Little Grey Water, folk say and they say
    That the homing hill-shepherd, benighted, has heard
  A song in the reeds, ’twixt the dawn and the day,
    That was never the song of a breeze or a bird.

  But I know you so silent, so silent and still,
    And so proud of your trust that you’ll never betray
  What the fairies that gather from Grundiston Hill
    Tell the stars before morning to witch them away.

  W.H.O.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  FAITH RESTORED.

MR. PUNCH.  “STANDS ROBERT WHERE HE DID?  GOOD!  I WAS AFRAID FOR A MOMENT
THAT MY IDOL HAD FEET OF CLAY.”]

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Monday, June 2nd.—­The Lords seldom sit die Lunae, and were perhaps feeling what humbler folk call “rather Mondayish” at being summoned from their week-end pleasaunces to put the Local Government (Ireland) Bill through its final stages.  Anyhow they developed some eleventh-hour criticisms.  The sad case of the Belfast Water Commissioners attracted Lord STUART OF WORTLEY.  There are fifteen of them—­one each for the existing wards.  But under the Bill Belfast is to be divided into ten wards; and fifteen into ten won’t go, even in Ireland.  Lord PEEL considered that while Lord STUART’S arithmetic was impeccable his fears were exaggerated.  If Belfast drinks its whiskey neat it will not be for want of Water Commissioners.

In the Commons Members were disappointed to learn from Sir AUCKLAND GEDDES that he had no idea of the time when railway-fares would be reduced to the amount printed on the tickets.  Nor were they much consoled by his promise to consider the suggestion that as the fare cannot be brought down to the ticket the ticket shall be brought up to the fare.  We should not lightly part with our few reminders of the cheap dead days that are no more.  In fact it would be a salutary thing if other tradesmen imitated the “commercial candour” of the railways and ticketed their goods with the pre-war value in addition to the present charge.

There is a juvenile impulsiveness about Sir HENRY CRAIK which reminds one of “the boy who wouldn’t grow up,” and may account for his keen interest in Kensington Gardens.  Dissatisfied with an assurance of the FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS that he was doing his best to get the War Office to clear away their hutments he burst out, “Could he not attempt to use some disciplinary action against the obstinacy, the stupidity, the slackness, the carelessness of those who are responsible?” Swept away by this spate of sibilants Sir ALFRED MOND essayed no further answer.

After less than an hour’s debate the House gave the CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER power to borrow a trifle of two hundred and fifty millions, to square this year’s account, plus an undefined sum to enable him to fund the floating debt, now amounting to close on two thousand millions.  Even Sir FREDERICK BANBURY had no serious objection to raise, his chief anxiety being that everyone, and not merely the plutocratic holders of Treasury Bills, should be permitted to subscribe to the new loan.  Mr. CHAMBERLAIN assured him that it was a case of “Let ’em all come.”