seemed bright and cheerful within, as Max and Morton carried on a spirited debate, or Browne declaimed Wolsey's soliloquy, or To be, or not to be, that is the question.' pp. 304-308.

Now for a rapid survey of the books which yet lie unnoticed before us. "The Charm" is a very charming annual for boys and girls. "Little Arbell," a pretty story, prettily told. "A Hero," pleasantly inculcates an excellent moral. "Boys at Home"§ is a well-intended and agreeable book; while, for very juvenile readers, the "Happy Days of Childhood," with its gay illustrations, will have inexpressible charms. For these dear little ones, the "Apple-Dumpling, and other Stories," will furnish much that is amusing and practically suggestive. "WonderCastle' *** contains some pretty tales, though we cannot admire its frontispiece, or the story from which it is selected. "The Boy's Own StoryBook "tt recalls the enchanting hours we passed long since over the "Arabian Nights;" while the very prettily got-up book of "Round Games,"‡‡ contains subjects for the amusement of both young and old. A "Christmas Book for the Young,"§§ from the graceful pen of Mary Howitt, reminds us of her claim on the undying gratitude of children, so often and so delightfully has it been exercised on their behalf. Foremost among the very attractive series of children's books published by the Messrs. Chambers, we would name Mrs. Howitt's "Steadfast Gabriel." It is a charming tale, very simple in its structure, affording delicious peeps into English

woodland scenery; while its portraits of the three Gabriels-father, son, and grandson-are delightfully characterised. We would instance the elder woodman's training of his grandson:

"He carried him in his arms through the beautiful woodpaths, which he himself knew so well; he traced with him the course of the lovely forest streams; pointed out to him, while yet a baby perched in his arm, the silvery fish, the countless shoals of minnows, the flowers, the birds, the insects, and the wild creatures of the wood. He gathered wild blossoms for him in spring, and wild fruit in autumn; showed him the plantations of oak which he himself had set; bought for him a little pruning-knife, and before he could yet well handle it, began to instruct him in its use. For hours he would sit with him in the sunshine; he would lead him along the open ridings where the trees arched overhead and the turf was green beneath their feet, and await a troop of jolly hunters with the free-living Lord Montjoy at their head, and think their scarlet coats and their Hark forward!' beautiful, because the little lad, the darling grandson, clapped his hands, and shouted for joy at the sight." -pp. 43, 45.

And again

"We need neither organs nor minsterchurches to make our service acceptable to God. The green trees in this wood in summer, and the bare branches in winter, have been a temple to me for these eighty years. There have often been times when the wind and the little birds have been to me preachers and singers. A woodman, Gabriel, ought to be a pious man, for he has God's works always around him; he has room for good thoughts if he will but let them have their way. And this I tell thee, Gabriel. and I was not born yesterday-that if a man, or a

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and Co. 1853.

With illustrations by W.

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lad either for this was my experience when I was very young - will open his soul to good thoughts in a wood, they will fill it to overflowing, and with them will come such a gladness as will make him sing for joy. I have sung many a time for joy, I have been so wondrously happy in the woods. Thou wilt be a woodman, Gabriel, and thou wilt live in the cottage that I built. I built it strong and comfortable, as a fit dwelling for a God-fearing man who wishes to do his duty; for God loves work well done. I built it in the fear of God for thy father and for thee. It will last more than thy time, Gabriel, for its timber is sound as an acorn. Love God, my lad, honour thy parents, and live creditably in the house that I built for thee! Remember my words: let the house which I built for thee be like the great woods -an acceptable and fitting temple for thy Maker's worship."-pp. 46, 47.

Our American sisters are not behindhand in this department of literary labour. Miss Warner, better known by her assumed name of Elizabeth Wetherell, has projected a series of narratives, which purport to be the favourite story-books in Ellen Montgomery's bookcase. All readers of the " Wide, Wide World ”—and what young person has not read it?-will remember its sweet little heroine. The first volume in Ellen Montgomery's bookcase has appeared. "Mr. Rutherford's Children" is a very childish story, but narrated with much of its author's happiest manner. Still we have to complain of the same excessive pettiness and tiresome detail, so apparent in "Queechy " and the "Wide, Wide World;" but, like these works also, it contains one or two poetic gems. We would especially refer to the beautiful hymn for children, at page 184, in the volume before us.

Another American lady claims our favourable notice. Mrs. Judson, a well-known contributor to the periodical literature of her country, under the assumed name of Fanny Forrester, has been introduced to us by the publication in England of her "Records of Alderbrook." The writer of these chronicles of her native village possesses, if we may judge from the work

&c.

before us, much deep, earnest feeling. Her pictures of American manners can scarcely fail to interest; but her narratives are fitted for a more reflecting age than that of childhood.

