Top-o’-the-Morning’s shoes are off;
    He runs in the orchard, rough, all day;
  Chasing the hens for a turn at the trough,
    Fighting the cows for a place at the hay;
  With a coat where the Wiltshire mud has dried,
    With brambles caught in his mane and tail—­
  Top-o’-the-Morning, pearl and pride
    Of the foremost flight of the White Horse Vale!

  The master he carried is Somewhere in France
    Leading a cavalry troop to-day,
  Ready, if Fortune but give him the chance,
    Ready as ever to show them the way,
  Riding as straight to his new desire
    As ever he rode to the line of old,
  Facing his fences of blood and fire
  With a brow of flint and a heart of gold.

  Do the hoofs of his horses wake a dream
    Of a trampling crowd at the covert-side,
  Of a lead on the grass and a glinting stream
    And Top-o’-the-Morning shortening stride? 
  Does the triumph leap to his shining eyes
    As the wind of the vale on his cheek blows cold,
  And the buffeting big brown shoulders rise
    To his light heel’s touch and his light hand’s hold?

  When the swords are sheathed and the strife is done,
    And the cry of hounds is a call to men;
  When the straight-necked Wiltshire foxes run
    And the first flight rides on the grass again;
  May Top-o’-the-Morning, sleek of hide,
    Shod, and tidy of mane and tail,
  Light, and fit for a man to ride,
    Lead them once more in the White Horse Vale!

W.H.O.

* * * * *

Polygamy in Workington.

“Supper was served by some of the wives of some of the members.”—­Workington News.

* * * * *

TRAGEDY OF A DUTIFUL WIFE.

[Illustration:  “I SAY, THAT MRS. DASHWOOD SPIFFINGTON SEEMS A JOLLY WOMAN—­WHAT?” “ISN’T SHE A LITTLE—­ER—­”

“NOT A BIT OF IT.  A WOMAN OUGHT TO BE CHEERY, ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES.”  “I SEE, DEAR.”]

[Illustration:  “WHAT ON EARTH—?”

“I’M MAKING A NEW HAT, DEAR.  I SAW MRS. DASHWOOD SPIFFINGTON WEARING ONE VERY LIKE THIS.”]

[Illustration:  “GREAT HEAVENS!  WHAT ARE YOU CUTTING YOUR NEW DRESS TO BITS FOR?”

“IT’S ALL RIGHT, DEAR.  MRS. DASHWOOD SPIFFINGTON HAS ONE QUITE AS SHORT AS THIS.”]

[Illustration:  “GOOD LORD!  WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO YOUR FACE?”

“MRS. DASHWOOD SPIFFINGTON ALWAYS MAKES UP A LITTLE WHEN SHE’S GOING OUT.  OH—­I FORGOT TO TELL YOU—­I HAVEN’T ORDERED ANY DINNER, AS I THOUGHT WE MIGHT GO AND DINE AT A RESTAURANT.”]

[Illustration:  “AREN’T YOU MAKING YOURSELF RATHER CONSPICUOUS?”

“BUT I THOUGHT YOU LIKED CHEERY PEOPLE LIKE MRS. DASHWOOD SPIFFINGTON.”]

[Illustration:  “I’M AWFULLY SORRY, DEAR.  I OUGHT TO HAVE PRACTISED SMOKING.  I EXPECT MRS. DASHWOOD SPIFFINGTON—­”