Emm. Making the cakes, for instance; and Miss Fortune's

Bee.

Old L. But the American children appear to be very forward.

Aug. Not forwardness, I think; but an independence of mind which grows out of their republicanism, and apparently is encouraged by their parents and friends.

Ed. An useful quality, if combined with simplicity of character, and developed under judicious training. Left to itself, however, it will be fruitful of evil and misery. I have seen its use and abuse among the children in the manufacturing districts of our own country.

Aug. Now, sir, what have you to say about the CHRONOLOGICAL NEW TESTAMENT?

Ed. That it is a praiseworthy effort to aid the better understanding of this part of God's Word. Its merits are these:-a new arrangement in paragraphs and sections (still preserving the common division into chapters and verses); a chronological index; many marginal references printed at length; brief introductions to each book; and a running analysis of the Epistles. The editor, I am informed, is preparing an edition of the Old Testament, on similar principles, but affording still greater advantages. Such a help is much needed by Bible

readers.

Emm. Will it be anything in our way?

Ed. Judge for yourself, Emmy. The publisher says, in a note to me, "that it will prove an interesting edition for the studious and inquiring young, such as the readers of the 'Youth's Magazine' may be supposed to be."

Aug. Really;-an enlightened publisher; he seems to have a proper notion of young people.

Leon. I am afraid, then, it will not do for me. I don't think I am studious and inquiring.

Mrs. Mar. But this will do for you, Teny-EARLY DEW UPON THE TENDER PLANT. Very simple Scripture-lessons, such as a young child can easily comprehend.

Leo. What a pretty book.

Ed. Here is another, Leontine, which forms a sequel to itSOFT SHOWERS ON THE OPENING BUD; also two others, by the same author, a little more advanced in style-BREAD UPON THE WATERS, and HONEY OUT OF THE ROCK.

Emm. Pleasant Jefferys Taylor again, I perceive-THE FAMILY BIBLE NEWLY OPENED.

Ed. A book which will awaken rather a melancholy interest in your mind, when I tell you that as it was passing through press, its kind-hearted author had a seizure of so alarming a

the

nature as to preclude the hope that he will ever resume his pen. Aug. What a sad thing! But, if I remember aright, many authors have been taken ill-some have died-immedi ately on the completion of their work. Will the anxiety and excitement created by lengthened mental exertion at all account for it?

Ed. I cannot say; in some cases it might do so.

Old L. But what is the book about?

Emm. I have just skimmed it over, and I find it contains a short account of each book in the Bible drawn up in a pleasant way-anybody but the author would most likely have made it dull and spiritless-and accompanied by very brief summaries in verse. You, Marten, may now remember the order of the books in the Bible, for they are given very clearly in a few

verses.

Mar. That's capital; for I never can remember where to look for the different books.

Leo. Do look at this book, please sir; is it not a darling picture?

Ed. Coloured by Kronheim's process-very pretty. What is it about, Teny?

Leo. It is called LITTLE ANNIE, and is to help children to behave properly during Divine worship.

Ed. I hope it may be successful. What is this ?-LITTLE THINGS.

Mrs. Mar. A book about the little things which give finishing strokes to the Christian character; the fact that it has reached a "Seventh Impression of Five Thousand” says quite enough in its favour.

Ed. Is this a companion to it ?-GREEN LEAVES.

Mrs. Mar. Not intentionally; but would go with it very well. It contains much good thought in a small compass.

Old L. You must be so good as to recommend this book, called MONEY, very strongly; because its profits are to be given to the re-building of Queen Charlotte's Hospital.

Aug. May I not add, if it have due literary merits? It would not be fair to force a poor, weak work into circulation, because its publishers have a benevolent object in view.

Emm. Perhaps not, brother, but this is in itself a meritorious book. It is a translation of one of Hoffman's Tales for the and is well calculated to correct inordinate desires after

Young;

wealth.

Mrs. Mar. Now, I must speak a word in favour of the CLAREMONT TALES. I think they will assist many a Christian mother in placing important truths simply and graphically before

the minds of her children. The stories practically illustrate the Beatitudes.

Aug. And I must speak a word in favour of the BRITISH CONTROVERSIALIST.

Emm. It looks very dry with its small print.

Aug. It must have small print, because it wants to get so much into its pages. It is extensively patronized by young persons, who take different sides of a question, and then argue about it to the best of their ability.

