CURRENT LITERATURE.

CHRISTMAS BOOKS.

volume of Christmas stories as regularly as the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer his Budget. In fact, he is become an institution, and has achieved a success and a popularity which may console him when the Ministry yields to the fate of other mortal things. It is one of his excellences that his fairy tales are, for the most part, of the genuine kind, and do not end in those rationalistic explanations which young people do not, we are sure, at all approve of. In one of them, it is true, 'Little Grub," the hero wakes up and finds that all is a dream, and indeed, as he had been standing in company with the Mayor and other "prominent citizens" of the town as one of the sugar-covered figures of a twelfth- cake, it would not have been easy to imagine any other termination. But there is no mistake about "The Warlock of Combo," where the mysteriously powerful wizard befriends Farmer Kellett against the violence of tho robber-baron, Do Poyning ; or about "The Witch of Ballaquoich," which audaciously introduces into the midst of modern life that fairy element which most writers are content to excuse by the apologetic "it happened a long time ago." The first of the stories is especially interesting, and will not be the less so should some of its young readers be reminded of " Ivanhoe " by the attack on the Baron's castle. Few they will be, for a generation has arisen that knows not the great Sir Walter. The last of the seven stories, that of the "Old Bachelor Married," where an unfortunate gentleman marries an actress who has run away from her husband, is the only one which we would wish away. Tragedy and pathos in moderation are admissible, but not vulgar misdoing.—Hurricane Hurry, by W. H. G. Kingston (Griffith and Farran). Mr. Kingston's book is described on the title-page as "The Adventures of a Naval Officer Afloat and on Shore during the American War of Independence," and it is adapted, he tolls us, from a veritable journal put into his hands by the grandson of the hero. Critics are somewhat tried by announcements of this kind, which are not unfrequently made in the gravest manner by authors who are about to introduce to their readers a work entirely fictitious. In this instance, we may be allowed to quote the hackenoyed proverb, Sines i vero, è ben trovato. Mr. Kingston has, we presume, altered the name, as he has certainly touched up the style, and we conjecture that he has in a measure followed the accepted model of the popular romance. Young Hurry's capture of the two rebel ladies, his courtship, and the melodramatic re- moval of all hindrances to matrimony by the opportune legacy of the unknown uncle whom he rescued from the mob in the Lord George Gordon riots, are so exactly what is wanted, that we are compelled into suspicion. The naval part of the story, on the other hand, has the greatest air of verisimilitude. But these speculations about authenticity are, after all, very little to the purpose. Hurricane Hurry is a very entertaining story, worthy of a gentleman who knows how to write a "boy's book" as well as any man.—Six by Two ; Stories of Old Schoolfellows, by Edith Dixon and Mary de Morgan (Virtue and Co). The first of the stories, "The French Girl at our School," is a very pretty tale, tear-compelling indeed, but without that lugubrious and which no so-called "Christmas books" ought to have. The scone where Louise clears up the mystery, and owns to having hidden and fed her " pauvro petit Henri" in the barn, is really a masterpiece of simple pathos, and gives the greatest promise of what Miss de Morgan may do hereafter. "Lilian and Lucy" is another tale from the same hand, and shows much the same character. Miss Dixon's contributions are set, so to speak, in a different key, but they all, "The Fault of the Roses" especially, show ability.—The King's Servants, by Hesba Stretton (Henry S. King and Co.), is another tale in which the pathetic element is managed with remarkable skill, and with, what for the purpose which should never be forgotten in books of this kind is equally valuable, an unwavering faith in goodness and in the divine ordering of things. One passage we cannot forbear to quote. It is where Milly Carr, finding herself baffled by the obstinate sullenness of the girl whom she is striving to reclaim, takes her in to her invalid brother :— " I can see her now, the weary young creature, standing on the threshold, and peering forward with searching, hollow eyes into his room, and his face worn and wasted with pain, and his thin hair white as snow, and his hand stretched out to her, as if ho knew why I brought her to him, and needed no word of explanation. 'Come,' he said, in a tone as if he were speaking to some wayward child, 'come and talk to me, and let us see what we can do to get right again.' The girl stepped softly into the room; her face changed from stubbornness to pity. I heard him ask her to give him a draught of water, and to lower the blinds for him; and she did so with womanly gentleness, moving as quietly as I could have done. Then I waited no longer, for I saw there was a link between them there could never be between her and me. It may be that it was the travel-stained feet and the unanointed head of the Lord that first stirred hope in the heart of the woman that was a sinner. There was something that even she eculd do for Him."

