illustrated and admirably written; King-Messrs. Dean, and the other publishers ston's Annual for Boys (Low and Son, 68.); Stories of Inventors and Discoverers in Science and the Useful Arts, by the veteran John Timbs (Lockwood, 5s.); and a varied and highly useful series, entitled Books with a Meaning, issued by Messrs. Hogg, at 3s. 6d. each. These we shall notice in detail next month.

Among the new works for the season by Messrs. Ward and Lock is one we can warmly recommend, entitled Half Hours with the Bible (5s.). This handsome and well-printed volume is a complete Scripture story-book for young people, containing an epitome of the principal histories in the Old and New Testament, in language which, while retaining all the points of the several narratives, is simplified, and made easy to read and understand. It is illustrated by more than a hundred and fifty capital engravings, one of which, Samson slaying the Lion," we present as a specimen. As a new year's gift, the Half Hours cannot but be popular, for it is both valuable as a volume and instructive as an introduction to the reading and understanding of the Sacred Word. One most admirable treat in the Half Hours is the careful avoidance of anything approaching sectarian bias, a broad and comprehensive view of Bible truths being given, as far as practicable, in the touching simplicity of the Bible itself.

here named, would require a catalogue as large as an entire number of the Friend. We refrain, therefore, from doing more on this occasion than advise our readers to examine the book-ellers' windows, and, when they have discovered any of the volumes named-which they are sure to do, for they are the most popular of Christmas books-go boldly in, and judge for themselves whether the praise we have bestowed be genuine or otherwise.

And now, in bringing our desultory remarks to a conclusion, we present our subscribers with an appropriate

MOTTO FOR A GIFT-BOOK.

On Christmas Day the shepherds knelt
Before the Royal Infant's bed,
And wise men came and worshipped there,
By one bright star unconscious led:
They brought their precious gifts, and laid
Them, one by one, before the child:
Myrrh and frankincense, gold and pearls,
In rich profusion. careless piled.
So, ever since that time, have men,
Commemorating Jesus' birth,
Made gifts to those they loved, as if
To keep His memory green on earth.

Old

HOUSEKEEPING PROGRESS. THIS is decidedly a go-ahead age. ways and means are thrown aside, like worn-out garments-old customs are falling into total disuse. These things might have done very well for our grandfathers and grandmothers-they will not answer for the nineteenth century people. The spirit of progress has descended upon us, and nowhere has it left a more marked indiestion of its presence than in the department, "to glory and to fame unknown," "of house keeping.

Messrs. Dean and Son have, as usual at this time of the year, a vast variety of story and picture books for children, full of fun, and abounding with meaning. One of these, Comical Rhymes of ye Ancient Times (s), is certainly the best book of the kind we have ever seen. It contains a number of nursery rhymes, illustrated with pictures in colours pictures that are really comical, and drawn with immense skill. Then we have Little Ada and her Crinoline (is. 6d.), a first-rate book for girls, and Sketches of Little Boys and Girls, and Stories about Dogs (is. fd.), from which we are enabled to borrow an illustration, the "Hole in the Stocking," from a story which shows how an untidy young lady spoilt all her enjoyment, and was obliged to go home, because she had heen too idle to look after her own dress before going out with a party. Many other books of like How our great grandaunts would have character provide suitable reading for laughed at the hypothesis of cooking by youth. ΑΠ are well illustrated, well gas! How they would have scorned the bound, and well printed-three indispen-idea of compact little ranges, where the sable requisites of a gift-book. Indeed, to merely mention the titles of a tithe of the excellent books for children issued by

There is a great deal of ignorance in this respect, probably because there is more prose than poetry in the subject. We never heard of any editorial knight who took up the quills in behalf of housekeeping, or elarged on the beauties of kitchen or laundry. Yet, what would the world do without these unpretending accessories? Women reap the immediate benefit of domestic progress, and therefore women have a right to be heard on the matter.

heat glows within a few square inches, instead of being diffused through a yawning chimney, where the swinging crane consti

many, far from being contented, raise an outcry that they "have no time." How would they relish the weighty burden of cares under which their grandmothers thrived and grew blooming? The real labour of housekeeping is absolutely nothing compared with what it was.

Imagine yourselves for a few days, ye ladies disposed to grumble, back in the industrious atmosphere of olden times. Then, instead of repining that there is so much to do, you will thank your lucky stars and inventive genius that there is so little to demand the energies of your hearts and hands. Instead of wringing the changes on the worn-out topic of "no time," ask yourselves what you have done with its lavish superfluity! For in no respect do we present a stronger contrast to the days of our ancestors than in the progressive movements we have made in the art of housekeeping.

INSTANTANEOUS PHOTOGRAPHY.

