An absent man, whose heart can seldom resist the importunities of beggars, was, a few mornings since, followed by a hungry half-starved dog, when he inadvertently took from his pocket a penny, which he was just about to give to the four-footed wanderer, when he perceived his mistake. It should be mentioned that the above individual had, on nearly the precise spot, on the previous night, assisted one of his fellow creatures in the same manner as that in which he was about to relieve the quadruped. The EDITOR of the MIRROR will be happy to substantiate this fact to such as may be disposed to doubt its authenticity:--"if it be madness, there's method in it." * * * * * SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Seventeen hundred individuals a year, for the last seven years, have been committed for poaching.--_Report Prison Discip. Society_. Crime is a curse only to the period in which it is successful; but virtue, whether fortunate or otherwise, blesses not only its own age, but remotest posterity, and is as beneficial by its example, as by its immediate effects. At the late Doncaster races, there were 30,000 persons well clothed, and apparently well fed and happy. 2000l. were taken at the grand stand for admission. Mr. Kean is to receive, during the present season, _fifty pounds_ for each night's performance--the yearly income of a curate! Singing _Non Nobis Domine_ after dinner is a very foolish custom. People in England pay 10,000l. a year for _non nobis_. Rather sing Dr. Kitchener's Universal Prayer and the English grace. The common people of every country understand only their native tongue; therefore if you do not understand them, you will not understand each other. All Italian music is detestable, and nothing like our genuine native song. Weber's "unconcatenated chords" ought not to be listened to, while we have such composers as Braham and Tom Cooke. The _national songs of Great Britain_ have not sold so well as the _Cook's Oracle_. "People like what goes into the mouth better than what comes out of it."--_Dr. Kitchener_. A museum, deanery, and a cattle-market are building at York. Various other improvements and repairs are also in progress in that city! According to the Report of the Commissioners of Public Charities, the _annual_ sum of 972,396l. has been bequeathed by pious donors to _England only_! This is surely the promised land of benevolence; but in Salop only, there are arrears now due to the poor for upwards of 42 years! M. La Combe, in his _Picture of London_, advises those who do not wish to be robbed to carry a brace of blunderbusses, and to put the muzzle of one out of each window, so as to be seen by the robbers.