—From the same author and publisher we have also Lost Gip, a tale of London life, which we remember to have read in some serial with much pleasure, and which we are glad to see in this "presentation edition."—The Other Girls, by Mrs. T. D. Whitney. (Sampson Low and Co.) This volume ought, we fancy, to have been noticed before, but though it is not properly a "Christmas book," we avail ourselves of the opportunity of speaking of it. It is suited for readers somewhat older than those whom the literature of this season Is especially designed to please. For these there could be nothing of the kind more suitable and more instructive. Mrs. Whitney does not write stories of which the merit lies in the passing interest which they may excite. On the

bad match. Are the customary "illustrations" of any real advantage? in colour, and we may also add more artistic in execution.—Mossrs.

thinks that they can live on their pay.--Miss Moore : a Tale for series of Threepenny Toy Books ; and Walter Crane's New Toy Books; con- have an instructive little story of how some little girls determine to Crusoe, 4-c. We must notice with especial commendation the Walter Crane

behave ill to the new governess who replaces an old favourite, no books, which are uncommonly pretty.—Special notice also should be

longer competent to perform her work, and how they are taught, not taken of Marcus Ward's Golden Picture-Books, twenty-four illustrations, without suffering, to behave botter.—Storics They Tell Me; or, Sue with words by Hain Friswell (M. Ward), in which the drawing and colour-

and /, by Mrs. Robert O'Reilly (W. W. Gardner), contains some pretty ing are very good.—From the same publisher, again, we have what

little tales, always told with good sense and taste, and when occasion is quite a novelty, Marcus Ward's Japanese Picture - Stories, or, requires, with feeling, of girls'life.—Trotty's Wedding Tour and Story as the title-page explains " containing the Japanese versions of Book. By Elizabeth S. Phelps. (Sampson Low and Co.) The stories Aladdin, Abou Hassan, Ali Baba, and Sindbad." The stories seem to

are very well told ; some of them are quite as good as anything of the be our old friends told in English rhyme of the accustomed sort, but kind we have seen. "Bobbit's Hotel," for instance, where a little boy the pictures, whether or not literally the work of "native talent," are of the streets foods two other smaller and more helpless than himself, "drawn in the true Eastern spirit," and as all things Japanese are now

introduces them to his "hotel," an unused boiler, and is frozen to death the fashion, should be certainly popular.—The Children's Pleasure- while keeping them warm, is very touching. In the Northern and Book (Virtue and Co.) is of a more serious and instructive kind, con-

Eastern States, where largo populations have been collected in a taming, besides 250 illustrations, "Original Tales, Biographies, and

