* * * * *

[Illustration:  “BLOOD” VERSUS “BULLION.”

“WELL THEN, IT NOW APPEARS YOU NEED MY HELP:  YOU THAT DID VOID
YOUR RHEUM UPON MY BEARD, AND FOOT ME, AS YOU SPURN A STRANGER CUR
OVER YOUR THRESHOLD; MONEYS IS YOUR SUIT.  WHAT SHOULD I SAY TO
YOU?"—­Merchant of Venice, Act I., Sc. 3.]

* * * * *

ODE TO COMPENSATION.

(AFTER KIRKE WHITE.)

“That blessed word—­’Compensation.’”

  Come Compensation, come! 
    Not in thy terrors clad,
  But in thy fairest, gentlest guise,
  Thy “blessed” name but terrifies
    The “Templar” and the “Rad.”

  Thou must not come as “Right,”
    That is—­alas!—­“too steep.” 
  The Law has put its foot hard down,
  And “BUNG,” so far, is quite done brown;
    It makes the “Witler” weep!

  No “Vested Interest,”
    Whereon to found a claim? 
  And after all that we have done
  To keep the Tories in the run! 
    It is a thundering shame!

  We deemed Sir EDWARD CLARKE
    Knew what he was about;
  We thought good GOSCHEN, sharp and slick,
  Had “gently, gently done the trick,”
    We have been sold, no doubt.

  But FORREST FULTON comes,—­
   Sharp fellow that F.F.! 
  And in the Commons sneaks a vote
  Which sticks hard in the “Temperance” throat,—­
    Dull churls, to justice deaf!

  Come, Compensation, come! 
   Come in by the back-door,
  Come unawares, come anyhow,
  Only do come to smooth the brow
    Of Wittlers weak and poor.

  GOSCHEN has played us false;
   It makes our bosom ache. 
  But to abate our indignation
  If he’ll secure us Compensation,
    ’Twill compensation make.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  THE TRAINER INFORMS HIS LORDSHIP THAT HIS NEW PURCHASE “WILL TAKE A LOT OF BEATING,”]

[Illustration:  AND—­SO HE DID!]

* * * * *

OVERHEARD AT EARL’S COURT.

First Citizen. And what did you see at the German Exhibition?

Second Citizen.  A magnificent collection of German pictures, many German manufactures, and several German Bands.

First C. Are these the only attractions?

Second C. No, there is some cleverly painted canvas representing German scenery in the grounds.

First C. Anything else?

Second C._ I enjoyed the Switchback Railway.

First C. I see—­anything else?

Second C. Well, the Scenes in the Circle added to my enjoyment, but, as an enthusiastic admirer of all that is German, I do not consider them entirely necessary.

First C. Anything further?

Second C. There are the lights and the company.