See, we call you, hands entwined, Standing at our door, With the glowing hearth behind And the wood before. Thence, where you are lurking, Back we bring you, bring and bind With our magic's working. Lo, our best we give for cess, Having naught above Handsel of our happiness, Seizin of our love. Take it then, O fairies! Homely gods that guard and bless, Little kindly _Lares_. * * * * * [Illustration: _(5.35 A.M. workman's train.)_ _Bill_. "'ULLO, 'ERB; GOT A JOB, THEN?" _'Erb._ "I AIN'T GOIN' UP TO LON'ON FOR A TANGO LESSON, I GIVE YOU _MY_ WORD."] * * * * * WHAT OUR READERS THINK OF US. _The Daily Express_ having invited its readers to intimate their opinion of that journal, _Mr. Punch_ decided also to give the grumblers a chance of saying what they think of his production, and he now publishes a typical selection of the letters which have reached him:-- Sir,--I gave up your journal many years ago on account of its partisanship, and never read it now. Only last week I came across a paragraph in my copy which made me throw the paper into the waste-paper basket. Yours faithfully, VERITAS. Sir,--Why is it you always favour the Tories? Yours faithfully, WELSH MEMBER. Sir,--If you continue to publish cartoons with a pronounced Radical bias I am afraid you will lose at least one. OLD SUBSCRIBER. Sir,--I object to the advertisements. I think it would be a good move if you were to drop these, increase the number of pages, and reduce the price to a halfpenny. In taking this course you would have the support of several influential members of my parish, in addition to myself. Yours faithfully, A COUNTRY PARSON. Sir,--What your paper needs is light relief. Could you not give us a little humour now and then? Yours faithfully, A POPULAR WRITER. P.S.--The last MS. you returned to me was very much crumpled. Please be more careful in the future. Sir,--I think it a pity you publish jokes. In this age, when all things--even our dear Bishops--are considered fit subjects for jest, we could do with one serious-minded paper. Trusting you will think this over, Yours faithfully, HITCHY KIKUYU. Sir,---You should see our American comic papers. Yours faithfully, WASHINGTON G. BUSTER. Sir,--I find the blank pages at the back of the cartoons very useful for making notes on. Could you not extend this feature? Yours faithfully, PROFESSOR. Sir,--I think you would do well to cater more for women--who, after all, are a rising sex. A page each week devoted to modern fashions would not be at all out of place in your paper. Yours faithfully, EVE.