Where shall I Educate my Son? A Manual for Parents of Moderate Means. By CHARLES EYRE PASCOE. Houlston and Sons.

YES, friend Dombey, you might do a worse thing than consult Mr. Pascoe as to what you will now do with Paul. You want to know something about the great public schools. Well, here you are! That list of schools, with the scales of Fees, is worth anything to you. I am sure I don't know how you could get together all the information which is here condensed and arranged for you. At the same time, friend D., I daresay you will pick the worst school of the lot, for I do not think you know much

about it.

Songs for the Nursery: a Collection of Children's Poems, Old and New. Edited by ROBERT ELLICE. W. Mack. OUGHT we to blush as we confess that we enjoy a good "children's book"; ay, we are pleased with nursery rhymes and stories? Not with all, for some goody-goody books are enough to make a cat sick, and we hope the wee laddies tear them to little bits; but in real, live, juvenile play-books we find recreation and refreshment. This is a fair specimen both in printed matter and pictorial illustration. We expected to see the name of Marcus Ward for publisher, for the tasteful little book is quite in his style; as it is, we wish our good friend Mack an entrance into every nursery with these "songs."

Woman and Temperance; or The Work and Workers of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. By FRANCES E. WILLARD. Hartford, Connecticut: Park Publishing Company.

MR. JOHN B. GOUGH once said that the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of America was doing more for the Temperance cause than all other Temperance societies combined. In this very handsome volume, Miss Willard, the President of the Society thus eulogized, has jotted down what she calls "field notes concerning about fifty out of the 250 of her coadjutors whom she thought worthy to be thus immortalized. Most of the ladies, whose portraits are here given, and

whose biographies are briefly sketched, took part in the Crusade, or Women's War against Whiskey in 1873-4; and the victories won by the weak women's powerful pleading with God and with men are here faithfully recorded by eye-witnesses of the struggle. Any one who wishes to know the true story of that wonderful movement should get this book, and read it carefully and prayerfully; and who knows whether English matrons and maidens might not be moved to take up the work in the same fashion as their cousins across the water? We are not called upon to decide whether our American friends adopted the wisest course when they went to the saloons, and sang and prayed until in whole districts every liquor-shop was closed; but we would gladly welcome any agency which would bring about such results in this country. There are, however, in this book, indications that the extraordinary excitement of the crusade was followed in many places by a reaction, and an ultimate increase in the places for the sale of drink; and we are therefore more hopeful of permanent blessing from the training of children in Bands of Hope, the reclamation and education of adults by means of the Gospel Temperance Movement, and all other operations by which the British public is gradually being prepared for the total overthrow of the traffic in strong drink, for which we wait, and work, and

pray.

The Teacher's Storehouse and Treasury of Material for Working Sundayschool Teachers. Vol. VIII. Elliot Stock.

WE can well believe that many teachers find considerable help from this storehouse. The editor evidently earnestly aims at really and practically assisting the young teacher.

The National Temperance League's Annual for 1884. Edited by ROBERT RAE. Temperance Depot, 337, Strand.

Mr. RAE has done his work as well as usual, and as the result has gathered together a mass of statistical and other information that must be invaluable to speakers at Temperance meetings.

His Mother's Book. By H. F. E. J. F. Shaw and Co.

THIS book tells a touching story about the "best of books." A little boy with the Bible brings blessings upon a birdfancier, who thereby becomes a believer. It is just the sort to suit Sunday-schools. The exterior recommends the interior. May many a mother make it a present to her boy.

Wild Hyacinths. A Tale. By LADY HOPE. J. F. Shaw and Co.

THERE is much good in this story. We especially liked the chapters entitled "Possibilities," "Boats at Sea," "Golden Lines," and "Sunny Lands."

As a

whole the tale is well sustained and shows the emptiness of the world, with all its vanities; and the fulness of divine things with all their grace and glory. "Wild Hyacinths are worth buying and preserving. We hope many a lady will take the hint.

My Battle Field. By M. A. PAUL. Bible Christian Book-room.

THE evil effects of intoxicants, and the decisive victory over temptation, pleasantly shown in a temperance story, so true to life that we can hardly treat it as fiction.

Two Saxon Maidens. By ELIza Kerr. Luther Miller's Ambition. By LILLIE MONTFORT. Wesleyan Sunday School Union.

