Scarce ten years old; superior strength of mind Speaks in his "SPEAKING EYES" his sense refin'd: His manners graceful, unassuming too; Such sweet simplicity we never knew: So noble, free, and dignified his mien, A real Hamlet seems to grace the scene. When he with mimic art his skill applies, And Shakspeare's heroes to assume he tries, So well the child can personate the man, That twenty years appear in one short span; Aye, not three minutes does the change require, To make the maiden young or old, or 'squire. But Shakspeare most his talents bring to sight: There may experienc'd actors, with affright, Think they ne'er more again must tread the stage, While Grossmith is the Roscius of the age. He weighs each word, and "_suits the action well;_" His rising its meaning oft will tell Ere yet 'tis utter'd: his expressive face Conveys the sense with ever-varying grace. In short, no authors difficult appear To his superior sense and gifted ear; His growing talents so conspicuous shine, He gives a charm to Shakspeare's ev'ry line. Farewell, sweet child! May virtue guide thy way, May bliss without alloy be thine each day, And may'st thou e'er enjoy that peace of mind Which dwells with virtue and with sense refin'd. _Dowham Market, June 1st_, 1829. M. M. C. And now _revenons a nos moutons_. At the close of 1864 I blossomed into a Penny Reader, and I can safely aver that no Penny Reader ever had such an exalted opinion of his own talents as I had of mine. Penny Readings were fast becoming the rage, and were springing up everywhere; and my first public appearance at them was in a schoolroom, in close proximity to Holy Trinity Church, Hawley Road, turning out of the Chalk Farm Road. This was the church I had been in the habit of attending, and in the choir of which I had sometimes sung. There was at Penny Readings no programme in those days. The chairman (always the vicar or the curate) used to call upon those in the audience whom he considered capable. He flattered me with this distinction; so I took my seat at the piano, and sang a song with a refrain, in which the noisy portion of the audience commenced to join. This was not quite approved of; so for a time I contented myself with recitals from Dickens, Hood, &c., which I cribbed from my father's _repertoire_. I soon returned to the comic songs again, but selected those of a milder form, like "He, She, and the Postman," a story without a chorus, and some out of Howard Paul's entertainment.