climate that is sometimes severe, the same social tragedies occur as thrust Sunday Readings."—Chatterbox, edited by J. Erskine Clarke, MA. themselves on our notice here. But is there not something odd about (W. W. Gardner), is an old favourite.—The Little Folks' Birthday the framework of these stories ? Is it the fact that American boys and Book, selected and arranged by C. B. (Nimmo), is a book containing girls aged from six to eight play at being married and getting divorced, a piece of verse for every day in the year, interleaved with blank going so far as to call a certain piece of garden-wall on which they leaves, on which the friends of the owner are to write their names, each stand for the performance of this latter process Indiana, this being, opposite the day of his own or her own birth. It is a pretty little book, we understand, a State wherein divorce is very easily obtained ? God the custom which it is designed to serve isa graceful one, and we should save our English children from such play as this !—Pet; or, Pastimes be sorry to say a word in disparagement of it. But is it not likely that and Penalties. By the Rev. TV. Haweis. (Isbister.) Mr. Haweis tells somewhat ludicrous juxtapositions may ocour,—when Grandpapa, for the story of certain children, neighbours in a London street, who play instance, is found writing down his name opposite "Baby Fingers "? together, having feasts, philosophical lectures (given by one Rob, a —Lake and Mountain Scenery from the Swiss Alps. By the Rev. T. young gentleman inclined to chemistry). Mr. Haweis is amusing, G. Bonney. (Frederick Bruckmann.)—This handsome volume will give perhaps in a somewhat "grown-up" and over-elaborate fashion, but to thousands of those who love the "great playground of Europe still amusing. But why the ending ? We should feel much disposed delightful reminiscences of the past, or still more delightful suggestions to establish as an absolute canon that "Christmas books" must end for the future. Tho text is the work of a well-known "Alpinist," well.—Told by the [Waves, by Helen Zimmorn (Virtue and Co.), is a founded in a degree on the text of an edition which has appeared with collection of the legends of plants, which arc told prOttily enough ; the same illustrations in Germany, but mainly the result of personal but will they suit ths tastes of our young friends, which, if we know visits and experiences. The illustrations consist, in the first place, of them, are realistic, or if inclined to fancy, like their fancy grotesque ? twenty-four photographs from oil-paintings by G. Close and 0.Froelicher, —Seeking Ilis Fortune and other Tales : a Book for Boys. (Henry and in the second of forty-eight woodcuts by G. Roux. There will S. King and (Jo.) These are plain, straightforward stories, told in always be a difference of opinion as to the relative value of photographs the precise, detailed manner which we are saro young people like, taken directly from nature and those taken from artistic interpretations Those who have a romantic tarn will prefer that which gives its of nature. Forpurposes of personalreminiscenco the more exact transcript title to the book, in which young Rupert, a farmer's son, dis- of the scone has its special value ; for those who rather desire to renew covers a treasure, and generally behaves himself with so much or to obtain a complete and comprehensive conception of the whole, the cleverness and courage that he wins the honour of knighthood and help of art is most needful. And as to the quality of the photographs, marries a nobleman's daughter. "What's in a Name?" is an every-day there can, for the most part, be no comparison. Those before us, taken story of how a foundling, Martha Heath, discovered who were her under conditions completely at the command of the artist, are perfect parents, and was not dissatisfied with the discovery.—We may take specimens. "Pilatus," "The Lake of Lowerz," "Toll's Chapel ;" "The the opportunity of mentioning a new and cheaper edition of MM. Asenberg Road," a graphic representation of some of the most won- Erckmann-Chatrian's The Brothers Rantzau (Sampson Low and Co.) derful road-engineering in Switzerland ; " Auf-Zubben," one of the —Black Ivory, by R. M. Ballantyno (Nisbet), is the work of a well- ravines through which the Aar forces its way ; and the sweet calm of known writer who may be supposed to know what his young readers "Interlachen," are among the most attractive, where all are of the best like. In the present volume, which is described as "A Tale of Adven- quality. We must not forget to notice M. Roux's woodcuts, especially tare Among the Slavers of East Africa," ho has a fuither purpose to charming when they gently touch some of the oddities of Alpine travel promoto,—to give a "true picture in outline of the slave trade as it ex- and travellers. We so thoroughly admire the book, that we may be sista at the present time on the east coot of Africa." Englishmen are allowed to suggest that the ornamentation of the binding is wanting in sometimes disposed, from sheer want of knowledge of the subject, simplicity and taste. Our binding, though k unapproachable for its to think little of this slavery business, and all that helps to material excellencies, especially for the cardinal virtue of permitting undeceive them is wolcome.—The Man Among the Monkeys the book to lie open at will, does not compare very favourably with (Ward, Lock, and Tyler), is a tale of the extravagant kind, taken, some of the Continental work.—Vanity Fair Album. VoL 5. The it would seem, from the French, not without a certain satirical title-page describes the Album as "a show of Sovereigns, Statesmen, reference to human manners and customs, and on the whole sufficiently Judges, and Men of the Day." To these are appended "biographical and amusing. "The Professor and the Crocodile" is another extravaganza ; critical notices, by John Junior." These portraits are very inferior the rest of the volume is occupied with interesting details of natural things indeed to what they were under Carlo Pellegrini, to whose genius history.—Royal Captives, by Crone Temple (Hatchards), is a volume we are glad to see it said that Vanity Fair will again have recourse. Some containing five narratives, half historical, half romantic, of royal person- of these caricatures are really vulgar. An acute foreigner to whom we

