1 MARCH 1884, Page 21

Queer People. From the Swedish of " Leah." By Albert

Alberg. 2 vols. (W. H. Allen and Co.)—"Leah" is a writer who, though. popular in Sweden, where she fills a place second only to that of Frederika Bremer, is unknown in England. The public of readers owe no little to Mr. Alberg for this introduction to her. Her tales are of a homely kind, for the most part " short and simple annals of the poor," but full of good-sense, good-feeling, and tenderness. "Alma Mater," where the old landlady, as prudent as she is kind, turns the purpose of her young friend from an imprudent marriage, is particularly good.

We have received a second edition, "revised and enlarged," of The Bible Word Book. By William Aldis Wright. (Macmillan and Co.) —" A Glossary of Archaic Words and Phrases in the Authorised Version of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer." No man is better qualified for a task of this kind than Mr. Wright. He now brings to this second editon, published after an interval of eighteen

years, much additional knowledge. It has occurred to us in looking over the book that an interesting appendix, or, had it seemed better, running annotation, might have pointed out the words which still survive in some solitary usage, while they have become otherwise obsolete. "Let," for instance, as " hindrance," is a familiar word in certain games of ball ; "nether," for "lower," is used not only in place-names, but with the word " millstone."