Bin dooing the swell pretty proper, I beg to a.s.sure yer, old man.
Jest go it tip-top while you"re at it, and blow the expense, is _my_ plan.
Bin took for a n.o.b, and no error this time; which my tailor"s A 1.
The cut of these bags, sir, beats Poole _out of_ fits. (Are yer fly to the pun?) And this gridiron pattern in treacle and mustard is something uneek, As the girls--but there, Charlie, _you_ know me, and so there"s no call for to speak.
My merstach is a coming on proper--that fetches "em, Charlie, my boy; Though one on "em called me young spiky, which doubtless was meant to annoy.
But, bless yer! "twas only a touch of the green-eyed, "acos I looked sweet On a tidy young parcel in pink as "ung out in the very same street.
O Charlie, such larks as I"m "aving. To toddle about on the sands, And watch the blue beauties a-bathing, and spot the sick m.u.f.fs as they lands, Awful flabby and white in the gills, and with hoptics so sheepishly sad, And twig "em go green as we chaff "em; I tell yer it isn"t half bad.
Then, s"rimps! Wy, I pooty near lives on "em; got arf a pocketful here, There"s a flavour of bird"s-eye about "em; but that"s soon took off by the beer.
The "bitter" round here is jest lummy, and as for their soda-and-b., It"s ekal to "fizz" and no error, and suits this small child to a t.
The weeds as I"ve blown is a caution;--I"m nuts on a tuppenny smoke.
Don"t care for the baths, but there"s sailing, and rollicking rides on a moke.
I"ve sung comic songs on the cliffs after dark, and wot"s fun if that ain"t?
And I"ve chiselled my name in a church on the cheek of a rummy stone saint.
So, Charlie, I think you will see, I"ve been doing the tourist to rights.
Good grub and prime larks in the daytime, and billiards and bitter at nights; That"s wot _I_ calls "oliday-making, my pippin. I wish _you_ was here, Jest wouldn"t we go it extensive! But now I am off for the pier.
To ogle the girls. "Ow they likes it! though some of their dragons looks blue.
But lor"! if a chap _has_ a way with the s.e.x, what the doose can he do?
The toffs may look thunder and tommy on me and my spicey rig out, But they don"t stare yours faithfully down, an" it"s all nasty envy, no doubt.
Ta! ta! There"s a boat coming in, and the sea has been roughish all day; All our fellows will be on the watch, and _I_ mustn"t be out of the way.
Carn"t yer manige to run down on Sunday? I tell yer it"s larks, and no kid!
Yours bloomingly, "ARRY.
P.S.--I have parted with close on four quid!
POISON IN THE BOWL.--_Hot weather._--Advice by our own c.o.c.kney. Don"t put ice in your champagne. It"s pison. How do I know this? Because it comes from Venom Lake.
SEASONABLE.--_"Arry"s friend._ What"s the proper dinner for Ash Wednesday?
_"Arry._ Why, "ash mutton, o" course.
[Ill.u.s.tration: SELF-RESPECT.
_The Missus._ "Oh, Jem, you said you"d give me your photergrarf. Now, let"s go in, and get it done."
_Jem._ "Oh, I dessay! an" "ave my "Carte de Wisete" stuck up in the winder along o" all these "ere bally-gals an" "igh-church parsons! No, Sairey!"]
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE TRIALS OF OUR ARTISTIC FRIEND, LEONARDO DA TOMPKINS
(_Who lives in an unappreciative Suburb_)
_"Arriet (nudging her lidy friend, and in an ostentatious stage-whisper)._ ""Amlet!"]
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Tenor (singing)._ "Oh, "appy, "appy, "appy be thy dreams----"
_Professor._ "Stop, stop! Why don"t you sound the H?"
_Tenor._ "It don"t go no "igher than G!"]
[Ill.u.s.tration: _First Newspaper Boy._ "Hullo, Bill! Who"s "e?"
_Second Newspaper Boy._ "I suppose "e"s the North Pole as "as just been discovered!"]
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Gorgeous-looking Individual._ "Most "strordinary weather, ain"t it? First it"s "ot, then it"s cold. Blow me, if one knows "ow to dress!"]
[Ill.u.s.tration: "I say, Bill, wot "s a Prodigal?"
"Why, a Prodigal"s a sort o" cove as keeps on coming back!"]
[Ill.u.s.tration: NOT WHAT SHE EXPECTED
SCENE--_Ca.n.a.l side, Sunday morning_
_Lady._ "Do you know where little boys go to who bathe on Sunday?"
_First Arab._ "Yus. It"s farder up the ca.n.a.l side. But you can"t go.
Girls ain"t allowed!"]
"ARRY ON "APPINESS
DEAR CHARLIE,
A "Appy New Year to yer! That"s the straight tip for to-day, So I"m bound to be in it, old chip, though things don"t _look_ remarkable gay.