Science has given us the baby-jumper, by which we are enabled to carry out the common exclamation of "Hang those noisy children" without an act of infanticide, by suspending our youngsters in the air; and perhaps allowing them to have their full swing, without getting into mischief; but the apparatus for the nursery will not be complete until we have something in the shape of coops for our pretty little chickens, when they are "out with nurse", and she happens to have something better--or worse--to do than to look after them. How often, in a most interesting part of a novel, or in the midst of a love passage of real life, in which the nurse is herself the heroine, how often, alas! is she not liable to be disturbed by the howl of a brat, with a cow's horn in his eye, a dog's teeth in his heels, or in some other awkward dilemma, which could not have arisen had the domestic Child-coop been an article of common use in the Metropolitan parks, or on the sands at the seaside? [Illustration: YARMOUTH] There is something very beautiful in the comparison of helpless infancy to a brood of young chickens, with its attendant imagery of "mother's wing", and all that sort of thing, but the allegory would be rendered much more complete by the application of the hencoop to domestic purposes. We intend buying one for our own stud of _piccoli_--which means little pickles--and we hope to see all heads of families taking it into their heads to follow our example. * * * * * MIDSUMMER MADNESS.--Going to the seaside in search of quiet. * * * * * [Illustration: LOCAL INTELLIGENCE "D'year as 'ow old Bob Osborne 'ave give up shrimpin' an took ter winklin'?" "Well, I'm blest!"] * * * * * [Illustration: THE INGRATITUDE OF SOME SERVANTS You give them a change by taking them to the seaside--all they have to do is to look after the children--and yet they don't seem to appreciate it.] * * * * * [Illustration: A NATIVE HOISTER] * * * * * [Illustration: GOING DOWN TO A WATERING PLACE] * * * * * ON THE SPOT Shall we like Pierpoint, to which favourite and healthy seaside resort we finally resolved to come, after a period of much indecision and uncertainty, and where we arrived, in heavy rain, in two cabs, with thirteen packages, on Saturday? Shall we be comfortable at 62, Convolution Street, dining-room floor, two guineas and a half a week, and all and perhaps rather more than the usual extras? Shall we like Mrs. Kittlespark? Shall we find Kate all that a Kate ought to be? Shall we lock everything up, or repose a noble confidence in Mrs. Kittlespark and Kate? Shall we get to know the people in the drawing-room? Shall we subscribe to the Pier, or pay each time we go on it?