[Illustration: _A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!_] [Illustration: _OF A VERY STUDIOUS TURN._ _Mamma._ "WHO IS THIS HAMPER FOR?--WHY, FOR POOR JERRY, WHO IS AT SCHOOL, YOU KNOW." _Darling_ (_reflectively_). "OH!--DON'T YOU THINK, MA, I HAD BETTER GO TO SCHOOL?"] [Illustration: _WHOLESOME FEAST._ _Jessie._ "AND SO, WALTER, YOU HAVE LITTLE PARTIES AT YOUR SCHOOL, EH?" _Walter._ "AH! DON'T WE, JUST!--LAST HALF THERE WAS CHARLEY BOGLE, AND GEORGE TWISTER AND ME--WE JOINED YOU KNOW--AND HAD TWO POUNDS OF SAUSAGES, COLD, AND A PLUM CAKE, AND A BARREL OF OYSTERS, AND TWO BOTTLES OF CURRANT WINE!--OH, MY EYE! WASN'T IT JOLLY, NEITHER!"] [Illustration: _QUITE A NICE PARTY._ _Georgina._ "WELL, GUS! AND HOW DID YOU LIKE YOUR PARTY LAST NIGHT?" _Gus._ "OH, JOLLY--I GOT ELEVEN ICES, AND NO END OF NEGUS, AND WENT DOWN FOUR TIMES TO SUPPER!!"] [Illustration: _LITTLE MEN._ "BEEN TO THE PLAY MUCH THESE HOLIDAYS, FRED?" "AW--I WENT THE OTHER NIGHT. BUT, AW--I DON'T KNOW--SOMEHOW, PANTOMIMES ARE NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE IN MY TIME; AND AS FOR THE GURLS, THERE WASN'T A GOOD-LOOKING ONE IN THE HOUSE."] [Illustration: _HOME ENJOYMENTS._ A DISCREET (!) FRIEND HAVING PRESENTED MASTER TOM WITH A TOOL-BOX AS A NEW YEAR'S GIFT--THE FURNITURE IS PUT INTO THOROUGH REPAIR] [Illustration: _HOME AMUSEMENTS._ GRAND PEACE DEMONSTRATION IN OUR NURSERY!] [Illustration: _AMATEUR PANTOMIME._] [Illustration: _A HAPPY NOTION._ _Delightful Boy._ "OH! I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'LL DO! I'LL GO AND PLAY MY DRUM AT UNCLE FOOZLE'S DOOR!"] [Illustration: _HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS._ _Arthur_ (_on Pony_). "HOLLO! WHAT HAVE YOU GOT ON YOUR HEADS?" _Juvenile Swell._ "WHY, YOU SEE, EVERY SNOB WEARS A CAP OR A WIDE-AWAKE NOW! SO THE MEN OF OUR SCHOOL HAVE RETURNED TO THE OLD CHIMNEY-POT!" [_As Paterfamilias, we are sorry to say that we have observed this monstrosity many times this Christmas._ ] [Illustration: _IN SOCIETY._ _Small Boy._ "GOING TO THE PANTOMIME, CLARA, THIS AFTERNOON?" _Clara._ "A--NO--I'M AT HOME--AND HAVE A KETTLEDRUM AT THREE O'CLOCK!"] [Illustration: _PATRONISING._ "PRETTY SIGHT, AIN'T IT, CHARLEY, TO SEE THE YOUNGSTERS ENJOYING THEMSELVES?"] [Illustration: _PRIVATE THEATRICALS._] [Illustration: _THE JOLLY GAME OF SNOWBALLING, AS PLAYED IN OUR SQUARE._] [Illustration: _THE JUVENILE PARTY.--A GREAT LIBERTY._ _Juvenile._ "MAMMA, DEAR! DO YOU KNOW THAT GENTLEMAN TICKLED ME WITHOUT BEING INTRODUCED!"] [Illustration: _THE MORNING AFTER THE JUVENILE PARTY._ _Papa._ "WHY, TOM, I'M AFRAID YOU MUST HAVE EATEN TOO MUCH CAKE LAST NIGHT. YOU LOOK QUITE SEEDY THIS MORNING!" _Little Sister._ "OH, NO, PAPA DEAR, IT CAN'T BE THAT. HE EAT THE THINGS OUT OF THE CRACKERS, BUT HE DIDN'T TOUCH THE SEED CAKE!"] [Illustration: _AN ENVIOUS YOUTH._ _Sensitive Young Lady._ "POOR CREATURES! NOTHING BUT EATING AND SLEEPING! WHAT A DREADFUL EXISTENCE!"