CASTLE BUILDING.

CAN fancy find a better mode to drive away dull care,

Than in the harmless art of castle building in the air?

And even though the hopes we form may never be fulfill'd,

'Tis hard to tell the dreamer in the future not to build.

In childhood's years-when sorrow is a stranger to the heart

When all our minds are free from care, our manners free from artWhen grief and passion are unknown, and tinge not fancy's flight,

Oft doth imagination build some palace of delight.

And travelling through the path of life, we come to manhood's years; We plainly mark, with sadden'd eye and new awakened fears,

How strangely altered all things are-how different life seems

From what it was when viewed by us thro' childhood's happy dreams.

And still the lover dreams of love, and thinks but of romanceThe worldly man endeavours all his prospects to advance :

While both, in their pursuits oft breathe a fervent earnest prayer

That all their hopes may not be provedcastles in the air.

But age o'ertakes the lover's love-steals from her cheek the bloom

And oh how sad it is to think that this is beauty's doom;

While he who sighed for golden gain, and dreamt of fortune fair,

Finds out that half the schemes he formed were castles in the air.

If then, while struggling here below, we taste of anxious care,

'Tis well for all who suffer so, to ask, in humble prayer,

That hopes frustrated here on earth may with success be blessed

Where "The wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest.”

NOTICE

The analysis of Milton's "Paradise Lost" will be continued in our next.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

The Wanderer.-"Friendship's Wish " will be imprinted in our heart, but not in our magazine.

H. A. A.-Ha ha! The inscription is ludicrous, but we must be lenient to the failings of others. Jeff-Declined with thanks. We can

imagine your sensations. We felt sea sick after reading the MSS. Laura.-Your writing is very fair, though we cannot say we admire the angular style.

1029.

Since her accession, the Queen has created 157 new peers. Scholar.-"Half-remedies" is the Winchester term for half-holidays-remissionis dies. Only Saints' days are holidays with Wykehamists. Sportsman.-We quite agree with you. Parliament should lose no time in re-enacting a Game Preservation Act. Enquirer. The total public debt of the Dominion of Canada was returned as £22,423,343 for the financial year 1876. No later statistics are to hand. Julia. Lieutenants of the Royal Navy, under eight years' standing, rank relatively as Captains of the Army, according to date of Commission or Order.

Lex.-English Parliaments have been held since the beginning of the 14th century, at Lincoln, Stamford, York, Winchester, Gloucester, Northampton, Salisbury, Shrewsbury, Coventry, and Oxford.

Mystery.-Bosh! Tell it to the marines; or, to-Pastor Allen.

A. G. K.-We cannot print lines of which this wooden stanza is a part :

"It seems to be that fairer ones
He meets when far away;
And chooses one to cheer his life
In his last declining days."

-poor fellow !

Help Hope.-Place aux dames-We shall be happy to hear from you. Eric.-Your story is too long. We fear we cannot make use of it. Liryc.-In our next.

Tourist.-Received with thanks.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. "SYDNEY ONCE A WEEK."-It is a neat, well-printed little pamphlet, containing twenty-four pages of reading matter, which consists of short original papers, written in a light free style, and of a few extracts from other publications. Its purpose is to give its readers "a good sixpennyworth of literary pabulum, composed of ingredients at once sparkling, amusing, and original, and so arranged as to avoid a suspicion of dulness." Taken as a whole, the magazine, which is edited by Mr. C. H. Barlee, is a very creditable production, as well to the publishers as to the authors, and if conducted according to the plan indicated in the few words above quoted, it will be an acceptable addition to our colonial literature.-S. M. Herald.

The Echo says:-It is a very readable publication, and, while it cannot aspire to rank as the equal of the most popular English magazines, it deserves to find favour on account of the local interest which attaches to its papers. The original papers, of which there are several, are written in a light, easy style, and with considerable ability. We should like to see the magazine prove to be a success, for the desirableness of building up a respectable colonial literature will hardly be denied by any one, and the establishment of a good magazine is one of the means towards that end. The publishers, Messrs. Gibbs, Shallard, and Co., are entitled to commendation for the admirable way in which they have got up the magazine.-Echo.

THE NEW MAGAZINE.-Sydney Once a Week Magazine for Town and Country Readers is the title of a new weekly, edited by Mr. C. H. Barlee, issued from the Sydney Press, which bids fair to secure a good share of public support. Its moderate price, its handiness, the entertaining reading it affords, and the concise, pleasing manner in which the various topics of the day are touched in its columns, must naturally render the Sydney Once a Week a welcome visitor in every house and an agreeable companion to every reader. Southern Argus, (Goulburn.)

"Sydney Once a Week," a magazine bearing the above title, has made its appearance in our city. It is edited by Mr. Barlee, formerly a member of the literary staff of the Melbourne Argus, and a humourist of some note. The work contains sketches, tales, and articles, along with the usual miscellanea of a

magazine. Judging by the contents of the first number, we think the magazine stands a better chance of succeeding than many of those publications which are born but to die, and which in some cases are disgraceful to the literary efforts of our city.-Evening News.

The Singleton Argus says:-The number is very readable, is well printed by Messrs. Gibbs, Shallard, and Co., and contains a varied selection of original and extract matter. We wish the proprietor every success with his venture, and trust that his efforts will do something more substantial to encourage a taste for colonial literature than those of others who have trodden in the same uncertain path, have succeeded in doing. We hail with pleasure all respectable efforts to establish a republic of letters in this colony, which at present is too much confined in its patronage to newspaper literature only. Mr. Barlee's venture is the best effort in this direction that we have seen for some time.-Singleton Argus.

"ONCE A WEEK."-Under the title of "Sydney Once a Week," the first number of a neatly got-up octavo of over thirty pages has just been issued. It is edited by Mr. C. H. Barlee, who is, we understand, assisted by a numerous staff of able contributors. The contents of this new publication are varied and interestingtoo varied, in our opinion, for the space at the disposal of the editor. If we may be permitted to offer a suggestion with regard to the future, we would recommend that everything in the shape of "news items should be omitted. We heartily

wish the proprietors success in their undertaking, and certainly are of opinion that the excellence of "Once a Week" well deserves it.-Yass Courier.

THE contents of the new venture give promise of a deserved success, should it ever be attained. There is an attractive variety about the articles, and the tastes of every class of readers are consulted. Thus we have a trenchant article, short and pithy, on the political status in quo, a couple of spirited domestic sketches, some comic matter, and some chapters especially intended for boys. Among the last is a scholarly commentary on a passage from the "Paradise Lost,"intended for the use of University candidates-a clever set of recurrent verses in Latin, and an enigma in French. The