Some hold it a terrible fault of omission That Parsons sit not on the Poor-Law Commission. Alas! Hope would smile, but she finds it a rarity For "Faith" not to hamper the freedom of Charity. The world will look bright when we find in high places A perfect accord 'twixt the Three Christian Graces! * * * * * THE FIRST BAL MASQUE OF THE SEASON.--Big success. Greater crowd there than when these entertainments came to an end at the beginning of last year. All sorts of disguises were permitted, but it is said that two _viveurs_ who came late, disguised in liquor, were denied entrance. The Snow Man found it very hot, and melted. Prizes were to be given away. But there was one prize, an elegant lady, closely masked and hooded, whose identity remained a puzzle to everybody. At last "she gave herself away." The happy recipient congratulated himself on winning the prize. * * * * * NEXT, PLEASE!--Suggested subject for the next Newspaper Controversy:--"Is ROBERT BUCHANAN played out?" * * * * * "RENT REDUCTIONS" can generally be satisfactorily made _pro tem._ with a needle and thread. * * * * * [Illustration: "THE PLAY'S THE THING!" "COULD I HAVE A FORTNIGHT'S LEAVE, SIR?" "WHAT FOR, PRAY?" "URGENT PRIVATE THEATRICALS!"] * * * * * THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENIUS. (_Fragmentary and Unfinished Extracts from the Arabian Nights, Up to Date._) "Sir," said SHEEVERREADY, "how pleasant soever these stories may be that I have told your Majesty hitherto, they do not come near that of the Fisherman and the Genius." * * * There was an ancient, but hale and opulent Fisherman, who had fished with much success for many a day in troubled waters. This practice of his involved him, of course, in extremely arduous labours, but resulted, generally, in securing him a fair share of hard-earned spoil, to the great envy of other fishermen of less hardihood and enterprise. He imposed it upon himself, however, as a law, not to cast his nets save during a certain season--or session, as he called it--which usually arrived but once a year. His fortune, for some fishing seasons past, had been of a variable, and not too satisfactory sort. It is _not_ encouraging, after casting one's nets during a prolonged spell of rough weather, and confidently anticipating a good draught of fish, to perceive that, instead of fish, there is nothing in one's net save such unsought spoil as the carcase of an Egyptian ass, a basket-full of gravel and slime of no substantial utility, or quantities of stones and mud, fit for nothing but for use as missiles among quarrelsome boys. "O Fortune," cried he; "be not so persistently perverse, nor persecute an ancient fisherman who groweth a-weary of tumultuous billows, turbid floods, broken and filth-obstructed nets, and unprofitable hauls!" * * *