On Good Friday the people came
  To honour the rood of Christ His shame;
  They scattered flowers and leaves and moss
  About the foot of the humble cross
  And, when they knelt and prayed and wailed,
  Theobald saw the Mother, veiled
  And bowed in a mother’s agony. 
  “She suffers more than the Christ,” said he.

  Theobald searched the fields and lanes
  To find a solace for MARY’S pains;
  All the flowers were plucked and gone
  Save a little dull Parsley, sere and wan;
  And Theobald wreathed it in simple guise;
  “It mourns like her,” said the Fool made wise.

  When Holy Saturday morning broke
  Back to the shrine went the village folk;
  And lo! on the weeping Mother’s brow
  A chaplet of flowers was gleaming now;
  And Theobald smiled secretly
  To think he had soothed her agony. 
  And ever since Theobald crowned his Queen
  Fool’s Parsley has flowered amongst its green.

* * * * *

HEADGEAR FOR HEROES.

[A contemporary, having heard of the hat specially designed for M. CLEMENCEAU, has decided that the bowler, the topper, the Homburg, the straw, the cloth cap and all other styles at present more or less in vogue leave much to be desired, and has therefore inaugurated a search for the ideal male headdress.]

THE SMILLIE.—­A Phrygian model, executed in red Russia leather.  Special features are the asbestos lining, the steam vents and the water-jacket, which combine to minimise the natural heat of the head.  Embellished with an heraldic cock’s-comb gules, it is a striking conception.

THE PREMIER.—­A semi-Tyrolean type in resilient chamois, which can be readily converted to any desired shape, with or without extra stiffening.  Its adaptability and the patent sound-proof ear-flaps make it particularly suitable for travellers.  Detachable edelweiss and leek trimming.

THE ERIC.—­An adaptation of the cap of maintenance in a special elastic material, warranted not to burst under pressure of abnormal expansion of the head of the wearer.  Practically fool-proof.

THE WINNIE.—­A fore-and-aft derived from a French model of the First Empire period, the severity of which is mitigated by the addition of little bells.  A novelty is the mouthpiece in the crown, which enables the hat to be used as a megaphone at need.  An elastic loop holds a fountain-pen in position.  The whole to be worn on a head several sizes too big for it.

THE CONAN.—­A straw bonnet of bee-hive shape.  Medium weight.  In a diversity of shades.  The special puggaree of goblin blue material is designed to protect the wearer from moonstroke without obscuring the vision.

THE WARNER.—­An easy-fitting crown carried out in harlequin flannel surmounts a full brim of restful willow-green.  Garnished with intertwined laurel and St. John’s-Wort, and decorated with the tail feather of a Surrey fowl, it makes a comfortable and distinguished headdress for a middle-aged gentleman.