During the past few weeks several parties of Afghan merchants and
traders have settled up their affairs and come into India. In
order to avoid being questioned by British poets in the
Khyber, they have entered this country by way of the Sissobi
pass."--_Indian Paper._

Some of our poets are notoriously curious, and we are hardly surprised
to learn that the Afghans could not "abide their question."

* * * * *

[Illustration: A COCK-AND-BULL STORY.]

* * * * *


THE LANGUAGE DIFFICULTY.

"The jolly part about an island where there are no towns and no
railways," said Willoughby, "is that you have thrills of excitement as
to where you will sleep next night or eat your next meal. Now when we
land at Lochrie Bay to-morrow it will be nearly lunch-time; but shall
we get lunch?"

"I can answer that," replied MacFadden, whose grandfather was a
Scotsman, and who was once in Edinburgh for a week; "the map shows
it is only five miles to Waterfoot, and there's sure to be an hotel
there. Those little Scots inns are all right."

"Yes," chimed in Sylvia, "and very likely there'll be nothing to eat