Friendly Visitor.  Your nursing, dear, of course, is based
      Upon my Nursery Manual. 
    The child looks rayther peaky-faced. 
     (Not quite a hardy annual!)

Fond Mother.  Think so?  Look up, and laugh, my sweet,
      Show NANA she’s mistaken—­
    It quite begins to “feel its feet.” 
      (With spite her soul is shaken!)

Friendly Visitor.  I understand your family
      Call it “The Changeling.”  Why so? 
    The family likeness all must see. 
      (It squints with the left eye so!)

Fond Mother.  Oh! there are always some cross things
      In every Family Party.
    Your mother’s heart has felt such stings! 
      (She’ll think of JOE and HARTY!)

Friendly Visitor.  Well, well, with my advice, my dear,
      And lots of Liberal Tonic,
    Your child we possibly may rear. 
      (That’s one for Old Sardonic!)

Fond Mother.  Oh! really you are quite too kind! 
      Your own “Home-Rule Elixir”
    Unfailing for your babes you find? 
      (Fancy that dart will fix her!)

Friendly Visitor.  You see we breed, and nurse, our own;
      We do not steal or borrow. 
    However, dear, I must be gone. 
      (To call again to-morrow!)

Fond Mother.  What! must you go?  Next, time no doubt. 
      You’ll give more Liberal measure. 
    Nurse G. shall see you safely out,
      (With most particular pleasure!)

Friendly Visitor.  Don’t trouble, dear!  The bell I’ll pull,
      And, bid them call my cabby! 
    Good bye!  The Babe’s be-you-ti-ful!
      (A Flabby, Dabby, Babby!!!)

* * * * *

ABOUT THE LAST OF IT.

DEAR MR. PUNCH,—­Would you kindly suggest to Mr. CALDERON, in the interest of Historical and religious Art, that he should give us for next year’s Academy, as companion-picture to his “St. Elizabeth,” “Cardinal Wolsey, in his old age, left naked to his enemies.”—­Yours, artfully, A SHAKSPEARIAN READER, BUT NO LATIN SCHOLAR.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  A PARLIAMENTARY ASIDE.

FRIENDLY VISITOR (effusively).  “IT IS INDEED A BE-UTIFUL CHE-ILD! (Aside.) FLABBY, DABBY BABBY!!”]

* * * * *

“KNOWLEDGE IS INVALUABLE!”

    SCENE—­Royal Commission of the Future.  Commissioners present. 
    Last Witness under examination.

Chairman.  And now, my lad, you have learned everything.

Witness (modestly).  Yes, my Lord and Gentlemen, up to a certain point.

Chairman.  Quite so—­you have, generally speaking, an education rather better than an average City Clerk?