A church-bell clanging, scared his steed,
  Pigs dashed betwixt its feet;
  And on his own beloved North Road,
  JOHN almost lost his seat.

  On the North Road, his sometime friends,
  Their sometime favourite spied,
  Well-nigh dismounted, wondering much,
  To see how he did ride.

  “Ride straight, JOHN GILPIN—­for the House!”
  JOHN’s Liberal Dame did cry. 
  “The Party waits, and we feel tired.” 
  Said GILPIN—­“So do I!”

But yet his horse was not a whit
Inclined due North to stay;
For why?—­his stables at the House
Were out Westminster way.

So like an arrow swift he flew
Back southward through the throng,
Who shouted loud, “He yet will win! 
JOHN GILPIN’s going strong!”

* * * * *

And now Town’s traffic once again
For horse and man made space,
The drivers thinking, as before,
That GILPIN rode a race.

And so he did—­and won it, too,
For he got first to Town;
And, stiff and sore, at the House door,
Bare winner, he got down.

  Now let us sing, Long live the QUEEN,
  And GILPIN, long live he! 
  And when he next doth ride due North,
  May we be there to see!

* * * * *

A GOOD STAYER.—­From the Times of Tuesday, the 12th, we cull this:—­

    IN ANY CAPACITY of TRUST.—­Seven years in first-class Turkish
    Bath.  Patience and perseverance.  Good invalid attendant. 
    Active and attentive.

“Seven years in a Turkish Bath!” As Mr. WILSON BARRETT would exclaim, “How long!  How long!” What better example of patience and perseverance, which, as all know, are “good for the gout,” could possibly be given?  That after this long stay in the Turkish Bath, he should be “a good invalid attendant,” goes without saying.  And not only is he “attentive,” which is a great point in an “attendant,” but he is also active—­and this after so long a stay in a Turkish Bath, of which, however, he does not mention the temperature.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  THE POLITICAL JOHNNY GILPIN.

(THE FINISH.)

“SO LIKE AN ARROW SWIFT HE FLEW BACK SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE THRONG, WHO SHOUTED LOUD, ‘HE YET WILL WIN!  JOHN GILPIN’S GOING STRONG!’

“AND SO HE DID—­AND WON IT, TOO, FOR HE GOT FIRST TO TOWN; AND, STIFF AND SORE, AT THE HOUSE DOOR, BARE WINNER, HE GOT DOWN.”]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  “COLOURABLE SHAKSPEARIAN IMITATION.”

Othello, M.P. for Central Finsbury (saluting Sarum, Doge of Westminster).  “HAPLY THAT I AM BLACK—­” [Doge shudders, but feels unable to withdraw.]

* * * * *