* * * * *

A COMPLICATED CASE.--The careless little boy who caught a cold from
his cousin, caught it hot from his mother afterwards.

* * * * *

VENICE IN LONDON.

(_BY A MOSQUITO "OUT OF IT."_)

[Illustration]

Oh, it's all very fine, Mr. IMRE KARALFY,
Thus to blazon your "Venice in London" around,
To portray the Piazzetta for 'ARRY and ALFY,
But dispense with my tintinnabulary sound.
Ask the Tourist if, reft of my wee fellow-creatures,
On the face of the waters (and watermen) blown,
He can honestly recognise Venice's features
In their miniature--or, for that matter, _his own_.

Ever watchful, we guard, Messrs. ALFY and 'ARRY,
With our trumpet and spear for the Doges, their mute,
Opalescent, profanity-proof sanctuary,
And we swell the lagoon--and lagoonster, to boot.
Stare away at this pageant of eld--ever new 'tis,--
In the glimmering gondolas loll, if you like;
But I'll warrant one eye would be closed to their beauties,