Yet still, in the cloud hanging o'er me so black, A silvery lining I spy: A man who's unhappily laid on his back Can yet have a solace. May I? An angel is woman in moments of pain, Sang Scott: clever poet, _he_ knew: It may, I perceive, be distinctly a gain To have fallen at hockey with you. For if you'll but nurse me (Come quickly, come now), If you'll but administer balm, And press at my bidding my feverish brow With a cool but affectionate palm; If you'll sit by my side, it is possible, quite, That I may be induced to review With a feeling more nearly akin to delight That day I played hockey with you. [Illustration] * * * * * [Illustration: _Major Bunker_ (_who has been persuaded to join in a game of hockey for the first time, absent-mindedly preparing to drive_). "Fore."] * * * * * [Illustration: OUR LADIES' HOCKEY CLUB Miss Hopper cannot understand how it is she is always put "in goal." But really the explanation is so simple. There's no room for a ball to get past her.] * * * * * [Illustration: _Extract from Mabel's Correspondence._--"We had a scratch game with the 'Black and Blue' club yesterday, but had an awful job to get any men. Enid's brother and a friend of his turned up at the last moment; but they didn't do much except call 'offside' or 'foul' every other minute, and they were both as nervous as cats!"] * * * * * [Illustration: OUR LADIES' HOCKEY CLUB One of the inferior sex who volunteered to umpire soon discovered his office was no sinecure.] * * * * * [Illustration: HARE AND HOUNDS--AND MAY THEIR SHADOWS NEVER GROW LESS.--_Mrs. Miniver._ "How exhausted they look, poor fellows! Fancy doing that sort of thing for mere pleasure!" _Little Timpkins_ (_his bosom swelling with national pride_). "Ah, but it's all through doing that sort of thing for _mere pleasure_, mind you, that we English are--_what we are_!" [_Bully for little Timpkins!_ ] * * * * * [Illustration: HARE AND HOUNDS--AND DONKEY "Seen two men with bags of paper pass this way?"--"No!" "Did they tell you to say no?"--"Yes."] * * * * * [Illustration: HAPPY THOUGHT.--The good old game of "Hare and Hounds," or "Paper-Chase," is still played in the northern suburbs of London during the winter. Why should not young ladies be the hares?] * * * * * [Illustration: A MEETING OF THE "BANDY" ASSOCIATION For the promotion of "Hockey on the Ice."] * * * * * AN IDYL ON THE ICE Fur-apparelled for the skating, Comes the pond's acknowledged Belle: I am duly there in waiting, For I'll lose no time in stating That I love the lady well.