contrary, there is thought, often of a very profound and admirable ages who have suffered imprisonment. The subjects of these stories kind, in her work. Nothing more full in this respect have wo read for are Caractacns ; Robert of Normandy; Juana, Queen of Spain ; the Last a long time. Every page shows the results of much meditation and of the Incas, and the Lady Elizabeth. The author has taken pains, it experience. Nor is she philosophical or didactic overmuch. Her would seem, to study her subjects, and has not been unsuccesafal. We " Other Girls," a troop of characters whom, were they less finely must indeed object to the ingenious conjecture which connects drawn, we might think too nuinerons, aro very lifelike and inter- Claudia, the daughter of Caractacus, with the Claudia mentioned eating personages, not at all of the transcendently wise and angelic in Martial's two well-known epigrams (not " odes "). The sort ; and then Airs. Whitney is very sound and reasonable, at least grown-up girl who is represented as standing by Caractaous' in our judgment, on the great "Woman's Rights" and "Woman's side at the hearing before Claudius in A.D. 50 could not have been Employment" questions. Those who still believe that woman is man's the Claudia whose marriage with Padens is celebrated in Martial, iv.13, " helpmeet " in the same way that St. Paul believed it, and would be probably written somewhere between the years 80 and 90 ; or the Claudia, glad to have their belief set forth by a very wise and eloquent probably, but not certainly identical with tho other, ivho is congratn-

writer, should go to Mrs. Whitney.—Tell Mamma, by the Author lated as having given birth to a " on and heir " in xi. 53, seeing that of " A Trap to Catch a Sunbeam " (Routledgo), is a little tale Maul- this was certainly published and probably written in Trajan's reign.— eating the duty of confidence between daughters and their mothers. Pioneers of the Christian Faith, by A. Gruar Forbes (Virtue and Co.),

Blanche Wilmot is a young lady who goes straight with all her troubles sketches some leading passages and events in Church history with to her mother, and so is saved from a very undesirable entanglement ; general fairness and sound judgment. The volume is adorned with the Bouvorie girls, on the contrary, think it " fun " to hide everything excellent portraits by way of illustration. These alone are sufficient

from theirs, and so get into much trouble, earning a reputation for being to give a value to the book.—We have to mention Routledge's Every fast, which nearly loses one of them a clergyman as a husband—awful Boy's Annual, edited by Edmund Routledge. For younger readers there

danger, only just averted !—and actually leads the other into a very is the accustomed supply of picture-books, yearly growing more gorgeous bad match. Are the customary "illustrations" of any real advantage? in colour, and we may also add more artistic in execution.—Mossrs.

The artists anyhow should know that officers do not walk about the Routledge send us The Robinson Crusoe Book ; The Pet Lamb Picture- country in uniform. The writer, however, is not much wiser, for she Book, with 24 illustrations in colours ; a series of Shilling and another thinks that they can live on their pay.--Miss Moore : a Tale for series of Threepenny Toy Books ; and Walter Crane's New Toy Books; con- Girls. By Georgians M. Craik. (Sampson Low and Co.) Here we taming of course the old favourites, Cinderella, Cock Robin, Robinson have an instructive little story of how some little girls determine to Crusoe, 4-c. We must notice with especial commendation the Walter Crane

behave ill to the new governess who replaces an old favourite, no books, which are uncommonly pretty.—Special notice also should be

