It has come to our ears that the most delightful
contribution to the nursery library, and one of the most promising first appearances in art, of .recent years, had a more than artistic significance.e allude to the lit- tle volume of desins, " Child's Play," by E. N. B. ; whose feeling and beauty claimed our admiring recognition at the opening of the present year, and which seems to have made an equal impression on the public, as is testified by the advertisement of a second edition. The fair artist (for we were not wrong in presuming her to be a lady) bas been subse- quently known to us by her print of the " Burial Service" : she now ap- pears as the authoress of a work of another kind—not of art, but of grace- ful charity. A correspondent informs us that the proceeds of the " Play "
have been devoted by E. V. B. to procuring a flow of water for the use of the poor parishioners of her husband—the clergyman of a rural parish in one of our Western counties. The letter encloses the following.son-
net : to whose commemoration of genius and kindheartedness we gladly
give insertion. E. V. B.
Fair fields were ours, touch'd with a mellow light,
From gorgeous clouds, at rise or set of sun •
Full trees were ours, but no kind stream had run
Beside our homes, to bless the day and night. But see ! the water rises glad and bright, In metal highway through our meadows led ; And o'er the sculptured basin see it shed Its silver shower, for ever in our sight ! Thus, with meek heart, a gentle Fancy, wed,
Long summer moons hath for our solace wrought.
So noble work succeeds to noble thought,
And the band justifies the heart and head ;
So the " Child's Play" to earnest end is brought ; So piety from poesy is bred.
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