MORE CHILDREN'S BOOKS.*

Within the Magic Gatemayst is the story of a quiet, imaginative little orphan girl, who after her mother's death was taken from a country cottage to live in Fleet Street with some ki but grown-up, cousins. Irma is often lonely, and makes fairy-tales for herself about the gates of the Temple, and fend that they are Magic Gates. She talks to the lamb over the gate, who gives her the freedom of the Temple, and introduces her to many of his friends, such as " the Pump Gentleman," " Pegasus," and " the Fountain Lady." These remarkable creatures make life brighter for Yrma, and play all sorts of games with her. It must have been a fine sight to see heraldio animals dancing such popular country dances as Sellinger's

Round. The child has many adventures with her now friends, and often goes to the Temple at night on Pegasus's back Altogether, it is a very amusing little story, and quite worth reading. The illustrations in colour by Miss Margaret Tarrant are charmingly drawn, and not glaring.

In Saint George of England2 Mr. Basil Hood has given us the old legends well worked up into an interesting continuous story. Many of the characters of mediaeval romance are to

be found in his pages. Knights overcome wickedness in various guises, from enchantment to the exercise of mere brute strength, and ladies use wit as well as courage to help their Knights, and defend their own honour. After trouble and separation, the tale is fitly rounded with the reunion of St.

George and Sabra, his princess. The language in which the book is written is well chosen, for it carries enough of the atmo sphere of an old chronicle with it to be appropriate to its subject, but yet is sufficiently modern to make delightfully clear and straightforward reading. Here is an extract from the last chapter, " The Happy Ending," as an example of this pleasant style : " Ask no more, my godson, than to have what he hail Courage, Humility, and Faith ; to he brave and •kind always, not boastful, hating only what is rile and cruel ; and so, by

God's grace, a gentleman ; live and die to the honour of England, and-,the tvership of Christ's Cross. Amen."

,The illustrations are by Miss Honor Appleton, and add greatly to the pleasure that the book will give to its possessors. This little volume of Stories from the Arabian. Nights3 is " based on Sir Richard Burton's translation, with necessary modifica

tions." Mr. Pillans has done his work well and has made capital story-book. We only wish the volume was larger, for these tales whet one's appetite, particularly now that Baghdad is so much more to us, even than it was when we spread the "silken sail " of our own infancy, and walked its streets with Haroun al-Raschid. The children of this generation will feel a twofold interest in the Arabian Nights.

When Mr. Archibald Strong tells us in his Preface to Elves and Fairies* that the fairies have left the Old World to settle in Australia, we do not feel quite sure of the truth of this statement ; but after looking at Mrs. Outhwaite's pictures and reading Miss Rentoul's verses we become convinced that some, at any rate, of the best of the Little People have sailed across the seas. The illustrations show us fairies and children and beautiful fanciful backgrounds, drawn with a sure and accomplished touch. Mrs. Outhwaite's sense of colour and pro . ,rtion is also thoroughly pleasing. The verses range fro elightful fairy fantasies to no less delightful descriptions of everyday children. Here are two typical examples. First

from " The Proposal " of a baby bear to a clematis fairy.

He woos her with ardour but in vain :— " ' You shall have dewdrops and crimson wild berries, You shall have honey in a gum-blossom cup.' Nay,' said 'the Fairy, I'd rather go a-flying ; For bears that love honey might eat fairies up.' "

When in despair he leaves the fairy, he meets a Goblin, "a

little green-eyed Goblin " :— " The Fairy so cruel he ceased to remember, The Goblin so gentle he loves in her place • For the kind little heart of a wild little Goblin Is lovelier far than a Fairy's sweet face."

Here are some very human verses called " Mother " :" Mother, God is watching me, 'cos I took a tart ; Mother, make Him stop it, 'cos it hurts me in my heart Mother, I pulled up the pansies, 'cos I want to know, If I plant them on their heads, will they ever grow ?

Mother, was it God made skeeters ? Mother, surely not If He made them, Mother, well he made a blessed lot Mother, I've been playing Heathen in among the coal ; Mother, I'm as black as black, and haven't any soul."