THE former of these two little volumes contains stories of the struggle between Heathendom and Christianity during the eighth and ninth centuries in our island home. One is cast in Northumbria at the time of the venerable Bede; the other among the men of Wessex, when they were strenuously resisting the incursions of the Danes in the days of

Alfred the Great. Historical facts have been sufficiently studied to make them profitable reading for our girls and boys. Miss Montfort's little tale offers a healthy stimulus for our lads.

The ink-photo illustrations lend additional charm to both these books.

working-man on a tender point. Strong drink is the poison of domestic love, and the blue ribbon is a fine material for true lovers' knots.

Miss Blake's Tinies. By FANNY SIMON. Sunday School Union.

TINY histories of little people, each interesting. Miss Blake kisses all the dirty children, and wraps them in her own shawls; and this no doubt accounts for her success. Well worth reading. Daintree. By BERNHARD Heldmann. Nisbet and Co.

We may be dainty, but we did not relish reading "Daintree." It is a story of a strong-minded father, who wishes to force his whims upon his two Failure and disappointment are the result. There is plenty of Scripture interwoven with the story, but not always appropriately.

sons.

The Robber Chief; or, Too Good for his Trade. By EDWARD BURTON. J. F. Shaw and Co.

In the course of their historical readings our youth will unhappily meet with more than enough authentic instances of foul treachery, lawless raids, and cold-blooded murders, without needing works of fiction to pander to the taste most boys have for such narratives. It may be that in this book lawlessness is only employed as the setting of the gems of heroism and magnanimity; but we fear most boys would think more of the setting than of the gems.

The Emperor's Boys. By ISMAY THORN. J. F. Shaw and Co.

THE "Emperor" is one of two uncles (well-to-do country gentlemen) who have charge of two nephews of very opposite characters. An interesting story is woven out of the duties and trials of her heroes by the authoress, who aims in this way at educating her young readers in what is generally esteemed as true and noble. She might have taken for the motto of the book-Noblesse oblige; but as for duty to God, or

"true

S. J. FITZGERALD. Woolmer.

Price 2d. T.

GOOD: very good. The little story is of the kind which will touch many a

much as mentioned; at any rate, we cannot find it. Our readers would, therefore, be surprised if we said much to recommend it to their notice.

The Christian Treasury. Volume for 1883. Groombridge and Sons. SOLIDLY good. We are glad that it finds a constituency. It could bear a little more life, and yet be innocent of the crime of vivacity.

The Baptist Messenger. Volume for 1883. 61, Paternoster Row.

All the

The Baptist Messenger is always a full pennyworth. We would say more, but as our sermon is the centre dish on the table, we hardly care to do so. rest of the feast is wholesome. After Work. Home Reading for the Family Circle. Elliot Stock. LIVELY, cheery, fresh, popular. We have no fault to find. The more of such periodical literature the better. The Baptist Hand-Book for 1884. Alexander and Shepheard. The Congregational Year-Book, 1884. Hodder and Stoughton. The Official Year-Book of the Church of England. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

THESE handbooks so increase in bulk that it will need a giant to handle them. What a mass of information they contain! If they fall short, how soon their errors are pounced upon! For our own part, we thank the editors for their great care and general accuracy. May those parts of the field, which they map out, be blessed according as the good seed of the gospel is sown in them, and become so largely increased that several volumes will be needed to give us the joyful information of a divine increase year by year!

Footsteps of Truth. Volume for 1883. J. F. Shaw and Co.

We have no doubt that Mr. Hurditch, by his "Footsteps of Truth," supplies spiritual help to thousands of readers, whose wants are not exactly met by any other magazine. Spiritual minds, less anxious for freshness than for solidity, will here feel safe. Beauties of style and graces of composition are by no means despised, but they are regarded as quite secondary to truth and unction; and, hence, numbers of Christian people are glad of such reading. We are sometimes asked to what section of the

Christian church Mr. Hurditch belongs; we can only reply that friends would do well always to ask at head-quarters. Why not get the information from the man himself?

Our Own Magazine. Volume for 1883. Morgan and Scott.

PLAIN gospel, attractively put. The Children's Special Service Committee are to be congratulated upon issuing a monthly of which so many good things might be said. It is no small ease to one's mind to know that the narratives of this magazine are all true. Many will think this quite sufficient reason for making "Our Own Magazine " altogether their own.

