CURRENT LITERATURE.
Aunt Judy's Magazine, for December and January. (George Bell and Sons.)—Aunt Judy has only one serial story in her first new quarter, but it is one which opens with spirit, and is from the pen of that deservedly favourite writer, the anther of the "Rose Garden." We regret, however, the would-be comic scene in the January number, as not miffed to the refined and spiritual nature of the authoress's genius. Playful touches and good-humoured satire often occur in her writings, and testify to her sense of humour ; but a whole scene of broad farce, occupying two chapters, is not in her line at all, and is so very feebla an imitation of Dickens, that the present writer could not even smile. In default of a second story, we have additional biographical sketches,—one of James the First's daughter, Elizabeth, and another of Mendelssohn, both of them lively and in- teresting; the latter a beautiful translation, by Major Ewing, from the German of Stieler. There is also a delightful Finnish Troll story, of a little cowherd who learns the language of the trees and animals, by an intimate and loving association with them. Miss Butterworth's sonnets are a little over the heads of her readers, and rather too melancholy for young people. Miss Rownaley's sonnet is- also very sad, for Christmas-time ; and the poetry is very questionable which describes the baby's death as an earlier going to bed, "while we, his elders, are not yet undrest." Aunt Judy again provides an extravaganza for Christmas, by Mr. Alfred Scott Gutty, as well as a carol and a song, both with music, by the same well-known writer. It is difficult to estimate these without hearing and seeing them performed. We notice that the Great Ormond Street Children's hospital is in
want of blankets ; and there is in the same hospital—in Aunt Judy's boy's cot—a little twelve-year-old patient, deserving of all kindness, because he bears constant pain and terrible deformity, not only uncomplainingly, but with sweetness, and even cheerfulness. His mind is active and intelligent.
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