beauty fast in her keeping
    But Life invincible stirs below.

  Runs the sap in each root and rhizome,
    Primrose yellow and snowdrop cold,
  Windyflowers when the chiffchaff flies home,
    Lenten lilies with crowns of gold. 
  Soon the woods will be blithe with bracken,
    April whisper of lambs at play;
  Spring will triumph—­and our old black hen
    (Thank the Lord!) will begin to lay.

  ALGOL.

* * * * *

A “DRY” STATE.

    “On the declaration of the armistice with Bulgaria this Balkan-Jug
    stopped running.”—­Observer.

* * * * *

THE NEW NAVY.

["The New Navy of small craft, created by the special needs of the War ... has every reason to be proud of its share in bringing the War to a victorious conclusion.  The good wishes of the Board of Admiralty and the Royal Navy will follow the armed yachts, trawlers, drifters and motor-boats after they have hauled down the colours they flew as His Majesty’s Auxiliary Patrol Vessels.”

    Admiralty Message to the Auxiliary Patrol Service.]

  The Old Navy wakened and got under way
  And hurried to Scapa in battle array,
  While the drifters and trawlers looked on from afar
  At the cruisers and battleships off to the War;
  Having sped their departure with ev’ry good wish,
  The drifters and trawlers returned to their fish.