The Library for Young People," which the Messrs. Chambers, with their wonted enlightened liberality, have issued at so small a price as to be accessible to all classes, contains many volumes of good and pleasant reading for little folks. It is almost invidious to single out a few from among the many safe and interesting books which it includes. We shall, however, give, as our own favourites, in addition to the "Steadfast Gabriel" already mentioned, "Alfred in India," "True Heroism," "Moral Courage," "Clever Boys," and a very pleasing collection of juvenile "Poems." Little boys and girls, too, will find their modes of entertainment much extended by the suggestions given in "Fireside Amusements."

"Duty and Affection" in this series, is a translation from the German of Gustav Nieritz. The same narrative has been rendered into English by another hand; and in either garb, the adventures of the "Little Drummer"‡ are both interesting and instructive. Napoleon's army, marching across Europe, to the invasion of Russia, is quartered upon the humble citizens of the towns and villages which lay en route. Great hardships were inflicted on the peaceful people by the reckless soldiery so unceremoniously intruded upon their hospitality. An assault is made on a ruffianly soldier, by his entertainer, a German saddler. To save the life of his father, perilled by this infringement of martial law, the saddler's son enlists in the regiment as a drummer. The sad experiences of the young Augustus in that terrible campaign, and the subsequent retreat from Moscow, are vividly described. The reader is admitted, as it were, behind the battle scenes. To the pomp and circumstance of glorious war, succeed the fearful field of carnage, when the combat is over. The groans of the

dying, the torments of the wounded, the sorrows and sufferings endured by the inoffensive population—all are powerfully depicted. We shudder as we read, and almost turn to listen for the sound of the cannon from the banks of the Danube.

Chambers's "Library for Young People" contains a Juvenile History of England, and also, a History of Scotland. These books are, like everything else that issues from the press of the Messrs. Chambers, well intended and well executed; but we could desire that they possessed a little more of that picturesqueness which none in the world can better appreciate than the author of "The History of the '45." We wish Mr. Robert Chambers himself would do for little children what he has so charmingly done for the adult readers of his own country's history. Sir Walter Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather," and Mrs. Markham's histories of England and France, have always appeared to us models of excellence in this department. In introducing to the young this most delightful study, we should expressly aim at picturesque effect. If the imagination can once be excited; and the events and actors of a remote age be vividly brought before the learner, they will never be forgotten. The mind will be stored with rich material for future use; the memory most happily exercised; while the deeper lessons of history will assume a reality, and come home to the mind and conscience of the very youngest student with a force which no bare recital of facts, with moral reflections duly subjoined thereto, could possibly effect.

We could not give a better illustration of the foolish fashion of appending dry, moral declamation to the conclusion of historical narrative, than by citing some examples from a very well intended and beautifully got up book, which is entirely spoiled by these execrable addenda. The "Scripture History for Youth"* has some very attractive engravings. But how unlike the simple, noble language of the Bible is the inflated style in which Bible narratives are here conveyed! What youthful student would pause to profit by the lesson drawn from the history of Absalom ?

"This recital ought to make a deep impression on juvenile readers. They cannot sin without not only exposing themselves to pain and punishment, but, consequent on their suffering, their parents are doomed to the bitterest anguish kindly hearts can know."

Again, in the history of Moses

"Let the young reader deeply reflect on this." (We question whether any young reader, however reflective, will derive much intelligible instruction from the following:-) "Ilas he a parent? That parent is to him a Moses, to lead him from the swaddling clothes of infancy to the freedom which he may claim in maturer years; from a state of helpless weakness, towards that situation of trust which he is eventually to fill. If the kindly, anxious efforts to bring him forward meet with a thankless return, in the fullness of time the refractory youth (like the sinful Jews), when the grave has closed over his friend, will, with poignant anguish, mourn his loss with unavailing tears."

To the "Scripture Natural History for Youth," of the same writer, our remarks equally apply. The design is good; the engravings excellent; the style of the descriptive letter-press inflated and full of bombastic insignificance; yet, amid a mass of lengthy words and intricate sentences, some desirable information lies hidden.

After all, this class of books scarcely comes within the range of our present purpose. They are books rather of edification than of pleasure. Not that our pleasure-books are to be deemed uninstructive. Far otherwise. That indirect nutriment which we unconsciously imbibe, the healthful influences of free air, sunshine, and genial mirth, contribute to the perfect growth of the man, as much as do the more conscious elements of bodily sustenance. A profound observer has asserted, that the destinies of a people are more influenced by their ballads than by their laws; and, if the child be truly father to the man, we would look for a wiser, benigner, and more genial manhood, from among those whose tastes, fancies, and feelings had been exercised in childhood, and their young imaginations preoccupied by a pure, graceful, and varied literature.

We had almost passed over in silence some very small, very cheap, and