tuted the chief ornament! Now, the work which then demanded so much time and labour-so much lifting of kettles, and hauling of coals, and clearing of ashes, is comparatively trifling. The water which then was brought, pailful by pailful, from some far-off spring, or came creaking up on the ponderous arm of the mossy well sweep, now flows from a "handy" little pipe or spout, close to the operator's hand. Who says the kitchen world has not gone ahead? We wish some girls of the present day, whose slender fingers, encased in scented kid, are useless save to flutter over the piano-keys, and whose frail frames get "tired to death" on the slightest provocation, could form some adequate idea of the work girls used to go through with sixty years ago, in the era when a damsel was considered unthrifty if she did not spin, weave, and make up her own wedding cutfit. There must have been a good deal of solid comfort in those days, when the hum of the spinning-wheel and the whir of the loom occupied the time now filled by modern bravuras and French chatter-when the young lady, instead of promenading to WE have recently seen beautiful stereosee how the rest of the female world was scopic views of London streets, with their dressed, used to go out on the sunny side moving life accurately depicted. The first of the hill to watch the gradual whitening attempts of the kind had about them the of the linen webs spread out on the short cold grey early morning air, which gave velvet grass to catch the alchemic influences them the appearance of being views of cities of sprinkling rain and vivid sunshine! of the dead. Owing to the time the plate This is the task of great manufactories was exposed to the light, moving life in now, and our languid demoiselle saunters those attempts was impossible of depiction. down to marble palaces, to amuse herself This difficulty, in the pictures before us, has by "cheapening" the fabrics which lie been overcome, as the instantaneous exready to her hand. So disappeared another posure of the plates has been sufficient to branch of labour from woman's horizon! fix every living thing upon them. There Sewing-the work which once on a time are also in the series some lovely views of monopolised the eyes and fingers of the wo- the sea, which are so natural that one can men of a household, to say nothing of the pe- see the glistening of the water in the rays riodical visits of the tailoress and dressmaker, of the sun. These are perfect studies, and who annually made the rounds of the neigh-bear the stamp of a genuine artistic finish. bourhood-is done at railroad rate by machinery; knitting no longer lies in odd corners, to be taken up in stray moments of leisure, for the shining needles are displaced by metallic thews and sinews, whose buzzing sound seems to laugh at quaint, oldfashioned ways. Washing-day, once the bane and terror of every hearthstone, is reduced to the all-conquering limits of this me wizard, machinery. Our houses are heated by furnaces, lighted by jets of gas our carpets are swept by patent contrivances-almost nothing is left to be accomplished by what the old ladies call "elbow grease."

Is not this a very respectable progress to be wrought in less than a century? Yet

Some fine illustrations are "Sunset at Ryde,"
"Sunset at Greenhithe," and "A Study of
Clouds at Southsea." Amongst the views in
London we may name as perfect pictures,
"The National Gallery from the Strand,'
"Hungerford Bridge," "The Royal Ex-
change," and "Trafalgar Square." The
whole series, numbering upwards of one
hundred, are marks of the advancement of
photographic art in its most pleasing phase,
and reflect credit on the publisher, Mr. C. E.
Elliott, of Aldermanbury Postern.
motto from Cowper, which is attached to
the views of London, is extremely apt :-
"Tis pleasant through the loop-holes of retreat,
To peep at such a world, to see the stir
Of the great Babel, and not feel the crowd."

The

is only ten miles; you must rouse up Albert and his daughter, and gallop, without cessation at once to Hanover. Give this ring to the Elector Frederick, and he will protect them from the vengeance of the Papal power. Go now-darkness which slumbered on valley and time presses-and God be with you!" And, without waiting for an answer, he retired within the gate, and closed it. The cavalier, mounting his horse, plunged once more into the wood; when he reached the outskirts, a large ascending plain stretched before him. Without permitting his horse to rest, he reached the elevation. Beneath and before him stretched a valley. The descent was perilous and rocky. He had chosen the nearest way to the castle, though it was a difficult one. He was just hesitating for a moment as to which course he should adopt, when a sudden glare of light broke the darkness. For a moment distant objects became visible, and then again the sable mantle of the night closed around them more darkly than ever. But, revealed by that transient flash, he saw the old baronial towers of S- The truth darted fearfully across his mind, and he held his breath in the suspense of the moment. Could it be? Was it possible? He dared not answer the busy questions at his heart. And there broader, fiercer, redder than before. The reality pressed against his soul; and now was the time for action. Two miles between him and the castle-two miles for life and death. Sticking the spurs deep into the horse's flanks, he plunged madly down the crags. On to the battlements, where the fires Now thrown violently forward, then sought to wear their crown beneath the sinking almost to the earth, then jerked night-dim sky, there came a form of to and fro in his saddle, he still held the beauty. Clad in her evening robes, with reins and urged on his horse. He had her dark hair flowing in the winds which just accomplished the descent, and was came from the hills to feed the flame, congratulating himself as he commenced stood Adeline; and the red lights resting to scamper across the plain, when the on her brow showed the halo divine castle was enveloped in one sheet of livid which sat there for ever and ever. light. It was a sublime spectacle-more a queen she had come to the death-bridal, than sublime. The cavalier's heart trem- and angel-spirits flocked to witness it. bled for those within; and hoping he Far, far below there came a voice, but might still by some means or other secure there, where the dark birds screamed the purpose of his mission, he ap-around the surging flames, she heard it proached the blazing pile. Passing not. through loophole and window and door; gentle stars, and still nearer to the earth Up in the space-deeps rode the encasing turret and battlement; roaring it loved there shone the gentler moon,

hissing, crackling amid rafters and frames and floors; leaping and surging at the moon and stars and sky; reflecting from the spot a strange, awful beauty, and dispelling from its sublime presence the

hill; wrapped in ten thousand horrors, surrounded by everything which could heighten effect and inspire fear,—the still solemn night, the oppressive silence, the crags closing around the burning centre, rearing its fearful form upon such a throne of horrors, and laughing at its own demoniacal work-THE FIRE !

The cavalier arrested his course for a minute to consider what had best be done to rescue the baron and his daughter from the flames, if, unhappily, they still remained within. Through no fault of his own, he had been forestalled by the incendiary. The monk had either erred with regard to the time, or the Abbé had altered it. It was almost too late now; he dared not think that all hope was gone, as the monk was so anxious to

came another flash

secure the salvation of the victims. Spurring on his horse, he came nearer to the scene of conflagration. The flames now roared with redoubled fury, and the surrounding hills looked dim and red in the glare. On to the scene of death and flame he gallopped-on to the blazing pile. He had just come close enough to the castle to be able to discern any who might be seeking for succour, when a sight appeared which froze the warm blood coursing in his veins, and stilled the anxious beating of his heart.

Like