COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 263 



treated with the greatest kindness. I got home 

 about the T2th, and got out hunting at Clatto Barns 

 on " Highlander" on the 25th. 



The Cliff Alphabet. 



A stands for Aunt Mary, so clever and able. 

 B for the Bumpers we drink at her table. 

 C for Cliff House, in which she doth dwell. 

 D Diddy-Bo, the dog, known so well. 

 E the Encounter 'twixt Diddy and Zoe. 

 F the Fine Carving so effective and showy. 

 G is " Garibaldi,'''' that horse of renown. 

 H are the Horses well cared for by Brown. 

 I the invite to young George Moore's Ball. 

 J poor Jack Thomson laid up by a fall. 

 K is for Kelly, the " swell of the hunt ". 

 L is the Lathe with which his tools he doth blunt. 

 M the Mistakes Mary makes in her sewing. 

 N all the Needles she breaks in so doing. 

 O stands for Miss Oakcley, who keeps very well. 

 P is the Pity, for 'tis rather a sell. 

 Q is the Quaintness of old gardener Mike, 

 R are the Rampions which he cannot strike. 

 S are the Stews made by that good old Thorley. 

 T stands for Trotman, of maids the most worth}'. 

 U are the Unpaid Bills coming in. 

 V is for Vass, worked hard but not thin. 



By Quicksilver, 

 i^th December, 1863. 



"Quicksilver" — Mrs. Colvile. 



"Aunt Mary" — Mrs. Oakeley. 



" Diddy-Bo " — her dog. 



" Zoe " — Lady de Clifford's dog. 



" Fine carving" — made by themselves in wood, in the dining-room. 



" Garibaldi "—her horse. 



" Solomon Brown" — the groom. 



" A ball on the 30th " — G. Moore comes of age. 



" Kelly " — Mr. Oakeley, " the swell of the hunt ". 



" Rampions " — sort of radishes. 



" Thorley " — the cook. 



" Trotman " — Mrs. O.'s maid. 



" Vass " — the butler. 