Ed. A sort of debating club, I suppose.

Aug. Yes; and a considerable amount of cleverness is shown by the reasoners.

Mrs. Mar. But do you think it a good plan to encourage controversy among the young?

Ed. Among young men, to some extent, it must be allowed. Young men are constantly forced into argument, and it is necessary that their reasoning powers should be exercised and sharpened. There is, however, a very grave risk, which makes me hesitate about this. I refer to the taking a side in a controversy merely for the sake of argument. The disputant becomes naturally desirous of victory; his sympathies are necessarily awakened in behalf of the position which he is defending with energy and zeal; and he may end by convincing himself by the very reasoning which was merely, at first, adopted on Cowper's principle, "changing his side, as a lawyer knows how."

Aug. There may be some danger in that. I recollect arguing in favour of anchoritism, and at last I half thought of turning hermit and retiring into some "vast wilderness."

Ed. And then, while you were buried in "some boundless contiguity of shade," what a loss this Magazine would have sustained!

Aug. Why so?

Ed. Your severe criticisms would not have been forthcoming for the enlightenment of authors.

Mrs. Mar. Here are some publications from the Religious Tract Society; anything from that quarter must be good.

Ed. The ROSEBUD with its coloured pictures, and pretty stories will win all the children's hearts; a very suitable juvenile annual. FRANK HARRISON is a sensible book for boys. I am always glad to see books for boys; there are so few expressly designed for them. A really good young man's book would almost require Diogenes with his lantern to discover! THREE MONTHS UNDER THE SNOW is an affecting narrative, simply but graphically recorded in the journal of a young inhabitant of the Jura, buried for three months, with his grandfather and Blanchette the goat, under the snow.

Mar. How shocking! Did he die, or did he get out?

Ed. He was saved, and his goat; but his grandfather died in the châlet before deliverance came. This story shows that affliction is often more useful than prosperity, and that the Divine goodness appears as much in appointing our sorrows as in furnishing our joys.

Mrs. Mar. QUIET THOUGHTS seems rather a medley.

Ed. Perhaps its design required it. It is intended to prepare quiet refreshment for the world's busy toilers, when they return from the stirring realities of life. Let us hope, with the author, that it will "cheer, animate and strengthen.'

Aug. Let me reach you this pile of books-ah! from the Sunday School Union I see. By-the-bye, Mr. Editor, is not their Jubilee near?

Ed. Yes, it will soon be celebrated. Its friends demand a fitting commemoration; and I doubt not they will secure it. What an advance has been made in this one department of Christian labour-Sunday school teaching-in the last fifty years. What a mighty impulse have Sunday schools given to general education, and how incalculable their direct and indirect influences on the human mind. How well equipped are teachers now compared with their less fortunate predecessors. Here is the UNION TEACHERS' MAGAZINE, an unpretending, but sagacious counsellor. Which may also be affirmed of the BIBLE CLASS MAGAZINE. Senior scholars, with such a companion, ought to grow up wise as well as good. The TEACHERS' DIARY, full of suggestive blank pages, ought, in the course of twelve months, to become a treasury of precious thoughts. The NOTES ON THE LESSONS are such a treasury, already richly stored. The SCRIPTURE TEACHERS' ASSISTANT, by that veteran teacher Henry Althans, contains many doctrinal and practical lessons, gathered and arranged for immediate use. Even the little ones have their Magazine, the CHILD'S OWN.

Mrs. Mar. I think, Mr. Editor, it is almost time to bring our criticisms to an end for the present.

Emm. Wait a moment, mamma; we have overlooked HOGG's INSTRUCTOR.

Aug. As usual, sensible and entertaining.

Ed. With a religious element, which all such periodicals should and could have.

Leo. What is the HERALD OF PEACE about?

Mrs. Mar. About the wickedness and cruelty of man, and the way in which it might be abolished.

Leo. Will it ever be given up quite ?

Ed. Yes; when the Prince of Peace shall set up his kingdom.

E would call our readers' attention to the remarkable confirmations which recently have been afforded, both of the existence and wide spread of Writing, in the Mosaic Age, and of the strict accuracy of Scripture History.

We allude to the WRITTEN ROCKS OF SINAI, on which the researches of Mr. Charles Forster (besides those of other authors) have thrown considerable light.

F