Old Jonathan: The District and Parish

Helper. W. H. and L. Collingridge. WE always delight to meet with "Old Jonathan," whether on his monthly visits, or on his annual call. This year the volume comes in attractive garments. It costs only eighteen pence, but it is worth much more. Full of gospel truth, and at the same time lively and pleasing, this periodical is a favourite with us.

The Sower. Volume for 1883. Houlston and Sons.

A SOUND magazine; but if the editor does not bestir himself some of his subscribers will think the pages are becoming rather dull. We shall be sorry if it is so, for in these bad times we need every advocate of the truth to be fresh and vigorous.

The Mother's Friend. Volume for 1883. Hodder and Stoughton.

THIS Volume, in paper cover at 1s. 6d., is about the cheapest thing we know of. We do not think the magazine the best in the market, but still it has a goodness of its own which we could not wish to depreciate.

The Messenger for the Children. Volume for 1883. 18, Paternoster Square. STRIKES us as being specially well conducted. Our Presbyterian friends, both in Scotland and England, are singularly favoured in the matter of their Juvenile Mission Magazines. This cannot be excelled, or even rivalled.

One-Room Life, and a Record of One Year's Service during 1883. By ARCHIBALD G. BROWN.. Morgan and Scott.

MR. ARCHIBALD BROWN gave himself up to the noble service of the poor of London long before such work became notorious and popular. We have seen him at death's door in the agony of his soul over the awful poverty of the East of London, and he has made our heart heavy as he has told his story—a story, mark you, of what he has personally seen. This "record" will live on high. He is a dear servant of our Lord, doing service of priceless value. It is a joy to him to hear others swelling his warn ing cry, but he feels that all that is being done, or that will be done, will never touch the heart of the great evil which is now seething and festering among us. The poor fallen ones must be sought out one by one, man by man, woman by woman. We know of no one who is so likely to conduct such excavating work successfully as Mr. Brown himself. He and his missionaries are working splendidly, and they ought to be supplied abundantly with the sinews of war. The evils to be met can never be exaggerated, and cannot be set on one side: they are evident, urging, and overwhelming. The whole force of the church, with all the auxiliaries it can enlist, will not suffice for the dread struggle; heaven itself must interpose.

We wish Mr. Brown infinite blessing in carrying out the sublime life-work which the great Father has set before him. May grace and strength be hourly supplied!

Pily for the Perishing. The Power of the Bible in London. By G. HOLDEN PIKE. With an Introduction by Earl Cairns. James Clarke and Co. No one need grow dull for lack of an interesting book while this volume is within reach. We remember with what delight we used to read the descriptions of ragged London in "Household Words more than thirty years ago; and Mr. Pike has brought those striking papers vividly before our mind's eye. He has done his work well, and seized upon a seasonable hour for putting it

before the public. The special topics are sufficiently various and numerous to afford a fair bird's-eye view of soulsaving work in our vast city. There is nothing sensational; everything is according to sober truth; and hence there is much to sadden, and much to console. The deep degradation of the fallen mass is not questioned; but good reasons are given for the belief that things are better rather than worse, and that in future, if grace and zeal be increased the evil can be grappled with and overcome. We feel sure that Mr. Pike will command a host of readers.

The Harvest of the City, and the Workers of To-day. By PEARL FISHER. With Introduction by Dr. SINCLAIR PATERSON. J. F. Shaw and Co. ANOTHER touching description of our great and forlorn city. There is a little spice of book-making about this volume, but still it will do good, and help to swell the ever-rising tide of sympathy with our poorest people. London's poverty is, no doubt, much of it caused by its sin, but we are equally sure that much of its sin is the natural result of its poverty. We must each one do a little to help if we cannot do much; and almsgiving must go hand-in-hand with preaching and prayer.

Down in the Depths of Outcast London : being Facts not Recorded in "The Bitter Cry." Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday. (One Penny.)

THE London City Mission is anxious to gain some little advantage for its great work from "The Bitter Cry."

As

suredly it ought to do so. Its work is the most like of anything to that which is needed. The more house-to-house visitation the better. Cases must be dealt with one by one. It is idle to speak of communities or even classes in the lump; these poor wretches must be made into individuals if they are to live; they are dying because they are still treated in the mass. Now is the time when rich men should give their thousands to the City Mission: they will get no drums and tambourines for their money, and very little "blood and fire; but they will see souls saved, and struggling poverty helped.