Queer Occupations

iOUllOU UlOUC. Many oftlie '-odds-and-endists," like the nut-couuler, are ministers of some slight amusement for the public One of these wanderers used to stand in by-streets and draw sweet inusic from a tin coffec-pot. ïhis quaint instrument was piorced with holes, the musician blew into the spout, and skilfully governed the "vertages" with liis finger. Another, of wild aspect and gobbling speech, relied upon a much simpler music. He carried acrazy Gernian concertina, whieh ha did not play, and probably could not. Wliat )io did was to pull it steadily in and out, and produce a horrid hee-haw, until he was paid to go away. ïhis blackmail, for it was little else, he reccived with the stolid complaccncy of a deserving man. No bagpipes ever harrassed a street more elïectually. An entirely different entertainment was and possibly is still supplied by a stout man of dignified presence. He would walk solemnly into a restaurant or bar, and would stop suddenly boforo any knot of three or four peoplc he might liappen to sco. Whcn tliey turned their eyes upon him, as they naturally wouid do, he proeccded, with great gravity, to unbutton liis waistcoat. The result of this was the disclosure of an enormous board sometwo feetinlength, the lower part of which was kept inside the waistcoat when not required for professional purposes. He would then, after receiving any comments with perfect sileiice, button up his waistcoat and hold out his hat. His wholc demeanor seomed to say, "ïhis truly magnificent .board speaks for itself ; no words of mine can add to its beauty, and if you haven't sense enough to appreciato it, and to drop a copper in the owner's hat, words would be wasted on you."