CURRENT LITERATURE.
Aunt Judy's Magazine, for June, July, and August. (George Bell and Sons.)—We notice, with pleasure, a lighter tone in this magazine, the very appearance of which—even its ugly little group of children on the cover—has become pleasantly familiar to us, during its more than fourteen years of existence. It has, we think, hitherto, been too much given to instruction, and we have always op- posed the attempt to smuggle instruction into children's minds in the guise of amusement. Aunt Judy has, too, appealed more to the head than the heart. We have harped on these strings before in the cause of happy childhood, but, this quarter, "Princess Alethea," Mrs. Ewing's humorous verses, " Bebe," "Bronze and Bobby," "Anecdotes of Pigs," and other papers, convey only so much instruction as is inherent in all really good work. "Princess Alethea" makes good progress—both the story and the princess. The latter is beginning to see light, and to recognise that the loss of her place, as first in family consideration, is no justifica- tion for vindictive feeling, disobedient isolation, and unloving reserve. We wish we saw more of her step-mother, whose home- sickness is very touching, and whose stiff reserve is very well drawn. Our friend Bouncer proves himself a bully and a truculent coward. His unexpected behaviour to his young master on his return, and the poor old lady's chagrin, are very rich. In "Bronze and Bobby" we have quite another "guess sort" of dog, and he and his master are sketched with the full feeling for their mutual affection and different characteristics that raises smiles and tears alternately. The artist has done more justice to the gipsy than to Bronze. Mrs. Ewing's free and informal versification is, as we need not say, exceedingly clever and amusing, and full of point. We confess ourselves glad that the papers on books are done. In as far as they are entertain- ing, they are only literary gossip, and in as far as they are learned' they are too desultory and slight, and addressed to a wrong audience' "School revisited" teaches an important lesson admirably, but we do not think so worshipped a mistress would have turned her entertain- ment into a moral lecture only. Mr. A. Scott Gatty's song, "Jack," is very touching and pathetic. We do not care fpr the translations from the German and Danish, nor do we find the poetry up to the mark —save and excepting, of course, that of Mrs. Ewing and of Mr. Getty which we have mentioned ; but we know well the difficulty editors have in getting good verses, and it is not often that an editor's work is better done than that of the editor of Aunt Judy. We are glad to learn that Mrs. Ewing's admirable story, "We and the World," which came out first in these pages, is being published separately. As usual, several pages are allotted to very interesting details of the wants, the work and the welfare of the Great Ormond-Street Children's Hos- pital. If only for its advocacy of this institution. Aunt Judy deserves hearty support. Modesty should not prevent the editor from giving her readers a full account of all Aunt Judy has done for the hospital. It would surprise the public, and in interesting it freshly in this little pablication, would react favourably on the institution which it supports.
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