The Pretty S. Mind?  Not a bit!  There’s CLARA WILLOUGHBY and her brother on the next ring, I’ll go over to them.  Take good care of ALICE, Mr. ACKMET.  Good-bye for the present.

    [She goes; ALICE doesn’t think Mr. A. is “nearly so nice
    as he used to be."

The Reckless Rough.  Now then, I’m on ’ere.  Clear the way, all of yer!  Parties must look out fur theirselves when they see me a comin’, I carn’t stop fur nobody!

    [Rushes round the ring at a tremendous pace.

An Admiring Sweeper (following his movements with enthusiasm).  Theer he goes—­the Ornimental Skyter!  Look at ‘im a buzzin’ round!  Lor, it’s a treat to see ‘im bowlin’ ’em all over like a lot er bloomin’ ninepins!  Go it, ole FRANKY, my son—­don’t you stop to apollergise!...  Ah, there he goes on his nut agen! ’E don’t care, not ’e!...  Orf he goes agin!...  That’s another on ’em down, and ole FRANKY atop—­’e’ll ’ave the ring all to isself presently!  Up agin!  Oh, ain’t he lovely!  I never see his loike afore nowheres ... Round yer go—­that’s the stoyle!  My eyes, if he ain’t upset another—­a lydy this time—­she’s done ’er skytin fur the d’y, any ’ow! and ole FRANK knocked silly ...  Well, I ain’t larfed ser much in all my life! [He is left laughing.

* * * * *

THE CURATE TO HIS SLIPPERS.

Take, oh take those boots away
That so nearly are out-worn;
And those shoes remove, I pray—­
Pumps that but induce the corn;
But my slippers bring again,
Bring again—­
Works of love, but worked in vain,
Worked in vain!

* * * * *

Our Own First-Class Clipper sends us the following from the Manchester Guardian, Dec. 11th:—­

GROCERY.—­Wanted, a live Sugar Wrapper.  Apply, &c.

SHOE TRADE.—­Wanted, good Hand-sewn Men.  Apply, &c.

    DRAPERY.—­Wanted, for the first three weeks in January, several
    Men, for sale.  Apply by letter, stating experience, &c., to ——.

Would a Spirit Rapper be accepted for the first? and a man who had got a stitch in his side for the second?  As for the third, there are so many people sold at Christmas time, that to provide a few men for sale would be no very difficult task.

* * * * *

NOTICE.—­Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper.  To this rule there will be no exception.