22 DECEMBER 1883, Page 22

"The Babe i' the Mill" and " Zanina." By the

Hon. Mrs. Green. (Nelson and Sons.)—The first of these stories—laid so far back as 1648—is full of English country pictures, which hardly need the en- gravings to illustrate them. It is just the kind of story for Christmas, as, though its opening incidents are very terrible, the ghostly weird- ness kept up throughout, and its sweet ending, make it very attrac- tive. " Zanina " tells of the later time of the Tuscan revolution, and in the course of the sad little tale one of the many causes which led to that most desirable event is unfolded ; and yet, spy though she was, one cannot hate poor Zanina, the flower-girl.