Letter sent by a soldier's wife to the Army Pay Department:--

"I am sending you my marage sertificate and six children there
were seven but won died. You only sent six back her name was fanny
and was baptised on a half sheet of paper by the reverend Thomas."

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Officer (on leave)._ "SO YOU'RE STILL ALIVE, PETER?"

_Peter._ "YES, SIR--AN' I'M GOIN' TO SEE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS, SIR. YOU
SEE, SIR, I'VE ALWAYS NOTICED THAT WHEN I LIVE THROUGH THE MONTH OF
AUGUST I LIVE OUT THE WHOLE YEAR."]

* * * * *

A CENTENARY.

JOHN LEECH.

_BORN AUGUST 29TH_, 1817.

I.--TO OUR GREATEST CONTRIBUTOR.

JOHN LEECH, a hundred years ago,
When you were born and after,
There shone a sort of kindly glow
Of airy fun and laughter;
It was a sound that seemed to sing,