THE CHRISTIAN PARLOR MAGAZINE.-It may be as well to remind our old subscribers that their back Nos. can be bound for them in a great variety of styles, and on reasonable terms, on application at this office. We may also remark that this is a favorable time for new subscribers to commence. While thankful for the generous appreciation of our labors which our subscription list exhibits, we wish greatly to extend our circulation, not for our sake only, but for the sake of the reading community, whose taste we would desire to see attracted by more wholesome mental aliment than most of our magazines supply. Our enterprise has for its object a higher aim than pecuniary profit. It seeks to do good, to spread elevating truth in attractive forms, to cherish home affections, to improve the heart, wherever its visits are welcomed; and all who feel an interest in the promotion of such ends are invited to co-operate in enlarging our sphere by multiplying our readers.

THE DESERT.-Our Parlor Table is not so entirely occupied by books that we cannot find a corner to spare for some choice music, the mysterious characters of which are occasionally interpreted to us by some fair musician. Among the most recent publications in the musical world, we have been extremely gratified with the "Songs from Le Désert," as sung by Robert G. Paige. They are published by C. W. Benedict, 16 Spruce street, and W. B. Taylor, 150 Fulton street, N. Y. They are elegantly got up, with full but easy accompaniments for the piano-forte, and with the words both in French and English. Those who have, as well as those who have not heard "Le Désert," cannot fail to be pleased with the publication of two such gems as the Hymn to Night and the Evening Reverie.

SACRED PHILOSOPHY OF THE SEASONS, illustrating the Perfections of God in the Phenomena of the Year. By Rev. Henry Duncan, D.D., of Ruthwell, Scotland. Published by Robt. Carter, 58 Canal street.

The Duncan family have highly distinguished themselves for their genius and piety. Who has not heard of Mary Lundie Duncan, and her accomplished and pious mother, her noble and learned father, her devoted and gentle-hearted brother?

The book now under notice is the third in a series of four vols. on the Seasons. Its design is stated in the title, and the execution is what might have been expected from an earnest Christian observer and lover of nature, accustomed to see in all its multiform phenomena the evidences of divine wisdom and goodness. To all likeminded with its ingenious and amiable author

to all who love to wander forth amid the green fields and gather instruction from the opening flowers to all who are wont to "rise from nature up to nature's God," we commend this admirable volume.

THE TWILIGHT HOUR is the title of a new piece of music, published by Firth & Hall, Franklin Square, and Firth, Hall, & Pond, 239 Broadway. The poetry, a sweet little gem, is from the pen of Rev. Francis C. Woodworth; the music by Pedro A. Andreu. The vignette is very pretty and touching.

SERMONS, by George W. Bethune, D.D., Philadelphia. The author is well known as one of the most eloquent of American preachers, and this volume will be welcome to many a parlor and carried into many a closet. The feature in these discourses, which more than any other renders them attractive, is the affectionate, tender earnestness which pervades them. This is a sweet passage from the opening discourse on the "Divine Nature."

"What happiness so pure, so rich as the gushing forth of affection towards those we love? What action so full in its own repayment, as a successful compassion for the wretched, or the winning back of a desolate heart to hopes of peace? This was the refreshment of the SAVIOUR'S Spirit in his sorrowful pilgrimage; for when he was weary and worn, he but stayed his steps to cause a lame man to leap as an hart, or the tongue of a dumb man to sing, to pour light upon a darkened eye, to bid a leper be clean, or to give back to some mourner her recent dead, and he was strong again as though he had drunk a cup of life. But what must be the joy of Gon in pouring forth from the infinite fountain of his heart streams of affection to every holy and happy child? or in sending consolation to bleeding and broken bosoms, which none but He can bind up and heal?"

This also, from a discourse entitled the "Good Shepherd," a New Year sermon, is pregnant with solemn thought:

"The young and giddy may lose all thought of days to come in the hilarity of the moment, but there are few of graver years and responsibilities who can regard the unknown events before them without anxiety. What will the coming mouths bring forth? Amidst the changes and uncertainties of the world, will our temporal fortunes be secure, and a comfortable plenty crown our household? Shall we, notwithstanding our moral infirmities, and the frequent lapses of others from virtue, be preserved from the snares of temptation? Is there no heavy calamity approaching, though unseen, which, like a sudden thunder-storm, will darken over our heads, and desolate the scene around us? Will our good name be shielded from the strife of tongues,' evil, busy, and venomous? May not death be about to drag us from opportunities of preparation before the judgment-seat? These are questions of awful meaning, not only with regard to ourselves, but to those around whose welfare our own is entwined."

We hope our readers will remember this excellent volume when in quest of new books.