welcomed by the little folk for whom it is prepared. Messrs. Bennett, Brunton, and Gray make the very most they can of the small incitements to comicality provided for them by the rhymester. The last jingle in this daintily printed book is this, which is a fair specimen of the whole Dingle-dingle-dingle-dingle- Was the merry wedding peal The eight blue bells did ring: Dingle, dingle, dingle, dingle, dingle, dingle, ding! Easy Poetry. Routledge, 1s. Of nursery rhymes and verses for inquiring children there has been no lack, but of genuine poetry, selected with a view to suit the capacity of children, there has hitherto been no great supply. In this book the publishers have endeavoured to meet an admitted want, and they have certainly succeeded; for we find poems by Dr. Watts, Jane Taylor, and all the other poets who have been good writers of children's songs. The pretty little volume deserves a very wide circulation, and will become a great favourite wherever it once makes its appearance. Faith Gartney's Girlhood. Beeton. 18. This, the first instalment of a series of tales published in pink paper wrapper, after the French model, under the title of the "Rose Library," is an American story of the late civil war, rather liberally garnished with strong words. Absolon's In and Out of School. Warne. 38. 6d. The good-tempered boy, the industrious girl, the peacemaker, the coward, the noisy boy, the lazy scholar, the cross child, the sloven, and a score of other girls and boys, are depicted by Mr. Absolon in a most natural and graceful manner. The pictures are nicely coloured by hand, and to each is appended an appropriate verse in easy words for little folks' reading-the lesson of the whole being found in these three lines "I think you'll say with me, A boy can be a gentleman, Whate'er his age may be." The Surprise. Book Society. 6d. Little Robert is an active and inquisitive young gentleman of four, who likes to have his own way in most things, but who is not unwilling to be taught when the subject of his lesson pleases him. In this, perhaps, he is not unlike other boys; but he has a kind mother, who takes pains to set him right when he seems inclined to do wrong. In this pretty story, the adventures of Little Robert and his dog are so pleasantly set forth, that children will be sure to be pleased at its perusal. The Butterfly's Gospel. By Frederika Bremer. Jackson, Walford, & Hodder. 2s. 6d. Three pretty little stories, translated by Miss Howitt from the Swedish of Frederika Bremer, for "Merry and Wise," an illustrated monthly, are here gathered together, and form an appropriate Christmas or giftbook for children. The "Butterfly's Gospel" is intended to bear a meaning deeper and more important than that usually belonging to a child's tale; while the other stories teach the value of truth, self-denial, cheerfulness, and piety. Various wood en gravings illustrate the text. Wild Animals and their Homes. Ward and Co. 6s. Consisting of twelve large double-page engravings, this is one of the most handsome and useful books for young people we have seen. All the pictures are well drawn and coloured after nature. They are accompanied by a descriptive text by a competent hand, Dr. Dulcken, who not only describes the animals represented in the plates, and tells us about their habits but in most cases he also gives some pleasing anecdote of them also; thus in the case of the bears we have accurate and well-coloured drawings of the black, the brown, and the white, with a tolerably full account of their | varieties and peculiarities, and an interesting story of a rencontre with a bear. Young readers will be delighted with the pen and pencil pictures of elephants, lions, tigers, camels, dogs, hogs, monkeys, antelopes bears, &c. The domestic animals and the bird tribes are to be published, we under. I stand, in separate volumes. What became of Tommy? Griffith. 26d Fred and Tommy, of the respective ages sof ten and seven, think they would like to go into the woods without their nurse. They go, and lose themselves, of course; and just when they are beginning to think they will starve and die, and be covered with leaves by the robin red-breasts, they are found and rescued by a little beggar-boy, who has no name, no home, and never heard of God. The boy is himself rescued, in turn, from want and misery by the parents of the chil dren; and then other events take place in which the beggar-boy takes active part. But what became of Tommy? Why-but we leave young readers to find the answer to the question for themselves, merely observ ing that the story of Tommy and the beggar. boy is one that will be sure to interest them greatly-a story, indeed, which is better worth reading than scores and scores of more pretentious volumes. Trottie's Story Book. Griffith. 