426 THE KING; GOD BLESS HIM! 



been familiar with me, and it is only the reflection that many fellow- 

 inheritors of my native soil are pining for what I have so liberally 

 dispensed to foreigners, that I begin to think it my bounded duty to 

 raise smiles in our own land before creating broad grins in another." 



" And yet you are now going to France," observed I. 



" Because I have important business there. This metal which can 

 dry a widow's tear and bend a proud man's neck, is now destined to 

 work miracles with affairs in Gallia I go to " 



" What?" said I, as he appeared to check himself. 



" To look at the French pigs they are elegant animals, arn't 

 they ? and have smaller waists and thinner legs than our vulgar, 

 home-bred swine. Must be off at daybreak, though so good night." 

 So saying this singular being bowed me very civilly out of my own 

 room ; but as I was at the door I determined on another struggle to 

 gratify my curiosity which had become little short of intense. 

 et Excuse me, sir/' said I, " but since I have had the pleasure of 

 your company, I have witnessed so much happiness conferred, such 

 joy has followed your footsteps, that perhaps you will do me the 

 favour to say to whom I am indebted for so many hours of gratifica- 

 tion." The man of canvas placed both hands to enclose my ear as 

 though to ensure the secrecy of what he was about to unfold, and 

 whispered, " THE MAN WITH THE ClDanbag 3$ag." E. L. 



THE KING; GOD BLESS HIM! 



A FEW SCRAPS TOUCHING HIS MAJESTY. 



(A Christmas parly near the Leman Lake, consisting of expatriated 

 " Half-Pays.") 



" Turn we to survey 



Where rougher climes a nobler race display ; 

 Where the bleak Swiss their stormy mansion tread, 

 And force a churlish soil for scanty bread ; 

 No pro " 



" ENOUGH of poetry, although it be Goldsmith's, now that the 

 mountain and the flood are shut out from view, and we are left to the 

 placid and sober enjoyment of more homely things than the hoary 

 majesty of Mont Blanc, and the fair expanse of Leman Lake. Un- 

 doubtedly are they glorious to behold ; but while December's Bise 

 announces itself without, in a strain mild and pleasing, as what are 

 generally termed " murmurs" in the Chamber of Deputies, or in those 

 genial accents which astounded the ears of majesty of late, in the most 

 influential and polished assembly in Europe ; and while the snow- 

 drift rides the blast, I must own that the prejudices of frail mortality 

 induces rather a sneaking kindness in me towards this oaken board 

 the cheerful lamp the crackling of the blazing log this flask of 

 generous burgundy and other " the fair humanities" of my humble 

 domicile. War, plague, and revolution the schoolmaster, Lord Vaux, 



