Mr. Punch with The Children

Excerpt

In the order of our Library "Mr. Punch with the Children" comes last, yet, so continual and sincere has been the interest of the breezy little man in the children, we might well have placed this volume first. The Punch pictures, stories and jests that are concerned with the young folk are almost inexhaustible. The present collection, though containing the cream of them, comes very far indeed from reproducing them all, or even fifty per cent. For every notable artist and writer who has been much associated with Punch since 1841 has had something to say or to illustrate of the humours of child life. If genius be the power to be a child again at will, we can understand this abiding interest in the doings of the children. Mr. Punch himself resembles Peter Pan, for he has never grown up. The years roll by, but the jolly little hunchback remains as young as ever.

The variety of individuality in the children, to whom we are here introduced, is noteworthy. In the days of Leech, downright impudence seems to have been a characteristic of the young; to-day it would seem children are better mannered, even if the enfant terrible is still thriving and likely to do so. There are nice children here, and naughty ones; clever and dull children; pretty and ugly children—the mischievous are chiefly memories of last generation! Phil May's children are all clearly of the "gutter snipe" order, in which he delighted, full of character and a somewhat pathetic humour; but how clean and sweet and lovable are Du Maurier's or Mr. Lewis Baumer's! Mr. Raven-Hill seems to be attracted somewhat in the same direction as Phil May; but all are interesting, and their sayings and doings are eminently worthy to be thus permanently gathered into one volume.

Boy (looking forward to a party in the evening). "Oh, mummy, baby is naughty! He has taken two things off the calendar, and made it to-morrow!"

MR. PUNCH WITH THE CHILDREN

A Serious Matter.—Grandfather (to Miss Pansy, who is somewhat flushed and excited). What's the matter, my pet?

Miss Pansy (aged eight). Oh, grandpa, me and my kitten have been having the most awful row. We've often quarrelled before and made it up again, but this time we're not on speaking terms.

Bobbie (dictating letter to his sister, whom he has "squared" into writing for him). "Dear Miss Brown, please xcuse Bobbie for not bean at school sinse Tewsday has he as add twothake on Tewsday and on Wednesday he broke is harm and he ad to go to a party yesterday afternoon. If he does not come to-morrow it will be because a boy thrue a stoan at is i.—Yours trooly, Bobbie's mother."

Presence of Mind.—Little Girl (who has been disturbed by a mouse, in a stage-whisper to her sleeping sister). "Wake up! Oh, wake up and mew, Amy; mew for your life!!"

UNIMAGINATIVE

Auntie. "Do you see the hair in this old brooch, Cyril? It was your great-grandfather's."

Cyril. "I say, Auntie, he didn't have much!"

Auntie. Well, Effie, did you enjoy your party last night?

Effie. Very much, thank you, auntie.

Auntie. And I suppose mamma was there to look after you?

Effie. Oh no! Mamma and I don't belong to the same set!

Tommy. "Talking of riddles, Uncle, do you know the difference between an apple and a elephant?"

Uncle (benignly). "No, my lad, I don't."

Tommy. "You'd be a smart chap to send out to buy apples, wouldn't you?"

A Precautionary Measure.—"Now go to school, and be a good boy. And mind you don't use any rude words!"

"Rude words! Tell me a few, mummy, and then I shall know, you know!"

A "CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR"

Governess. "Now, just one more subtraction sum——"

Dolly. "Oh, Miss Crawford, I don't fink mummie would let me do any more of those sums, 'cause in them you borrow ten and pay back only one, and that's cheating!"

Little Girl (watching her mother fixing hatpins through her hat)....