The author of The Legend of the Sanctuary Flozcers,3 the late Mr. G. Critehley, had the faculty of telling a parable in an

interesting way, and of making his characters stand out clearly one from another. We are told in the Preface by his daughter

that this book is a selection of stories from his addresses to children. He was evidently very fond of flowers, and many of his similes and lessons turn on a garden. For instance, he takes the idea of " the white flower of a blameless life " (not in so many words) and weaves a story round the change from the whiteness of youth to the glowing colours of achieve• ment and maturity. It is A frankly "Sunday" book, and so

may not get the willing attention of some of its readers ; but there is good stuff in it, and some practical teaching on the difficulties that beset the road of life. Bring-Brother' is the queer title of a story that gives a lively picture of the doings of a Chinese family of some consequence living in a remote village before the year 1911. They spend much time in propitiating idols and evil spirits, but in the intervals seem to lead simple, hard-working lives, full of true family affection. The author is a missionary, and tells us how Bring-Brother, the heroine, was converted to Christianity. She is evidently very fond of the Chinese, and gives many curious details of their home life. Here is a saying we might

well adopt in cold weather. A chilly old gentleman says to a friend at a dinner-party in the middle of winter, " It is quite

ten coats cold," as in spite of braziers they shiver in the partly open veranda-like room. The illustrations by a Chinese artist are fascinating, and, with their extraordinary detail, should help to elucidate some of the mysterious pictures on Chinese pottery, which they very much resemble. .

Joseph ; Moses ; and -Judges7 are three little companion volumes of Bible stories told by Mrs. William Piercy in good, simple English. She has made interesting narratives, and explains some of the " hard sayings " in a straightforward, natural way, giving also some slight account of the conditions of Eastern life. The illustrations are more conventional than the text.

Collins' Children's Annuals has an imposing list of contributors on its title-page, which leads the reader to expect much pleasure and entertainment from its pages, and he will not be disappointed. The short stories, including one by " Katharine Tynan," and the illustrations by Mr. T. H. Robinson and Miss Honor Appleton (to mention only a couple of names), are interesting and attractive. The type is particularly clear and good, and should be easily read by nursery children.

Gyp's Hour of Blisse was certainly crowded, and Mr. Cecil Aldin describes all the mischievous doings which make it hectic in a most lively way. We can almost hear the shouts of laughter which will greet this puppy's mad career through house and garden, generally upsetting and " making hay " of everything, until he curls himself up, a tired but happy dog, in baby's nice soft cot.—In Bunnyborough" Mr. Aldin shows us, again with pen and pencil, what stuff a terrier puppy's dreams are made of, and gives us an entertaining account of it. Children will much enjoy plunging down rabbit-holes with Rags, and paying visits with Mrs. Rabbit and Miss Hedgehog.

The Busy Brownies" is a pretty picture story-book, and relates the kind actions that a group of little boys and girls delight in doing for each other, and for their grown-tip friends. It has illustrations on every page.

The music and the words of these Songs of Joyland," for young children, are direct, simple, and tunefuL They do not seek after new effects, but keep to the well-trodden paths of nursery sentiment and tune. From the fact that they are well written they will also be easy to sing. The book is illustrated in blackand-white and in colour.

A good collection of Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes" is always a satisfying possession, and the present volume of this nursery

classic, with Mr. Folkard's pretty and interesting illustrations, is well worthy of a place of honour in the children's bookshelf. The Hole and Conner Book" is another of the oblong books of verses and pictures that we have come to associate with the names of B. Parker and N. Parker. This is a delightful example of their work, for they show us all sorts of baby birds and beasts in their nests and lairs. They are all attractive, but the picture of the little foxes, with a sleepy and yet mischievous look on their faces, pleases us best.

In The Big Book of Josephine, by Mrs. H. C. Cradock, " pictured " by Miss Honor Appleton (Blackie, 10s. 6d.), we have several of the delightful Josephine stories collected into one volume.— Messrs. F. Warne and Co. have sent us a set of six paper-covered fairy-tale books illustrated by Mr. H. M. Brock (is. 3d. each). Their titles are Puss in Boots, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hop-oMy-Thumb, Beauty and the Beast, Valentine and Orson, and Jack the Giant-Killer. Tho illustrations are excellent, and exactly suited to the spirit of the old tales.

A City of Dreams. By C. M. Urch. With Illustrations by M. M. Cell. (Elkin Mathews. 5s.)—This is a little book of dreams and delicately fanciful visions, called into being in a listener's heart by the power of a musician to inspire weary travellers on life's way with new happiness and courage. The writer accepts war, pain, and sadness as necessary for the production of all that is worth having in this world—the shadow that makes the sunshine apparent—and seems to find comfort in this point of view. The illustrations of fairies are charming, and add a note of enjoyment to these wistful little musical fantasies.

The White-Magic Book. By Mrs. John Le Breton. (C. Arthur Pearson. 2s. 6d.)—The writer of this little book appears to take her magic very seriously, and offers much excellent advice to the dabbler in necromancy. The answers to suoh questions as " Shall I be engaged soon Y " " Will my present worries last long ? " can be ascertained with more or less certainty by means of a series of elaborate cabalistic signs. The unconverted can turn these questions and answers to good account as a variety of parlour game or modern sorter.