vanity, frivolity, and worldliness. The love of display, the furtive glance around for applause and admiration, the boldness in exhibition, and even the commencement of flirtation and coquetry, have taken the place of the childishly graceful timidity and simplicity so lovely in youth, and how unlike have they thus become to 'little children' such as Jesus loved! how unlike those who seek him early and are sure to find him!

"But whose children do we see in this hotbed of premature worldliness? Too often, alas! the sons and daughters of Christian professors, who, be it remembered, are the most decided in reprobating such amusements for themselves and for their children in future years! Is this consistent? Will not the very little ones themselves, with the acuteness of childhood, see and pronounce upon the inconsistency? Can you believe that the authority you perhaps intend to exert afterwards, to keep the well-instructed feet from the place of exhibition and excitement, will keep the heart from craving after the amusement you gave a taste for, can quench the worldly imaginations, which your own act kindled? What right have you expect that the delicate garments of your child's soul have touched the pitch you have held to them without being defiled? But I could not bear my children to reproach me when they grow up for their awkwardness and ungracefulness; and there is nothing like a dancing-school for improving the figure, and teaching girls to walk well!" Christian parent! will not that reproach be easier to bear than this, Father! mother! you first sent me into the world's ways, and I continued in them, and I have found that the end of these things is death!'"'

"Widely different from the works just noticed by us," observed the Editor, as Mrs. M. ceased reading, "is the singular volume which I now commend to your attention. It is a somewhat trite remark, that 'one half the world does not know how the other half lives;' and especially is this pertinent as regards the numerous class of human beings who perpetually roam the highways and by-paths of society, and who find no rest anywhere for the soles of their feet. Often, as we watch the movements of these nomadic hordes that infest our towns and cities and country hamlets, and see the pinching straits to which they are so frequently reduced, we are puzzled and amazed to know how they manage to exist at all. Like leaves torn from the forest tree by some unfriendly blast, these stray waifs of humanity are tossed about the world, the sport apparently of every passing breeze. Or, like vessels

torn from their moorings, they are separated from their fellows in the great fleet to which they belong; and driven out upon the wild ocean of life, perhaps anchorless, rudderless, and chartless, and exposed to shoals, dangerous currents, and sunken rocks, it is wonderful that they escape a total wreckage so often as they do. Not unfrequently have I caught myself wishing to penetrate the secrets of the history of these pariahs of society-to trace the origin and growth of those vagrant habits which have unfitted them for the enjoyments and duties of a settled home-and explore the mysterious sources of their precarious subsistence; but such opportunities for gratifying one's curiosity upon these matters are rarely afforded. Here, however, we have at length presented to the world, an authentic AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A BEGGAR Boy.'* The writer, who is still living, is an 'old boy' now; but, in a series of letters to his son, he gives us a most graphic description of the several stages of his chequered and almost romantic career-from his neglected childhood, through his roving and stormy manhood, up to his present comfortable position on the borders of old age. The first division of the book introduces the autobiographer in the character of a wandering vagrant. The second portion shows the results of misdirected energies on the part of an uneducated man, whose ambition was fettered by the want of early training. While in the third epoch of the author's life, he is seen as the victim of a series of conflicting circumstances over which he appeared to have little or no control. The feeling uppermost in the mind, on reading this extraordinary narrative, is astonishment that the hero of so many adventures and adversities should ever have survived the perils of his career. This he owes, primarily, to the unceasing guardianship of Providence, who never, in the direst extremities, forsook the outcast boy; and, subordinately, to the native energy and determination of his character, and the scorn in which he held all vicious practices, by which he was again and again preserved from moral shipwreck. The history of such a life brings out, in a forcible light, the patient love and unwearying tenderness of the Great Father towards his most wayward children. The book is worthy of careful perusal by all classes of persons, but especially by the young.'

"You have excited our interest, sir, in this record of a remarkable character," said Edward; "and we will at once follow your recommendation."

"The history of the hero before us is, in the main, that of thousands now living outside the pale of civilization. On

* London: William Tweedie.

some future occasion we may, for the benefit of those of our readers who are unable to procure the book-though by no means an expensive one-relate some of the leading incidents in his career."

"Our time is nearly gone," said Augustus, consulting his watch; "and there are yet many valuable works to be commented upon. As we cannot do justice to them on the present occasion, it will be well to postpone their consideration till our next conference. There are two or three, however, which have already been kept in abeyance for some time, and which it is desirable to release at once from the terrors of suspense. For instance, here is a new candidate for the patronage of those numerous persons who in this high-pressure age are anxious to abridge the labour and time consumed in writing, correspondence, and reporting. It is called 'THE PRACTICAL STENOGRAPHER; or, Short-hand for Schools and Self-Instruction, on an entirely new System, designed for promoting the universal practice of the art; by E. SOPER.'* It seems to be well adapted for that object, and I have pleasure in recommending it."

"Here," added Edward, "is the first number of a new educational periodical, entitled 'THE BRITISH EDUCATOR; or, a Monthly Magazine of Literature, Philosophy, Science, and Art.'t It is lofty in its pretensions, ambitious, in its aims, and confident in the importance, if not in the success, of its mission. It advocates a scheme of national education, at least for the benefit of those who are not in a position to procure a good mental training for their offspring; and it would elevate education to a recognized science, and educators into an honourable and distinct profession. The principles on which it is to be conducted are explained in a conversation between the Editor and a literary friend."

"And this pamphlet," said Ellen, "on "THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM,' is the third of a series of tracts from the rich mind and pious heart of James Douglas, of Cavers; and being devoted to a rapid glance at the Christian mission field, and the sacred chain of prayer that is gradually encircling the world, it is specially adapted, as indeed it is intended, as a companion to the 'May Meetings.'

London: Grant & Griffiths.

+ Glasgow: Murray & Son. London: Arthur Hall & Co. Edinburgh: T. Constable & Co.