24 DECEMBER 1910, Page 28

Pam and Billy. By Brenda Girvin. (George Allen and Sons.

3s. 6d.)—" Billie Brown" has a violin which he devoutly believes to be the home of a fairy. Some rude hand breaks it, and he is sorely troubled. The joy of his life is gone. This is not his only trouble : he is poor and he knows the temptations of poverty. But he has a steadfast friend in " Pam," and the fairy is not really gone, for it is the mysterious gift of musical genius of which nothing can rob him. This is worked into a very pretty story. The illustrations are notably good; but surely "Pam" on the illustration facing p. 8 is too tall, too big to play the part of an elf.