2s. 6d. Mr. Harrison Weir contributes eight charming pictures to this pretty book for children. We may therefore conclude, without going beyond the title-page, that "Trottie's Story Book" consists of anec dotes of dogs, cats, horses, monkeys, and birds. It does; and very nicely are the stories told, in easy words printed in good readable type. Every little Trottie will be delighted to learn "how the dog took care of the lady," "how the monkey stole the nuts," "how the elephant tried the strength of the bridge," and "how the cat found her way to her new home," with a score or more equally interesting things about domestic animals. 66 the three tales here printed are supposed to be selected. The first," Mr. Rutherford's Children," is a free and lively sketch of domestic life in America; the second, Karl Krinken, or the Christmas Stocking," is a pretty story of the Santa Claus and Christmas Carol character; and the third, Casper," the history of a poor boy who was taught content and submission through the discipline of trial. Young readers will find abundant amusement in "Ellen Montgomery's Bookshelf," which is prettily illustrated with a coloured frontispiece and titlepage. The Book of Nursery Tales. A Keepsake for the Young. Warne & Co., 3s. 6d. 66 Where is the girl or boy who does not love to read of Cinderella, the Sleeping Beauty, the White Cat, the Yellow Dwarf, Beauty and the Beast, the Children in the Wood, Valentine and Orson, Jack the Giant Killer, and Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London? Well, in this pretty Book of Nursery Tales," they will find all about the little fairy people, and the giants and dwarfs, Goody Twoshoes, and various other choice and popular stories. Some have been judiciously altered. For instance, instead of the wolf killing Little Red Riding Hood-here called Little Red Cap, after the German version of the tale-a hunter, who happens to be passing while the sham grandmother beguiles the child with fair words, kills the wolf; a decidedly better ending. Each story is illustrated with a full page engraving, and smaller cuts inserted in the text, in addition to an ornamental half-title enclosed in a neat border of rustic work and flowers. Featherland; or, How the Birds lived at Greenlawn. By George Manville Fenn. Griffith. 2s. 6d. Stories in which animals are made to speak are always favourites with children. Featherland is such a tale; and young readers will be equally surprised and delighted to find what clever things can be said and done by the birds. As we have the authority of no less an observer than Jean Jacques Rosseau as to the ability of the feathered tribes in this respect, it is not surprising that the little creatures should occasionally appear in print, and discourse daintily upon all manner of topics. "Featherland" begins without preface or explanation, by a conversation between a thrush and a blackbird; and the story is told throughout by winged speakers. Papa's Pretty Gift Book. Ward, Lock, and Co. 3s. 6d. The "Pretty-Page" series of first books for children, consisting of the Rhyme Alphabet, the Primer, the Reading Book and the Fable Book, are here collected and placed in a gay cover. Each page is illustrated with a characteristic engraving from the German, and the text is printed from large readable type, on good stout paper; forming altogether a very acceptable gift-book for little girls and boys. Some of the cuts are very curious, and illustrate manners and modes of thought which, though well understood in the Fatherland, will be new and strange, though by no means displeasing, to young English readers. Home Sunshine. Dean. 18 6d. A baker's dozen of pretty little stories for children, illustrated with coloured engravings, enclosed in a cover of crimson and gold, forming an appropriate gift-book for the young. Arithmetical Tables in Verse. Dean. 18. It is presumed by the Rev. Mr. Davis that children would better learn their tables of weights and measures if they were given in rhyme; he therefore teaches them thuswise "Twenty-eight pounds one Quarter make Four Quarters make one Hundredweight To make my study fun: Bravo! why, twenty Hundredweight Little Lily's Alphabet. Warne. 28. 