_Wife of Free and Independent._ "OH! AIN'T HE A HAFFABLE GENTLEMAN, TUMMUS?" _Free and Independent._ "AH! JUST AIN'T 'UN. I SHOULDN'T WONDER IF I WARN'T ABLE TO PAY MY RENT TO-MORRER!"] [Illustration: _MURDER WILL OUT._ _Mrs. Smith._ "IS MRS. BROWN IN?" _Jane._ "NO, MEM, SHE'S NOT AT HOME." _Little Girl._ "OH! WHAT A HORRID STORY, JANE! MA'S IN THE KITCHEN, HELPING COOK!"] [Illustration: _DOING A LITTLE BILL._ "YOU SEE, OLD BOY, IT'S THE MEREST FORM IN THE WORLD. YOU HAVE ONLY TO--WHAT THEY CALL--ACCEPT IT, AND I'LL FIND THE MONEY WHEN IT COMES DUE." _Victim._ "COME ALONG--GIVE US THE PEN."] [Illustration: _A PLEASANT STREET GAME._ _Old Gent._ "CONFOUND THE BOYS AND THEIR TOPS! WHERE ARE THE POLICE?"] MR. BRIGGS'S PLEASURES OF HOUSEKEEPING. [Illustration: No. I. THE COOK SAYS THAT SHE THINKS THERE'S A SLATE LOOSE ON THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE, FOR THE WATER COMES INTO THE SERVANTS' BEDROOM. MR. BRIGGS REPLIES THAT THE SOONER IT IS PUT TO RIGHTS THE BETTER, BEFORE IT GOES ANY FURTHER--AND HE WILL SEE ABOUT IT.] [Illustration: No. II. MR. BRIGGS HAVING BEEN TOLD BY THE BUILDER THAT A "LITTLE COMPO" IS ALL THAT IS WANTED, THE FIRST STEP IS TAKEN TOWARDS MAKING THINGS COMFORTABLE.] [Illustration: _HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS._ MASTER JACKEY HAVING SEEN A "PROFESSOR" OF POSTURING, HAS A PRIVATE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OWN IN THE NURSERY.] [Illustration: _SOMETHING LIKE A HOLIDAY._ _Pastrycook._ "WHAT HAVE YOU HAD, SIR?" _Boy._ "I'VE HAD TWO JELLIES, SEVEN OF THEM, AND ELEVEN OF THEM, AND SIX OF THOSE, AND FOUR BATH BUNS, A SAUSAGE ROLL, TEN ALMOND CAKES, AND A BOTTLE OF GINGER BEER."] [Illustration: _GREAT WANT OF VENERATION._ _Puer loquitur._ "I SAY LOBSTER, SHALL I GO AND FETCH YOU A CAB?"] MR. BRIGGS'S PLEASURES OF HOUSEKEEPING. [Illustration: No. III.] [Illustration: No. IV. NO TIME HAS BEEN LOST. MR. BRIGGS FINDS, ON GETTING OUT OF BED AT FIVE A.M. THAT THE WORKPEOPLE HAVE ALREADY COMMENCED PUTTING THE ROOF TO RIGHTS.] [Illustration: _DOMESTIC BLISS._ _Paterfamilias._ "I CANNOT CONCEIVE, MY LOVE, _WHAT_ IS THE MATTER WITH MY WATCH; I THINK IT MUST WANT CLEANING." _Pet Child._ "OH, NO! PAPA DEAR! I DON'T THINK IT WANTS CLEANING, BECAUSE BABY AND I HAD IT WASHING IN THE BASIN FOR EVER SO LONG THIS MORNING!"] [Illustration: _THE FASHIONS._ A FRIENDLY HINT TO YOUNG LADIES WHO WEAR THOSE DEAR DELIGHTFUL BARÈGE DRESSES. ALWAYS LET THE SLIP (OR WHATEVER THE MYSTERIOUS GARMENT IS CALLED) BE AS LONG AS THE OUTER DRESS!] [Illustration: _INNOCENCE._ "OH, SIR! NO, SIR! PLEASE, SIR, IT AIN'T ME, SIR! IT'S THE OTHER BOYS, SIR!"] [Illustration: _UNLUCKY._ "VAT'S THE MATTER, EH?" "OH, THERE'S ALWAYS A SOMETHINK! VY, I'VE BIN AND LEFT MY HOPERA-GLASS IN A CAB NOW."] MR. BRIGGS'S PLEASURES OF HOUSEKEEPING. [Illustration: No. V.