“Oh, mamma!” says Willie, “the beefeaters didn’t come!  Nine of them there are in my book, and a grand one going in front, blowing a trumpet.  And the man holding his thumb to his nose at the sheriffs; and the policeman knocking a thief down with a staff!  And the lord mayor had no spectacles on.  That’s not fair!  Do beefeaters eat lots of beef, mamma?”

“Oh, no,” says Charlie, with a superior air, “they are only sideboard chaps.”

Willie is still more puzzled, until he is told that in the olden time servants so costumed used to stand by the sideboard, or buffet, as it was called, at feasts, and so got the name of buffetiers, and by degrees the name became changed into beefeaters, which was more easily remembered by the people.

[Illustration:  THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON’S SHOW.]

From our window we could not, of course, follow the procession on its winding way, nor had we seen it start.  On looking at the paper next morning, we read that at first it was feared that the elephants had failed to keep their appointment.  It was almost time to set out, and no elephants were to be seen.  What must be done?  The people ought not to be cheated out of the best part of the show; and yet, on the other hand, how undignified for a lord mayor to be kept waiting for thirteen elephants!  I am sorry to say the police were rather glad.  They had been very much afraid that the animals might prove troublesome during so long and unusual a walk; or else, coming from a circus, might, at any sudden pause, imagine themselves in the arena, and take it into their grave heads to perform on two legs and terrify the horses, or possibly annoy the lord mayor and his chaplain by putting their long trunks into his coach.  But, happily for us, the police were disappointed.  Such dignified creatures could not be expected to come early and be kept waiting.

Just at the right time they came leisurely up, and gravely taking their proper place, marched on with their proverbial sagacity—­waiting outside Westminster Hall, whilst the lord mayor swore to do his duty, as quietly as though they were at home—­and afterward left the procession at Blackfriars Bridge, to go to their own quarters and eat their well-earned dinner.  It is to be hoped that the lord mayor ordered something specially good for them.

The elephants having left, the **embassadors, her majesty’s ministers of state, the nobility, judges, and other persons of distinction, joined the procession, and proceeded to feast with his lordship and the lady mayoress at Guildhall.

[sic]

* * * * *

MY GIRL

BY JOHN S. ADAMS.

  I.

  A little corner with its crib,
  A little mug, a spoon, a bib,
  A little tooth so pearly white,
  A little rubber ring to bite.

  II.

  A little plate all lettered round,
  A little rattle to resound,
  A little creeping—­see! she stands! 
  A little step ’twixt outstretched hands.