6d. S. M. P. exhibits considerable tact in adapting rhymes to the alphabet-pictures of Oscar Pletsch, which were drawn for German children in the most approved manner of German artists. The pictures are excellent delineations of domestic life in Deutschland. They are so natural, homely, and truthlike, that they cannot fail to become favourites in the nurseries and school-rooms of English children. We see a mother seated among her little ones, paring apples; a father, pipe in hand, playing at ride a cock-horse with his infants; an old man listening to the singing of his grandchildren; a couple of old soldiers teaching the young lads their drill; an organ-grinder and his boy at the cottage gate; an apple woman bargaining with her youthful customers; a nursemaid curling a little lady's hair: a quaint babe bringing coffee to her sick grandmother; and good children and naughty children in all sorts of home occupations. And-may we confess it without causing offence to our countrymen ?-we have spent more time over the pictures of this childish alphabet than over those of many a book published this season at three times the price. It may show bad taste, or want of taste on our part, but as we wish to be truthful in all things, we say that the pictures of this book have made us childlike for the time. Aunt Emma. Routledge. 18. 6d. Illustrated with a couple of well-drawn engravings, printed in colours, this pretty story for girls will delight young readers; for it is told in a natural and artless manner, and contains a nicely-designed plot, well carried forward. Ernie Elton, the Lazy Boy. Routledge. 28. The moral taught in this interesting book for boys is, that idle folks take the most pains. The author dedicates it to his own sons, in the hope that other boys may find in it as much amusement and profit as it afforded them. The moral is not offensively, or even gravely, obtruded; but comes naturally out of the story, which is at once cheerful in tone, healthy in spirit, and unexceptionable in treatment. .. MESSRS. GALL AND INGLIS'S PUBLICATIONS. A prophet is said not to be without honour save in his own country; but the saying scarcely holds good with regard to the firm whose books are now before us; for all their publications have a large circulation, and are held in great esteem by the heads of scholastic establishments, Sabbath school teachers, and all who are careful to place in the hands of young persons only such works as contain nothing of an exceptionable character. The poems of Burns, Shakespeare, Byron, and Moore, as issued by Messrs. Gall and Inglis, may be presented to any young lady at the Edinburgh or other Institution," with the full sanction and approval of the lady principal. The volumes most recently issued are an edition of the Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner; and the Swiss Family Robinson, one of the most successful imitations of De Foe; the noteworthy features of which are that each is illustrated with six engravings on steel, printed in oil colours. We have also three volumes of the series of poetical works, namely Longfellow, James Montgomery, and a book of Gleanings from the British Poets. This series, unlike most of its competitors, is illustrated with engravings on steel, which add a richness and elegance to the appearance of the books, and deservedly render them great favourites. To say that they are neatly bound, with gilt covers and gilt edges, is only to say that their publishers keep pace with the requirements of the day. Messrs. Gall and Inglis have recently become the proprietors of the copyright edition of that popular work," Barnes' Notes on the Old and New Testament," and are issuing the volumes in a neat binding, which shows to great advantage when arranged upon the library shelves. THE FAMILY ALTAR.-As many of our readers are just now making arrangements for the coming year, they will thank us for drawing their attention to a new volume of family devotions, which we believe possesses some advantages over any preceding work of the same character. The "Family Altar" just issued by Messrs. McPhun, of Glasgow (248.),contains devotions for fifty-three weeks, each morning and evening commencing with a hymn, followed by a portion of Scripture, with short practical observations, and a prayer. These prayers have been selected from a great variety of sources, including the best of our devotional manuals, Jeremy Taylor, the two Henrys, Baxter, Venn, Hawker, Bean, Doddridge, and other divines; and, we may add, also from the Book of Common Prayer. The "practical observations" are extracted from similar sources. Prefixed from the pen of Dr. John Campbell is a preliminary dissertation on the present state of family religion, its necessity and obligations, with some remarks upon the benefits attending it, and illustrations drawn from the practice at Bradoak, the residence of the Rev. Philip Henry; and at Aston Sandford, the residence of the Rev. Thomas Scott, the Commentator. Among the additions are prayers for the various church festivals, and other special occasions. The work is illustrated with a number of steel plates, is well printed, and has the recom mendation of cheapness. From