longer competent to perform her work, and how they are taught, not taken of Marcus Ward's Golden Picture-Books, twenty-four illustrations, without suffering, to behave botter.—Storics They Tell Me; or, Sue with words by Hain Friswell (M. Ward), in which the drawing and colour-

and /, by Mrs. Robert O'Reilly (W. W. Gardner), contains some pretty ing are very good.—From the same publisher, again, we have what

little tales, always told with good sense and taste, and when occasion is quite a novelty, Marcus Ward's Japanese Picture - Stories, or, requires, with feeling, of girls'life.—Trotty's Wedding Tour and Story as the title-page explains " containing the Japanese versions of Book. By Elizabeth S. Phelps. (Sampson Low and Co.) The stories Aladdin, Abou Hassan, Ali Baba, and Sindbad." The stories seem to

are very well told ; some of them are quite as good as anything of the be our old friends told in English rhyme of the accustomed sort, but kind we have seen. "Bobbit's Hotel," for instance, where a little boy the pictures, whether or not literally the work of "native talent," are of the streets foods two other smaller and more helpless than himself, "drawn in the true Eastern spirit," and as all things Japanese are now

introduces them to his "hotel," an unused boiler, and is frozen to death the fashion, should be certainly popular.—The Children's Pleasure- while keeping them warm, is very touching. In the Northern and Book (Virtue and Co.) is of a more serious and instructive kind, con-

Eastern States, where largo populations have been collected in a taming, besides 250 illustrations, "Original Tales, Biographies, and

