In spite of the War we still bow to the decrees of fashion. * * * * * THE JOY TAX. [By one who is prepared to accept it like a patriot without further protest.] Now Spring comes laughing down the sky To see her buds all busy hatching; With tender green the woods are gay, And birds, as is their April way, Chirp merrily on the bough, and I Chirp, too, because it's catching. Full many a joy I must eschew And to the tempter's voice "No! No!" say; With taxes laid on all delights Must miss, with other mirthful sights, On Monday next my annual view Of England's Art Exposé. I must forgo (and bear the worst With what I can of noble calm) a Pure bliss from which I only part With horrid pain about the heart-- I mean the humour unrehearsed Of serious British drama. But, thank the Lord, I need not miss The birds that in their leafy nook coo; Young Spring is mine to taste at large, The Ministry has made no charge For earth that warms to April's kiss; They haven't taxed the cuckoo! O. S. * * * * * A VOLUNTEER CASUALTY. We were "standing easy" prior to the assault on the undefended heights of Spanker's Hill when the voice of the platoon-commander disturbed our thoughts of home and loved ones, and particularly of our Sunday dinners, which would be very much out of season before we could get at them. "Number 4," he said, in a tone that thrilled us to the bottom twist of our puttees, "these Body-Snatchers (thus coarsely he alluded to the Ambulance Section) have been following us all day and haven't had a single casualty so far. That is why, in the coming advance, I shall be wounded. Sergeant, you will take over the command, should the worst befall. Smith and Williams, as you are both big and heavy, you'd better be knocked out too." It was with mingled feelings that I heard my name mentioned. In the first place, a feeling of annoyance was engendered at having my proportions thus publicly referred to. But other, and I trust worthier, thoughts came to me, and, turning to my neighbour, I gave him a few last messages of a suitably moving nature to be delivered to my friends. The kind-hearted fellow was deeply affected, and in a voice broken by emotion offered to take charge of my loose change, and asked for my watch as a keepsake. I thanked him with tears in my eyes, but said that the burial party would forward all my valuables to my relations. Our conversation was interrupted by the command "Platoon--'SHUN. To the left, to six paces, ex-TEND." By an oversight the preliminary formation usually adopted as a precaution against artillery had been omitted, and in a moment we were advancing up the hill in open order.