Country gossips, nodding slow When the fire is burning low, Or chatting round about the well On the green at Ashlins Dell, With many a timid backward glance And fingers crossed and eyes askance, Still tell about the Midmas Day When Marget Malherb went away. "After Midmas Day shall break, Maidens, neither brew nor bake; See your house be sanded clean; Wear no stitch of fairy green; Go barefoot; wear nor hose nor shoon From rise of sun to rise of moon; For the Good People watch and wait Waiting early, watching late, For foolish maids who treat with scorn The mystic rites of Midmas Morn." Marget Malherb tossed her head, "I fear no fairies' charms," she said-- For she'd new slippers she would wear To show her lad the pretty pair, Soft green leather, buckled red-- "I fear no fairies' charms," she said. She drew them on and laughed in scorn, And out she danced on Midmas Morn. Nevermore was Marget seen; But when her lover sought the green A Fairy Ring was all he found-- A Fairy Ring on the weeping ground; And by the hedge a flower grew, Long and slender, filled with dew, Green and pointed, ribboned red; And still you'll find them as I've said. And Marget comes, so gossips say, To wear her shoes on Midmas Day. * * * * * =The Gladiatorial Spirit.= "Crossbie would have done better to have shot himself, but he gave the ball to his partner."--_Provincial Paper_. * * * * * "MILK PRICES UP. HIGHER CHARGE TO MEET THE COST OF PETROL." _Daily Paper_. We always thought it was water that they used. * * * * * [Illustration: "EVERYBODY COULD BE LIKE US" BY TAKING "_PLUMPO_" TABLETS. THE SECRET OF STRENGTH AND BEAUTY] * * * [Illustration: GOOD NEWS FOR WOMEN! "Every woman may be beautiful" Leonina Robinson CONSULTATIONS DAILY APPLY FOR MADAME R'S LATEST BOOK MADAME ROBINSON "HOW TO FASCINATE"] * * * [Illustration: DOCTORS DESPAIRED-- AMAZING STATEMENT BY WELL KNOWN LONDON MAN!!! Mr. SYD PORKER of 250A GLADSTONE TERRACE TOOTING WRITES "..._I AM TWICE THE MAN I WAS_." Mr. PORKER (TAKEN FROM LIFE) PARKES'S PURPLE PILLS.] * * * [Illustration: WHY MAKE A SIGHT OF YOURSELF? ONE BOTTLE OF "FRIZOLIN" FIXES THE HAIR LIKE GLUE] * * * [Illustration: DO YOU SUFFER FROM LACK OF BRAINS? IF SO--SEND P.O. FOR 2/6 TO PROF. X. BOX M. ROOM N. 21 SLOPER'S COURT PECKHAM _AND AWAIT RESULTS_. "ASTOUNDING!" (PRESS OPINION) PROF. X. THE MAN WHO HAS REVOLUTIONISED MEDICAL SCIENCE.] * * * [Illustration: CECILIA BLOBS ROBES] * * * THE PERSUASIVE POWER OF BEAUTY IN ART. * * * * * [Illustration: _Bored Spectator_. "'ERE, NOT SO MUCH OF THE CA-CANNY."] * * * * * A DIFFERENCE OF CLASS.