"Come down," says he, "and look out for your share!" "I won't do that," says Tom Cricket. And when for another dance they care, And call upon Tom for a lively air, They find he has drawn himself back in his lair. "How shameful," they cry, "How wicked!" "Let's fill up the mouth of his cave with soot, Because he's behaved so badly!" They ran up and down the wall to do't; But ere half-done--a dreadful salute! In came the Cook, and the Scullion to boot, And off they all scampered madly. [Illustration] [Illustration] THE YEAR OF HARDSHIPS. JANUARY, Bitter, very! February damp, Sir; March blows On April's nose, May has caught the cramp, Sir; June, Without a sun or moon! July, August, Many a raw gust; September, October, November, December, Ten times worse than I ever remember. No apples, or hay, or honey, or corn; I'm sure it wasn't a fat year. Whenever you and I were born, Good-luck it wasn't in _that_ year! [Illustration] A RIDDLE. WHAT I say you'll scarce believe, Yet my words shall not deceive. I saw what seem'd a little Boy, With a face of life and joy; He danced, he ran, he nodded, he smiled, Just like any other Child; But could not speak, (how strange was this!) Or cry, or breathe, nor could I kiss, To save my life, the cherry red Of lips, not living and not dead! He was no picture, statue, doll; He was not a Child at all; He was Nothing, as near as could be, He was as real as you or me. --There he is: turn and see! [Illustration] [Illustration] Illustrated, Fine Art, and other Volumes. =Art, The Magazine of.= Yearly Volume. With about 500 choice Engravings from famous Paintings, and from Original Drawings by the First Artists of the day. An Original Etching forms the Frontispiece. 16s. =Art Directory and Year-Book of the United States.= With Engravings. 7s. 6d. =Along Alaska's Great River.= By FREDERICK SCHWATKA. Illustrated. 12s. 6d. =American Academy Notes.= Illustrated. 2s. 6d. =Animal Painting in Water Colours.= With Eighteen Coloured Plates by FREDERICK TAYLER. 5s. =After London; or, Wild England.= By RICHARD JEFFERIES. _Cheap Edition_, 3s. 6d. =Artist, Education of the.= By E. CHESNEAU. Translated by CLARA BELL. 5s. =Bimetallism, The Theory of.= By D. BARBOUR. 6s. =Bismarck, Prince.= By C. LOWE, M.A. 2 Vols., demy 8vo. With 2 Portraits. 24s. =Bright, Rt. Hon. John, Life and Times of.= By W. ROBERTSON. 7s. 6d. =British Ballads.= 275 Original Illustrations. Two Vols. Cloth, 7s. 6d. each.