To offer _me_, who book place--
A Stall that would the Pit disgrace,
I wonder why.

I wonder why, whenever pressed
A little money to invest
In something which is quite the best
Affair to buy,
I _always_ read next morning that
Not _I_, but it (in parlance pat
Of City articles) was "Flat,"
I wonder why.

* * * * *

CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS NURSERY RHYMES.

(_FOR USE OF INFANT STUDENTS IN NEW SCHOOL OF DRAMATIC ART._)

'Tis the voice of the Prompter,
I hear him quite plain;
He has prompted me twice,
Let him prompt me again.

* * * * *

THE PRETTY SIMPLETON.

[The _Spectator_ warns men against marrying simpletons,
pointing out that "there is no bore on earth equal to the