GIF T-BOOKS.—The Two Pools. By J. T. Dunning. (T. Esher
Unwin. 3s. 64.1.)—This "Romance for Children" is somewhat like the "Water-Babies," but not so didactic. Some readers wilt not like it the less for that, and will be equally amused with the sayings and doings of the trouts and sticklebacks.—There is something about sticklebacks in The Boyhood of a Naturalist, by "Fred. Smith" (Blackie and Son, 3s. 6d.), but they are the real, not fairy sticklebacks. The title of the book explains it suffi- ciently. The author tells us of his ambitions and of the difficul- ties which stood in his way. He wanted to ream' about the country, searching for what was to be found in fields and books, and his schoolfellows wanted him to play cricket. But unwilling cricket is not of much account, and he was soon set free to follow his own bent. The tale of what followed is very interesting. We do not wish all or even many boys to follow these ways, for the hard knocks of football and cricket teach men to dare the dangers of close conflict—fanatics that do not fear death fear pain—but there is room for some of such students of Nature.— Food for Powder, by D. H. Parry (Ernest Nister, 2s. Od.), begins, as many such tales do, and lives also, it may be said, with a school where we are introduced to a tyrannical Head-Master and a rebellious boy. This is an introduction to a story of military life as it was towards the end of the last century, a life not without many troubles of its own, but turning out well at the last. —Trefoil, by M. Macdonald (Nelson and Sons, 6s.), is the story of three girls, their friendship and their fortunes. The scene is laid in Australia, and this gives an additional interest to a book which would in any case be worth reading.
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