came
  To the Islands of Tin, we’ve played at the game. 
  We shattered the galleys of conquering Rome,
  The galleons of PHILIP that scudded for home
  (The sea-molluscs slime on their glittering gear);
  We plundered the plundering French privateer,
  We caught the great Indiaman head in the wind
  And gutted her hold of the treasures of Ind;
  We sank a whole fleet of three-deckers one night
  (The drift of the sand keeps their culverins bright),
  And cloudy tea-clippers that raced from Canton
  Swept into our clutches—­and never went on. 
  Come steel leviathans scorning disaster
  We scrapped them as fast—­if anything faster. 
  So pick up your pilot and take a cross-bearing,
  Sound us and chart us from Lion to Tearing,
  And ring us with lighthouses, day-marks and buoys,
  The gales are our hunters, the fogs our decoys. 
  We shall not go hungry; we grin and we wait,
  Black-fanged and foam-drabbled, the wolves at the Gate.”

  PATLANDER.

* * * * *

AWAY TO THE MEADOWS!

Although the cost of everything is on the rise there are still a few good things that quite a little money can buy.  One pound, for example—­or, if you prefer it, twenty shillings—­can work wonders by taking (under the auspices of the Children’s Country Holiday Fund) a London child away from our smoke and grime for a fortnight of country air and surprises, excitements and joys.  The Fund (the Hon. Treasurer of which is the Earl of ARRAN, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London) must not now be restricted because lodgings and railway fares are dearer.  Last year the sum asked for each child was just half what is now required; but the increase is necessary.  Yet even with the increase it is not great, considering the good that it can do!  In spite of all the other claims of the moment upon his readers’ generosity, Mr. Punch trusts that this modest and most excellent ameliorative organisation will not be neglected.

* * * * *

    “The police are divided in their opinions as to whether Mamie is still
    alive or whether she has gone to Canada.”—­Provincial Paper.

Why this “down” on the Dominion?

* * * * *

[Illustration:  OUR PARISH CHURCH.

JOHN BULL.  “LET ME SEE, WE MUST BE ESPECIALLY GENEROUS TO-DAY.  THE
COLLECTION IS FOR THE RESTORATION FUND.”]

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Monday, July 5th.—­When the Germans left Peking after the Boxer Rebellion they took with them the astronomical instruments which had hung for centuries on its walls.  How the Celestial equivalent of Old Moore has managed to translate the message of the stars without their assistance I cannot imagine; but the Chinese Government does not appear to be worrying, for, though it was specifically provided at Versailles that the instruments should be returned, China has omitted to sign the Peace Treaty.