_Scene: Principal barricade at Mr. Briggs's House._--OWING TO THE INCOMPLETE STATE OF THE ALTERATIONS, MR. BRIGGS IS OBLIGED TO ENTER HIS HOUSE THROUGH THE PARLOUR WINDOW. THE POLICEMAN MISTAKES HIM FOR A BURGLAR, AND ACTS ACCORDINGLY. IN MR. BRIGGS'S HAND MAY BE OBSERVED A FINE LOBSTER, WHICH HE HAS BROUGHT HOME TO CONCILIATE MRS. B.] [Illustration: _THE TROOPS AND THE WEATHER._] [Illustration: _PROPER PRIDE._ A SKETCH AT A RAILWAY STATION.] [Illustration: _JUST THE MAN._ "PLEASE, SIR, DID YOU WANT ANYBODY TO KEEP ORDER ON THESE HERE HUSTINGS ON POLLING DAY?"] [Illustration: _A REGULAR CUSTOMER._ "HA'PENNY CANDLE, PLEASE, AND BE QUICK, FOR MOTHER WANTS HER TEA." "OH, YES, OF COURSE, MISS; COULD WE SEND IT ANYWHERE FOR YER?"] [Illustration: _ALARMING INTELLIGENCE._ _Swell Mobsman (reads)._ "'ARRANGEMENTS ARE MAKING TO CONNECT ALL THE POLICE OFFICES WITH THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.' WELL, I HAM BLOWED!"] [Illustration: MR. BRIGGS'S PLEASURES OF HOUSEKEEPING. No. VIII. SOMEHOW OR OTHER, EVER SINCE THE ALTERATIONS, THE CHIMNEYS HAVE TAKEN TO SMOKE INTOLERABLY. THE BUILDER IS ASSURING MR. BRIGGS THAT BY SOME VERY SIMPLE CONTRIVANCE THEY CAN BE EFFECTUALLY CURED.] [Illustration: _TAKING CHANGE._ _Conductor_. "ALL RIGHT, JIM. PUSH ALONG, I'VE SERVED THE OLD GAL OUT THIS TIME." _Old Lady._ "HERE, STOP! CONDUCTOR! I WON'T TAKE CHANGE FOR A FIVE-SHILLING PIECE IN HALF-PENCE--THAT I WON'T! HERE, POLICE! CONDUCTOR!" &C.] [Illustration: _THE INTERESTING STORY._ _First Ticket Porter._ "AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL I KNOWS ABOUT IT." _Second Ticket Porter._ "WELL! I DON'T KNOW AS EVER I KNOWED A MAN AS KNOWS AS MUCH AS YOU KNOWS."] [Illustration: _MUCH TOO CONSIDERATE._ _Robinson._ "THERE, BROWN, MY BOY, THAT'S AS FINE A GLASS OF WINE AS YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE." _Mrs. Brown._ "A-HEM! AUGUSTUS, MY DE-AR. YOU ARE SURELY NEVER GOING TO TAKE PORT WINE? YOU KNOW IT NEVER AGREES WITH YOU, MY LOVE!"] [Illustration: _GALLANTRY._] [Illustration: _LA MODE._ _Gus (who is always so full of his nonsense)._ "DASH MY BUTTONS, ELLEN! THAT'S A STUNNING WAISTCOAT. I WISH YOU'D GIVE US YOUR TAILOR'S ADDRESS." _Ellen._ "DON'T YOU BE RUDE, SIR--AND TAKE YOUR ARMS OFF THE PIANO."] [Illustration: _A FASHION IN PINS._ "A PIN FOR YOUR SCARF, SIR? HERE'S AN ARTICLE WE HAVE SOLD A GREAT MANY OF."] MR. BRIGGS'S PLEASURES OF HOUSEKEEPING. [Illustration: No. IX. ENVELOPE CONTAINING THE BUILDER'S LITTLE ACCOUNT AGAINST MR. BRIGGS--MUCH TOO SERIOUS TO JEST UPON.] [Illustration: No. X. THE UNSETTLED STATE OF THE HOUSE FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS HAS SO DISORDERED BRIGGS, THAT HIS MEDICAL ADVISER RECOMMENDS A LITTLE HORSE EXERCISE BY WAY OF A CHANGE, AND HIS EQUESTRIAN PLEASURES BEGIN.] [Illustration: _SOMETHING LIKE A BROTHER._ _Flora._ "THAT'S A VERY PRETTY WAISTCOAT, EMILY!" _Emily._ "YES, DEAR. IT BELONGS TO MY BROTHER CHARLES. WHEN HE GOES OUT OF TOWN HE PUTS ME ON THE FREE-LIST, AS HE CALLS IT, OF HIS WARDROBE. ISN'T IT KIND?"]"