I roam beneath a foreign sky, That sky is cloudless, warm and clear; And everything is glad but I;— But ah! my heart is far from here. They bid me look on forests green, And boundless prairies stretching far; But I rejoice not in their sheen, And longing turn to Temple Bar. They bid me list the torrent's roar, In all its foaming, bounding pride; But I, I only think the more On living torrents in Cheapside! They bid me mark the mighty stream, Which Mississippi rolls to sea; But then I sink in pensive dream, And turn my thoughts, dear Thames, to thee! They bid me note the mountains high, Whose snow-capp'd peaks my prospect end; I only heave a secret sigh— To Ludgate Hill my wishes tend. They taunt me with our denser air, And fogs so thick you scarce can see; Then, yellow fog, I will declare, Though strange to say, I long for thee. And everything in this bright clime But serves to turn my thoughts to thee! Thou, London, of an earlier time, Oh! when shall I return to thee? how 'e's changed Customer. "That dog I bought last week has turned out very savage. He's already bitten a little girl and a policeman, and——" Dealer. "Lor'! how 'e's changed, mum! He wasn't at all particular what he ate 'ere!" Panic in the CityTIME—3.30 P.M. Excited Stockbroker.—By Jove! it's serious now. Other dittos. Hey? what? Excited Stockbroker. Rothschild's "gone"— Clients (new to City, thunderstruck). Gone! Rothschild!!—but— Excited Stockbroker. Yes. Gone to Paris. [Exit. What to Expect at an Hotel.—Inn-attention. A Question for Lloyd's.—Are sub-editors underwriters? Incidents of Taxation.—Collectors and summonses. What a City Company does.—It may not be generally known that the duty of the Spectacle-makers is to get up the Lord Mayor's Show. Glasses round, and then they proceed to business. Impossible Phrase.—The happy rich, the happy poor, both quite possible. But, "the happy mean"—oh no—impossible. Song for the Town-tied Sportsman.—"How happy could I be with heather!" Progress Progress.(Overheard in Kensington. Time, 9 A.M.). Fair Club Member (lately married, to friend). "Bye, bye! Can't stop! Must rush off, or I shall be scratched for the billiard handicap!" on the pavement Policeman (to slightly sober individual, who is wobbling about in the road amongst the traffic). "Come, old man, walk on the pavement." Slightly Sober Individual. "Pavement! Who do you take me for? Blondin?" SKETCHED IN OXFORD STREET SKETCHED IN OXFORD STREETInscription to be placed over the Stock Exchange.—"Bear and for-bear." The Price of Bread.—Twists have taken a turn; and cottages have come down in some places, owing to the falls of bricks, which continue to give way rapidly. A baker near one of the bridges has not had a roll over, which is to be accounted for by his having come down in regular steps to a level with the lower class of consumers. Plaster of Paris is in some demand, and there have been some mysterious transactions in sawdust by the baker who liberally deals with the workhouse. Official Order.—All cabmen plying within hail are to be supplied with umbrellas by Government. It is in the safe HE DIDN'T MEAN TO LOSE THAT"Miffins, the book-keeper, tells me that you have lost the key of the safe, and he cannot get at the books." "Yes, sir, one of them. You gave me two, you remember." "Yes; I had duplicates made in case of accident. And the other?" "Oh, sir, I took care of that. I was afraid I might lose one of them, you know." "And is the other all right?" "Yes, sir. I put it where there was no danger of it being lost. It is in the safe, sir!" A NOVEMBER FOG IN A NOVEMBER FOGFrenchman (just arrived on his first visit to London). "Ha, ha! my frien', now I understan' vot you mean ven you say ze sun nevaire set in your dominion, ma foi! It does not rise!" Thirsty Soul "NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND"Thirsty Soul (after several gyrations round the letter-box). "I sh'like t'know wha'-sh-'e good 'f gen'lem'n-sh turn'n tea-tot'ller 'f gov'm'nt (hic) goes-h an' cut-sh th' shpouts-h o' th' bumpsh off!" |