"Oh, indeed!" exclaimed RIP; and being a reasonable sort of person he again sought the good services of the hypnotist and went to sleep, hoping to return to consciousness when his countrymen had finished their holiday. * * * * * THE THREE CHOIRS. _A Song of the 172nd musical meeting of the Three Choirs of Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford, which opens at Gloucester on Tuesday, Sept. 10._ AIR--"_The Three Ravens._" There are Three Choirs--melodious three!-- _Down-a-down-a-down-hey-down!_ They are as fine as fine can be, _With a down!_-- They're going at Gloucester for to meet, By TUBAL CAIN, they're bad to beat. _With a down, derry, derry down!_ Gloucester--Worcester--Hereford! Three!!! _Down-a-down, &c._ Hear them perform the "Mass in C"! _With a down!_-- COWEN, SCHÜTZ, PARRY, LLOYD, MACFARREN! You bet your boots they won't be barren! _With a down, &c._ ALBANI strong, clear EDWARD LLOYD! _Down-a-down, &c._ BEN DAVIES--won't _he_ be enjoyed?-- _With a down!_-- And then there's clever W. HANN, A brick, as fiddler or as man; _With a down, &c._ Again, Miss ROSALIND ELLICOTT! _Down-a-down, &c._ That Bishop's daughter knows what's what, _With a down!_-- Then C. LEE WILLIAMS, Gloucester's pride, Conducts--himself and all beside. _With a down, &c._ They'll all go off, each Great Old Gun, _Down-a-down, &c._, HANDEL, BEETHOVEN, MENDELSSOHN,-- _With a down!_-- Nor, 'midst the old Titanic lot, Shall HENRY PURCELL be forgot, _With a down, &c._ Ah! well-a-day! London admires,-- _Down-a-down-a-down-hey-down_ This Festival of the Three Choirs. _With a down!_-- So heaven spare, music for to foster, Hereford, Worcester, "Good old Gloucester!" _With-a-down-derry-derry-derry-derry-down!_ * * * * * NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES.--A gentleman who was trying to cut a joke hurt himself severely. He says he will never again attempt the experiment, and his family express themselves satisfied. * * * * * [Illustration: "FORTY WINKS!"] * * * * * [Illustration: A HASTY INFERENCE. "AND, ME DEAR, IF YE FOIND MISTHRESS A BIT HOT-TEMPERED AT TOIMES, YE MUSTN'T MOIND IT. THE FAMILY HAVE BLACK BLOOD IN THEIR VEINS. JUST LOOK AT THEM PORTRAITS OF THEIR ANCESTORS!"] * * * * * ANOTHER DIALOGUE OF THE NIGHT. SCENE--_The Shades at Nightfall. Swiftian Interlocutors as before._ _Mr. Neverout_ (_reading_). "I cannot but with some pride, and much pleasure, congratulate with my dear country, which has outdone all the nations of Europe, in advancing the whole art of conversation to the greatest height it is capable of reaching."