“Up to any game at Christmas, if it’s not too high,” says the Baron of Hampershire, who detests all game that is lofty, but is glad to welcome a Shakspearian Revival by Myers & Co. in the shape of a Nine Men’s Morris, a title the Baron recommends to the notice of Mr. William Morris, yclept “Billy,” when he is making another bouquet of poesies.  By the way, Bim BROS.’  Almanac Cards, one of the Baron’s Lady Helps describes as “decidedly dainty.”  Christmas is specially a card-playing season, a time of Pax to everybody.

From the Gordon Stables of Hutchinson & Co. issues the nightmare tale of The Cruise in the Crystal Boat; when finished, try their Family Difficulty, by Sarah DOUDNEY.  Send to the Deanery of Dean and son, ask for Baby’s Biography and The Little One’s Own Beehive.  The Spindleside department of the Baron’s Booking-Office recommends both the above for the Tiny Trots; while the Spearside tells the boys to go in for MANVILLE FENN’s Burr Junior and Mrs. R. LEE’s Adventures in Australia.  Then for all-comers, procure BEATRICE HARRADEN’s New Book of Fairies, for, our “Co.” thus puts it, “This is all concerning those poor little Fairies, about whom no one takes any trouble, and who are left out in the cold at Christmas time.”  Thus for this week conclude the duties of Mesdames BLYTHE and GAY, the Baron’s Lady Assistant Perusers.  “I trust my gentle Public will benefit by their advice,” quoth,

Theirs truly,

THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS.

* * * * *

“NOW YOU’RE QUITE THE GENTLEMAN!”

(A BALLAD OF BIRMINGHAM.)

["You will not find an alliance in which the weaker side has been so loyal, so straight, so single-hearted, so patriotic as the Liberal Unionists have been during the last five years....  Birmingham is the centre, the consecration of this alliance.”—­Lord Salisbury at Birmingham.

    “Now I neither look for nor desire reunion” (with the
    Gladstonian Liberals.)—­Mr. Chamberlain at Birmingham.]

[Illustration]

AIR—­“YE GENTLEMEN OF ENGLAND."[1]

  Ye Gentlemen of England,
    Who follow SALIS-BU-RY,
  How little did you count upon
    Assistance from J.C.! 
  Give ear unto his speeches old,
    And they will plainly show
  Once he’d scorn to be borne
    Where the Tory breezes blow,
      Where the Lilies and Primroses bloom,
      And the Tory zephyrs blow.

  If once he did oppose you,
    To-day he is at war
  With GLADSTONE and his Items. 
    Faith, JOE has travelled far! 
  The Primrose Dames shall teach him
    True patriot “form” to know. 
  He is leal, and will kneel
    To the “Lilies” in fair row;
      To the pretty, winsome Primrose girls,
      Who buttonhole Brum JOE.