climate that is sometimes severe, the same social tragedies occur as thrust Sunday Readings."—Chatterbox, edited by J. Erskine Clarke, MA. themselves on our notice here. But is there not something odd about (W. W. Gardner), is an old favourite.—The Little Folks' Birthday the framework of these stories ? Is it the fact that American boys and Book, selected and arranged by C. B. (Nimmo), is a book containing girls aged from six to eight play at being married and getting divorced, a piece of verse for every day in the year, interleaved with blank going so far as to call a certain piece of garden-wall on which they leaves, on which the friends of the owner are to write their names, each stand for the performance of this latter process Indiana, this being, opposite the day of his own or her own birth. It is a pretty little book, we understand, a State wherein divorce is very easily obtained ? God the custom which it is designed to serve isa graceful one, and we should save our English children from such play as this !—Pet; or, Pastimes be sorry to say a word in disparagement of it. But is it not likely that and Penalties. By the Rev. TV. Haweis. (Isbister.) Mr. Haweis tells somewhat ludicrous juxtapositions may ocour,—when Grandpapa, for the story of certain children, neighbours in a London street, who play instance, is found writing down his name opposite "Baby Fingers "? together, having feasts, philosophical lectures (given by one Rob, a —Lake and Mountain Scenery from the Swiss Alps. By the Rev. T. young gentleman inclined to chemistry). Mr. Haweis is amusing, G. Bonney. (Frederick Bruckmann.)—This handsome volume will give perhaps in a somewhat "grown-up" and over-elaborate fashion, but to thousands of those who love the "great playground of Europe still amusing. But why the ending ? We should feel much disposed delightful reminiscences of the past, or still more delightful suggestions to establish as an absolute canon that "Christmas books" must end for the future. Tho text is the work of a well-known "Alpinist," well.—Told by the [Waves, by Helen Zimmorn (Virtue and Co.), is a founded in a degree on the text of an edition which has appeared with collection of the legends of plants, which arc told prOttily enough ; the same illustrations in Germany, but mainly the result of personal but will they suit ths tastes of our young friends, which, if we know visits and experiences. The illustrations consist, in the first place, of them, are realistic, or if inclined to fancy, like their fancy grotesque ? twenty-four photographs from oil-paintings by G. Close and 0.Froelicher, —Seeking Ilis Fortune and other Tales : a Book for Boys. (Henry and in the second of forty-eight woodcuts by G. Roux. There will S. King and (Jo.) These are plain, straightforward stories, told in always be a difference of opinion as to the relative value of photographs the precise, detailed manner which we are saro young people like, taken directly from nature and those taken from artistic interpretations Those who have a romantic tarn will prefer that which gives its of nature. Forpurposes of personalreminiscenco the more exact transcript title to the book, in which young Rupert, a farmer's son, dis- of the scone has its special value ; for those who rather desire to renew covers a treasure, and generally behaves himself with so much or to obtain a complete and comprehensive conception of the whole, the cleverness and courage that he wins the honour of knighthood and help of art is most needful. And as to the quality of the photographs, marries a nobleman's daughter. "What's in a Name?" is an every-day there can, for the most part, be no comparison. Those before us, taken story of how a foundling, Martha Heath, discovered who were her under conditions completely at the command of the artist, are perfect parents, and was not dissatisfied with the discovery.—We may take specimens. "Pilatus," "The Lake of Lowerz," "Toll's Chapel ;" "The the opportunity of mentioning a new and cheaper edition of MM. Asenberg Road," a graphic representation of some of the most won- Erckmann-Chatrian's The Brothers Rantzau (Sampson Low and Co.) derful road-engineering in Switzerland ; " Auf-Zubben," one of the —Black Ivory, by R. M. Ballantyno (Nisbet), is the work of a well- ravines through which the Aar forces its way ; and the sweet calm of known writer who may be supposed to know what his young readers "Interlachen," are among the most attractive, where all are of the best like. In the present volume, which is described as "A Tale of Adven- quality. We must not forget to notice M. Roux's woodcuts, especially tare Among the Slavers of East Africa," ho has a fuither purpose to charming when they gently touch some of the oddities of Alpine travel promoto,—to give a "true picture in outline of the slave trade as it ex- and travellers. We so thoroughly admire the book, that we may be sista at the present time on the east coot of Africa." Englishmen are allowed to suggest that the ornamentation of the binding is wanting in sometimes disposed, from sheer want of knowledge of the subject, simplicity and taste. Our binding, though k unapproachable for its to think little of this slavery business, and all that helps to material excellencies, especially for the cardinal virtue of permitting undeceive them is wolcome.—The Man Among the Monkeys the book to lie open at will, does not compare very favourably with (Ward, Lock, and Tyler), is a tale of the extravagant kind, taken, some of the Continental work.—Vanity Fair Album. VoL 5. The it would seem, from the French, not without a certain satirical title-page describes the Album as "a show of Sovereigns, Statesmen, reference to human manners and customs, and on the whole sufficiently Judges, and Men of the Day." To these are appended "biographical and amusing. "The Professor and the Crocodile" is another extravaganza ; critical notices, by John Junior." These portraits are very inferior the rest of the volume is occupied with interesting details of natural things indeed to what they were under Carlo Pellegrini, to whose genius history.—Royal Captives, by Crone Temple (Hatchards), is a volume we are glad to see it said that Vanity Fair will again have recourse. Some containing five narratives, half historical, half romantic, of royal person- of these caricatures are really vulgar. An acute foreigner to whom we

showed the volume remarked that one would not care much about looking at the sketches unless they were accompanied by the names of the originals. They were not, he thought, sufficiently typical. The naming seemed to him somewhat strange, and we may, perhaps, congratulate ourselves on the freedom and general good-humour of English political life which makes it possible without offence. But it probably has a certain tendency to make the art, considered as art, less effective. If you label a portrait with a man's name, and have on the opposite page a verbal description of his characteristic, you are not impossibly leas strenuous in endeavouring to make the pencil do the work of the pen. A child who feels no scruple in writing "this is a lion," "this is a dog," &c., under his efforts, is not likely to be very discriminating or careful in his outlines. Some of the portraits, however, are of a higher kind, and, something probably in the subject lending itself to the higher inspiration or more than usually felicitous