MESSRS. INGLIS AND JACK, a new publishing house in Edinburgh, we have received a packet of books of which that firm has recently become the possessors. They include-Mrs. Fergusson Blair's cele brated Henwife, a book which bears the reputation of being the very best practical treatise extant upon the domestic manage ment of the poultry-yard; Annie Elton, a religious tale, pleasingly written,-" We Willie's Wish, a work of like character; 4 Manual of Devotion from the writings of St. Augustine, as the title-page informs us, but of which a very small portion, if any, was written by the saint; it is, however, a nicely printed volume, and contains nothing to which the author of the "Confessions" would have objected; a collection of Poems from the Dawn of British Literature to the year 1699, including some Scottish authors who are scarcely known even by name: and lastly, a tale by Mrs. L. A. Moncreiff, entitled Ronald and Albert; or, the Manse of Glen Ochill. Almeria's Castle. By Lady Lushington. Griffith. 48. 6d. Various Indian expe riences-some of them curious illustrations of life in the East-are here strung together in the form of conversational stories; not the least attractive way of inparting knowledge to the young, it may be observed. The stories and adventures are naturally and pleasantly told, and the illustrations which accompany the text are notas is often the case in books of this kind-mere views of places and buildings, but graphic pictures of people and things as they really exist in Hindoostan. Nor is the machinery of the story either clumsy or common-place -as is also too common-but a well-contrived and evenly-flowing narrative, in which living men and women, and not lay figures, play their several parts. Six Months among the Charities of Europe. By John De Liefde. Strahan. 2 vols., 248. This interesting account of the more inportant Protestant Charities of Continental Europe is from the pen of a Dutch clergy. man settled in England, who recently de voted six months to the visiting and study. ing the various institutions described in these two bulky volumes. A more important and praiseworthy literary undertaking can scarcely be imagined. The book is not a translation, but written in good nervous English, clear and forcible. and in simplicity of style which many Eng lish authors might imitate with advantage to themselves and their readers. It happened that the Bible was the book from which our author obtained his first lessons in the English language, and such an initiation was an invaluable preparation for the task of writing the Charities of Europe. "Indeed, but for it," says our author, "I should often have been at a loss to find words to express what I had to say." England has ever been foremost in promoting the founding of charitable institutions, not only at home, but throughout the whole world. There is scarcely one among the parent establishments existing on the other side of the channel which does not directly or indirectly owe its origin to the influence which the practical spirit of England has exercised upon the Protestant peoples of Europe. Any account, therefore, of what is being done abroad for the poor must possess strong attraction for the English reader. This book is occupied with the new forms of charity, which were partly stimulated into action by the terrible consequences resulting from the protracted European wars, and partly by the more humanizing influences of long years of almost uninterrupted peace. Our earlier charities were for educational purposes, for the support of aged decayed members of society, and hospitals for the sick. These dealt chiefly with the physical welfare of the poor and needy. Our modern charities, while continuing the work of the older ones, have extended their blessings to the moral welfare and social regeneration of the sinful, and it is with the institutions formed with this aim that the present work is occupied. Our author visited twenty-six institutions in all, from which he has selected fifteen for detailed description. The history of their origin and growth, with their administration, possesses a most absorbing interest; and we are sanguine in the hope that its perusal will greatly stimulate and encourage those who are zealous in charitable undertakings. Of the institutions described in these volumes, the majority are those founded for the protection and education of neglected, abandoned, outcast children-the offspring of sin and profligacy, of misery and destitution. We are first introduced to Dr. Wichern. The other institutions of a similar nature to Dr. Wichern's described in these volumes are, Father Zeller's school, at Beuggen, near Basle, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, to which the