Aunt Judy's Magazine. (George Bell and Sons.)—We have before us
the first three numbers of the new volume of this favourite children's periodicalr-4reM November to January. (Why does not
Aunt Judy make her year coincide with the calendar ?) It preserves fully its high tone, and is as interesting as heretofore ; and must continue so, while such writers as Mrs. Ewing—the authoress of that admirable story," Jan and the Windmill,"—the authoress of the" Rose- Garden," and many others—not least, the editor—devote themselves to it. The author of the " Rose-Garden " takes the lead in these numbers, in a very promising tale, illustrating the period when the southern towns of England watched so anxiously for the French in the early days of this century. There is a very interesting paper on "The Dogs of Legend and Romance," to be followed, we are glad to see, by one on those of history. "The Hens of Hen Castle" is a very humorous story (with an admirable English sequel, entitled, " Flaps "), translated from the German of Victor Bliithgen. We cannot, however, say so much for that author's "The Tailor and the Wolves," and we confess we cannot see much point or humour in the burlesque entitled, "Caliph for a Day." The poetry, too, is sometimes below par, as in "The Canada Home ;" but on the whole, there is little to carp at, and very much to like. The answers to young correspondents are exceedingly useful, and the stimulus Aunt Judy affords to self-instruction by the prizes it offers for correct answers to its questions, and the assistance it affords by naming the books to be studied, are very valuable. Aunt Judy does one great practical work —it supports two cots at the Children's Hospital in Great Ormond Street, and collects for it, both in money and goods ; keeping its young donors fully informed of all it accomplishes, and carefully acknowledging all their kind presents. The illustrations are no small part of the attraction of Aunt Judy. They vary greatly in excel- lence; those of animals—especially the hens of Hen Castle—are admirably spirited; Nancy, Madge, and the blackbird at the straw- berry-beds, we do not like.
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