effort of the artist, are quite of the typical kind. Such, for instance, are Captain Mayne Reid," "Earl Bathurst," "The Earl of Wilton" and "Mr. Gilpin." The notices, though with nothing very remarkable about them, aro readable,—most personal details, by the way, are readable, malgri nous. By the way, so well informed a person as John Junior ought to know that there is no probable danger of the next generation not possessing a sixth Earl Bathurst. The heir presumptive to the title sits, if we mistake not, for Cirencester, —Lob Lie-by-the-Fire, and other Tales, by Juliana H. Ewing (Bell and Sons), is a charming tale by another of those clever writers thanks to whom the children are now really better served in literary matters than their neighbours. Two old ladies, the heiresses of Lingborough (not, we are given to understand, a very magnificent heritage), adopt a gipsy baby, whom they find as they come back from a tea-party one summer even- ing. What auguries of future evil are made, and how the youngster grows up and, in a way, both justifies and falsifies them, is the subject of Mrs. Ewing's story, and is very nicely handled. The two old ladies, the sceptical lawyer, the parson, and above all, the fine Highlander, whom the demon of drink drives away from his home and brings to an early grave, but who still retains all his generous feelings, and saves the young wanderer from the fate from which he cannot save himself— all these, with the kindly Brownie himself, whose identity readers will not find it difficult to guess—are characteristic and admirably-drawn figures.—Easydale, by Edis Searle (Seeleys), is noticeable among the crowd of Christmas stories by the distinctness with which tho principal figure of the scene stands out. Clyde Osborne, the neglected heir of the old squire, allowed to grow up utterly careless of all duties, and altogether uneducated, and shrinking, half in fear, half in disgust, from the responsibilities and duties of his position, and yet having a fine, manly, just, and generous nature hidden beneath his clownish exterior, is a character worth drawing, and drawn with no little power. The uncouth giant interests us vastly, and the other dramatis personce fill up the scene very pleasantly. Nor should we forget to praise the good sense and feeling with which the virtue of tolerance in judgments, both social and religious, is en- forced.—Giles's Minority, by Mrs. Robert O'Reilly (Bell and Sons), commends itself to us as proceeding from the same authorship which gave us the very agreeable stories of "Daisy's Companions" and "Deborah's Drawer." The life of some little folk, Hildegarde and her sister Jacintha, and a certain little Giles, the boy owner of a large property in the neighbourhood, is very prettily described. How they vex and are vexed by their governess, how they quarrel and make friends, and at last how Giles turns out to be not a minor at all, or rather to be a minor without the property, an uncle, whom he receives in the most graceful and affectionate way, suddenly turning up,—all this makes up a pleasant and edifying little story. "The Life of a Rabbit" and "A Rabbit's Funeral" are charming little episodes.—The Snow- Sweepers' Party," by Robert St. John Corbot (Nimmo), is in fact as good as it should be when a writer of Mr. Corbet's talent condescends to amuse young people. The "Party" itself, however, which two young people give out of the coppers saved in their money-boxes to a little company of snow-sweepers, is a bettor piece of writing than the tale "Old Tubbin" which the Rector tells after dinner to the assembled guests.—Eighty Years Ago, by Harriet Cave (Hatchards), is a tale written with the polemical object of shoving the dangers and delusions of the Roman Catholic Church.—A Needle and Thread: a Tale for Girls, by Emma J. Burnes (Nimmo), is entitled "a tale for girls," who, indeed, may reasonably be expected to be interested in reading how the miserable little Nellie, to whom they are introduced in the first chapter, is happily restored to her friends.—Those who prefer to be taken back to a more distant and therefore presumably a more romantic and interesting period, can read An Earl's Daughter, by M. M. Pollard (Nimmo).

Messrs. Marcus Ward and Co. have also sent us a very pretty box of delicately-coloured Christmas Cards, Pictures, Envelopes, Note-paper, &c., some of the prettiest designs in which appear to be due to Mr. Walter Crane. "The Year and its Festivals" is a series of fear quaint drawings, very prettily designed and illuminated ; there are all kinds of delicate little picture-headings to note-paper, scent envelopes, butter- flies with elves in their wings enclosing Christmas mottoes, &e,—every- thing, in short, to delight children's hearts in gay and quaint designs, and to satisfy the maturer taste by the beauty and delicacy of execution.