_First Friend._ "AH--VERY NICE--VERY NICE--BUT NOT MY SORT--BEEN KNOCKED ABOUT A GOOD DEAL, I SHOULD SAY--DRIVEN IN A BUTCHER'S CART, PERHAPS, AND SOLD BECAUSE HE WASN'T FAST ENOUGH."----_Second Ditto._ "HE HASN'T BEEN DOWN, BRIGGS, HAS HE? IS THAT A SCRATCH, OR IS IT ONLY THE LIGHT?"----_Third Ditto._ "DOES HE SHY AT ALL? HIS EYES DON'T LOOK QUITE THE THING."----_Fourth Ditto._ "I TELL YOU WHAT, BRIGGS, YOU MUST HAVE HIM LOOKED AFTER A LITTLE BETTER, OR HE'LL VERY SOON HAVE A CRACKED HEEL."----_Fifth Ditto._ "THAT HOCK SEEMS RATHER QUEER," &c., &c., &c.] [Illustration: _A STARTLING REQUEST._ "PLEASE, SIR, WILL YOU PUMP FOR ME?"] [Illustration: _CUT HIM DOWN BEHIND!_] [Illustration: _DELICATE._ '_Bus Conductor._ "WOULD ANY LADY BE SO KIND AS TO RIDE OUTSIDE TO OBLIGE A _GENTLEMAN_?"] [Illustration: _CONFOUND THE SHOPS!_ _Mrs. ----._ "OH! DO LOOK HERE, DEAR! HOW EXTREMELY PRETTY THE AUTUMN FASHIONS ARE, TO BE SURE. WHAT A PERFECTLY LOVELY LITTLE CLOAK!" _Mr. ---- (rapidly changing the subject)._ "YES. YES! BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! BUT SEE, LOVE, WHAT A MAGNIFICENT BROWN HORSE, AND HOW SPLENDIDLY THAT FELLOW SITS HIM!"] [Illustration: _VERY LOW PEOPLE._ _Purveyor of Poultry._ "WHAT SORT O' PEOPLE ARE THEY AT NUMBER TWELVE, JACK?" _Purveyor of Meat._ "OH! A RUBBISHIN' LOT. LEG O' MUTTON A' MONDAYS, AND 'ASH AN' COLD MEAT THE REST O' THE WEEK."] [Illustration: _POOR TOMMY._ "WHY, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH TOMMY?" "BOO! HOO! I'VE CUT MY FINGER WITH AUNT'S SCISSORS." "THAT'S A GOOD BOY! ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH!"] MR. BRIGGS'S PLEASURES OF HORSEKEEPING. [Illustration: No. VI. MR. BRIGGS (_at an alarming sacrifice_) GETS RID OF HORSE NO. I., AND GOES OUT FOR A RIDE IN THE COUNTRY UPON NO. II. _Carman._ "FELL DOWN, HAS HE, SIR? AH, HE LOOKS AS IF HE COULD BE WERRY CLEVER AT THAT.--WERRY ORKERD THING, SIR, FOR A OSS TO FALL DOWN, SIR. OSSES OOSTES A GOOD BIT O' MONEY--LEASTWAYS, GENTLEMEN'S OSSES DOES.--NOW, JIST LOOK AT MY LITTLE OSS, SIR, AND HE'S A POOR MAN'S OSS, HE IS. HE DON'T GO FALLIN' ABOUT." (_Exit._)] [Illustration: No. VII. MR BRIGGS RIDES(!) HOME, AND WONDERS WHAT MRS. BRIGGS WILL SAY.] [Illustration: _AWFUL INSTANCE OF PERCEPTION OF CHARACTER IN AN INFANT PRODIGY._ _Prodigy._ "MAMMA, LOOK DERE! DERE PAPA!"] [Illustration: _EASILY PLEASED._ _Disciple of Old Isaac._ "THIS WOULDN'T BE A BAD PLACE, IF THE FISH WOULD ONLY BITE, AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS CONFOUNDED WASPS' NEST."] [Illustration: _DELICACY OF THE SEASON._ _Testy Old Uncle (unable to control his passion)._ "REALLY, SIR, THIS IS QUITE INTOLERABLE! YOU MUST INTEND TO INSULT ME. FOR THE LAST FOURTEEN DAYS, WHEREVER I HAVE DINED, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT SADDLE OF MUTTON AND BOILED TURKEY--BOILED TURKEY AND SADDLE OF MUTTON. I'LL ENDURE IT NO LONGER." [_Exit Old Gent., who alters his Will._] [Illustration: _THE BANDS OF HOPE; OR, THE CHILDISH TEETOTAL MOVEMENT._