of Dickensian genius.  Of what is this a propos? you will ask the Baron.  “Well,” he will make reply, “it is a propos of cookery books, and bookery cooks; the latter being those who are not above teaching themselves from the sacred books of Cookery, and who can put in practice the lessons they learn therein.  Now,” quoth the Baron, “let me recommend you to ask at CHAPMAN AND HALL’s for Hilda’s ‘Where Is It’ of Recipes, a work got up as simply and substantially as a good dinner should be, with ‘pages in waiting,’ quite blank, all ready for your notes,—­the book, like a dining-table, being appropriately interleaved; and there is, happy thought, a pencil in the cover-side most handy for the intending Lucullus.”  The season of Lent is an excellent one for cookery-books, because you can be studying for the dinner-giving season, and then—­do not forget the generally excellent advice of your friend,

THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  “WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK.”

“THERE NOW, MR. MOSS! THERE’S A PICTURE FOR YER!  WHY, HE’S REGULAR DOWNRIGHT BUILT FOR YER, THAT LITTLE ’ORSE IS!  SUIT YER TO A T,—­AND DIRT-CHEAP AT A HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY GUINEAS!”

“EXACTLY, MR. ISAACS.  KNOCK OFF THE HUNDRED, AND HE’S MINE!”]

* * * * *

THE RIVAL “JARVIES;”

OR, THE IRISH JAUNTING CAR.

AIR:—­“THE LOW-BACKED CAR.”

“Honest John” sings:—­

  When first I knew CH-RL-S ST-RT,
    ’Twas in a happier day,
  The Jaunting Car he drove in
    Went gaily all the way. 
  But now the Car seems all askew,
    Lop-wheel’d, and slack of spring;
  Myself and WILL, in fear of a spill,
    Feel little disposed to sing,
      As we sit on the Jaunting Car,
      The drivers at open war,
        Seem little to care
        For a Grand Old Fare,
      As they fight for the Jaunting Car.

  CH-RL-S ST-RT at one rein, Sir,
    And J-ST-N at the other. 
  Give prospect small of progress
    In pummelling one another. 
  As Honest JOHN my chance is gone
    Of helping ill-used PAT,
  If the Union of Hearts in Shindy starts,
    And the Message of Peace falls flat. 
      WILL and I on the Jaunting Car,
      With the couple of Jarvies at war,
        Are sad to our souls,
        Wherefore win at the polls
      If we lose on the Jaunting Car?

  In battle’s wild commotion,
    With proud and hostile SM-TH,
  O’er Land or Tithe, our hearts were blithe,
    Till P-RN-LL sapped our pith. 
  But “Mr. Fox’s” lethal darts
    Make “Union” all my eye;
  Our ranks they thin (whilst our enemies grin),
    As right and left they fly. 
      Though we cling to the Jaunting Car,
      We were better out of it, by far;
        Not the G.O.M.’s art
        Can those Jarvies part
      Who fight for the Jaunting Car.