British and Foreign School Society contributed £100. At this school, masters for poor children are trained. The Society at Duisberg was established by Pastor Fliedner, who founded the Deaconesses' Institution at Kaiserswerth. It is a Pastoral Aid Society," and is very useful. The "Asylum for Poor Neglected Children" at Düssenthal was founded by Count von der Recke, who, through the liberal co-operation of an English lady, supposed to be Miss Murray, and of Miss Mary Aikman, of Edinburgh, was enabled to establish an institution that has proved a real blessing to Prussia, mainly through the noble zeal and * That Mr. De Liefde's task was not an easy one, may be seen from an article he contributed to Good Words, and which has since been republished in a separate form: "A Dutchman's Difficulties with the English Language." lofty intelligence of Georgi, who was for fourteen years superintendent. There are descriptions of two agricultural colonies, one near Zutphen, called the "Netherland Mettray," and the other at Sainte Foy, in the South of France. There is, however, a reverse to every picture. The very necessity for the existence of these noble institutions is a reproach to communities of Christians. So much misery and vice as these institutions show to exist, and which they are the means of remedying, could not prevail if the chiefest of Christian duties were not systematically neglected. Instead of "doing the duty that lies nearest" to them, affluent Christians delegate to others the performance of the duty of ministering to the poor, and make a virtue of bequeathing for them what it is no longer in their power to retain. · Suppose we masters of families took each of us one poor abandoned child-only one-into our houses? All the asylums of Europe would be superseded at once." Beeton's Annual (Warne, 6s.)-Authors and artists appear to have exerted themselves as to which shall take the lead in this well-printed volume. Among the writers of the tales, sketches, poems, and comic "bits," are the Rev. J. G. Wood, Captain Mayne Reid, Davenport Adams, and the author of "Kiddle-a-Wink; and in the list of the artists we find Gustave Doré, Harry Rogers, Harrison Weir, J. B. Zwecker, and William Brunton. The Annual opens with an address, entitled "Our Noble Selves," in which Mr. Beeton, with that innate modesty which stands him in such good service, says:"If I have an ambition-and I suppose a man may have an ambition without being an emperor or the author of an emperor's history-it is to be regarded as having founded a periodical literature for the young folk of our country." Then comes a smart sketch of the way they hunt in Texas; followed by Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Hum, the Son of Buz," Historical Assassinations, a smart description of the ceremonies observed in crossing the line, a dashing paper on Indian sporting by Charles A. Beach, who is otherwise known as "Cannibal Jack;" a queer tale, by the author of "Reuben Davidger," and a gracefully-written allegory entitled "The Dove," together with other papers more or less interesting. But a prominent feature of this annual is its numerous engravings, some of which are printed in colours. One of these, the boat-race on the Isis at Oxford, will not fail to delight boys with nautical proclivities; and another, a "Skirmish with the Indians," must be equally certain to please lads who have gone wandering, in fancy, over scenes of danger and foreign! adventure. But where all is good it is needless to further particularize. Beeton's Annual," if this be a fair representative of the sort of thing intended to be offered every Christmas, promises to live and flourish for many a year to come. Peter Parley's Annual (Kent. 5s.) is in its twenty-seventh year, and, notwithstanding all competition, still maintains its ground. It contains tales of the household, stories of foreign adventure and enterprise, pictures from history, familiar illustrations of boylife, descriptions of games, sports and pastimes, an almanack for the year 1866, and the essay for which a prize of £10 was offered in the previous issue. It is illustrated with page engravings, printed in colours, and numerous smaller woodcuts inserted in the text; together with a new feature consisting of notices of London trading establishments. DEAN AND SON'S NOVELTIES for the coming year are but two in number; the first is a Jolly Old Man, a sort of husband or companion to the Jolly Old Woman who made her appearance last winter, and sang "Fiddle-de-dee" with so much hilarity. The song favoured by the old man is " 'Down Derry Down," which chorus he trolls forth with as much heartiness when he loses his hat as when he tells us he is thoroughly "jolly." The gutta-percha head which appears under so many forms, is ornamented with a magnificent pair of green spectacles. Novelty No. 2 is a new and original adaptation of the dear old perennial "Little Red Riding Hood," by which she is made to appear on a movable stage with coloured wings and other scenic accessories, so arranged that little Miss Edith, Bertha, or Mildred, aged four, can make the characters perform their several parts to the tune of "God save the Queen," "Rule Britannia," 66 Pop goes the Weasel,-or, by special desire of the company, even that of "Slap Bang, here we are again!" The music, stage, characters, scenery, and prompter's box, are all included in the same two shillings' worth. Black Jokes and Brown, for Country or Town; with appropriate Rhymes for all Ages and Times (Dean and Son, 18.), consist of a number of funny pictures, got up in the manner of the ancient silouette and scissorscut portraits, with such oddly made and ludicrous verses as cannot fail to amuse the little folks for whom the book is specially designed. For instance, there is a picture of a seaman holding up a fish by the tail, with the lines underneath, "Be mine, dear maid, the sailor cried, and then he had his sweetheart fried." In order to understand the mode in which the work is printed, we must refer our readers to an advertisement of Messrs. Dean and Sons, where they will find a specimen, only printed in red and black instead of black and sepia. Geoffery Gambado; or a Simple Remedy for Hypochondriacism and Melancholy Splenetic Humours. By a Humourist Physician. Dean, 58. Henry Bunbury, Esq., who, the preface informs us, was "a celebrated sketcher and caricaturist" of Suffolk, left behind him a number of comic sketches of horses and their riders. To these sketches, which are drawn after the manner of Rowlandson, and are therefore exceedingly extravagant and ludi crous, "A Humourist Physician" has fitted a rather funny story, of which "Geoffery Gambado, M.D., F.R.S.," is the hero. "The Author of the Illustrations"-we quote the preface-" has long since departed this mor tal life; and the Author of the Narrative, not seeking the reputation of his own name, does not give it to the world; but apologizing for his interpretation of the sketches. desires only to do good. If any should be entertained, and will kindly send any mark of their favour to the publisher for the author, the word of that gentleman is given that, whatever it may be, it shall be strictly devoted to public good." Is this intended for heavy fun or sober earnest ? Try and Trust. Routledge. 28. The scope of this story for boys may be guessed from its title. The authoress asks a charitable reception for it, because she feels, in these days of prolific authorship, some diffidence in launching it on the sea of popular esteem. But she need feel no fear, for it is a good story, well told. a 66 ALMANACKS, POCKET-Books, and DIARIES. 66 Captain Cuttle's advice-"When found. make a note of it!" was good. From this expression it is perfectly clear that he habitually made use of something in the shape of a diary. The question as to whether he patronized a Letts," a "De la Rue," or Richards," was once very warmly dis cussed at a meeting of the learned Society of Antiquaries; but with no satisfactory result. We are, however, in a position to state that it was neither the one nor the other, but a copy of "Steele's Shipmaster's Assistant." interleaved with blank pages. This work, entirely filled with the renowned Captain's "notes," is now to be seen in the Library of Gresham College, for which it was secured when the late Mr. Burnall's books were disposed of. The discussion at the Society of Antiquaries was attended with one very satisfactory result, at least so far as concerns publishers; for many of the Fellows who had never before kept a Diary, were awakened to the necessity of so doing; and, as fresh converts generally do, rushed to the other extreme, and every year purchase copies not only for themselves, but for their families, not even forgetting Scribbling Diaries for the hall. Messrs. Letts & Co., who have the largest variety of Diaries, send us this year their No. 51, a foolscap folio with a ruled page for every day in the year: also No. 1, a rough or Scribbling Diary, in folio, with three days to each page, the price of which, interleaved with blotting paper, is half a crown. Messrs. Letts' Diaries are also produced in the pocket-book and other forms. From Messrs. Blackwood & Co. we have the Scribbling Diary in two forms: one at a shilling, with each page divided into seven portions; the other, called the three-day diary, at two shillings, both printed on good paper, and interleaved with blotting. From Messrs. De la Rue, whose leather |