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And this thought, that we have fellowship one with another, and this fellowship is in Christ, is it not the most exquisite comfort for all who have 'loved and lost,' but more especially for those who have been on earth forsaken and grieved in spirit, whom God has called when they have been refused?' 'With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee,' saith the Lord, thy Redeemer; and though the words refer in the first instance to Jerusalem, we may well use them each for himself, as we may use the song of thanksgiving, which the same Prophet teaches us.

'I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

My soul shall be joyful in my God,

For He hath clothed me with the garment of salvation;

He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.'

Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have a right to the Tree of Life, the branch of His planting,' and may enter in through the gates, into the City, whose walls are Salvation, and her gates Praise.' And the name of the city shall be, The Lord is there;' and we, let us ever comfort one another with these words, So shall we ever be with the Lord. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.'

I shall feel very grateful to you, dear L, if you will tell me whether these pages supply what you thought wanting; and above all, if W— would also look them over. For in trying to write on things like these, which belong to our very highest holiest feelings, the truth there is in that Chinese proverb has forced itself upon me over and over again—

'Man's words are like an arrow-straight to the mark; woman's are like a broken fan-starting from the right centre, from the true loving heart, but as likely as not to point to the opposite quarter from that intended.

Ever, dear L,

Your most affectionate

R. L. C.

HINTS ON READING.

Two useful books on the History of the Church have come under our notice this month-The Early Church, by the Rev. John Pryce, (Longmans,) The History of the English Church. (Rivingtons.) The one, a little book of one hundred and fifty pages, going only through the first three centuries, and dwelling a good deal on what can be traced respecting doctrine and liturgies; and in a very useful manner; for we believe that hundreds of those who talk of going for authority to primitive times, have no notion what is really known to have been then said or done. The other, History of the English Church, by M. C. S., (Rivingtons,) is a kind of Hook's Archbishops for young people; except that M. C. S. has by no means resigned personal affection for Edward VI. We do not mean that it is a mere abridgement, for many other authorities have been consulted, and the author has thought for herself; but Dr. Hook has been her chief guide; and with so safe a one, and a pleasant simple style of narration, her book is a very nice one, which ought to be very useful.

Uncle Peter's Fairy Tale, (Longmans,) edited by Miss Sewell, seems to charm all ages. We have seen people from eighty years old to five greatly amused by it, though not always by the same parts; and the sober humour of the conversations, and the irony throughout, are as good as the fun of the literal fulfilment of the wishes.

How will our young readers like Alice in Wonderland in a German dress? Here she is, to be had of Macmillan and Co., with her pictures as charming as ever, and her fun even quainter for her grave German dress; though of course the parodies and plays on words lose something, yet it is very little comparatively.

Mr. Palgrave's Five Days Entertainments at Wentworth Grange (Macmillan) ought to have been earlier noticed. It is a mixture of old and new tales; each bearing on one of the five senses; and very pleasantly and brightly they do so-treating them poetically and romantically, not scientifically. We are glad that some of the old Italian and Eastern apologues should thus be put in our children's way.

Soimême (Masters) professes to be true. It is a dreary picture of perverseness, and we feel sad over it; but there are many clever little bits of description, and excellent maxims worth remembering. The scenery is all charmingly described.

Margaret Vere (S. P. C. K.) is a well-written tale of a selfish girl. It is a young lady's, not a poor girl's, story; and is written very well and thoughtfully; only happily people are not apt to go out upon tours, when the governess has a holiday, and the nurse-maid is new. The governess's difficulties are neatly put, and in a manner calculated to show girls the need of consideration.

And a tale called Erick Thorburn deserves special mention; for it is a beautiful pure high-minded story, with some exquisite characters in it, and must not be overlooked because (having been published by Messrs. Hurst and Blackett) it has been forced into three volumes, when it really contains no more reading than one such volume as 'One Year.' The hero himself, the sweet little heroine, and the mother, are as delightful home figures as we ever met with.

One book of solid reading must be added, Major Malleson's French in India, (Longmans,) an excellent historical study of an interesting time.

And whoever loves cool glades of quiet thought and observation, should keep Nathanael Hawthorne's American Note-books for calm moments. It is just the book to lie open on the table of a busy mother, who likes a fresh idea to brood over at her needle-work.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

No MS. can be returned unless the Author's name and address be written on it, and stumps be sent with it.

Contributions must often be delayed for want of space, but their writers may be assured that when room can be found they shall appear.

Please acknowledge, with many thanks, 7s. 6d. from Ella, for The Sisters of the Poor, St. Michael's, Shoreditch.-Also, a Parcel of Clothing from Seuga.

Can you tell me of any book or pamphlet containing an account of the Chartist Riots, about the year 1842. I want particularly to know about Rebecca, and the riots in the south-western counties. Pray state the price.-P. F.

E. B.-In the concluding number of Events of the Month. (Mozley.)—ED. Baldie.-Date and particulars of confiscation of alien priories by Henry V.?-Dean Hook's Lives of the Archbishops, Vol. V., p. 44; Rapin Thoyras' History of England, Vol. I., p. 509, A.D. 1414. Reference is there made to the Rolls of Parliament.-ED. Ignorance. The origin of the expression, 'Shakspeare and the musical glasses'?— Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield thus with delicious quaint irony-describes the conversation of his wife and daughters with Lady Blarney and Miss Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs. Alas for our English classics!-ED.

Anna and Olive both ask for Manuals of Private Prayer for girls from nine to eighteen. We should recommend both either Bishop Ken's Manual for the Scholars of Winchester College, (Parker,) or Mr. Brett's Office of the Most Holy Name. (Masters.) They should, however, be shewn where to begin in the latter, as the daily prayers are to be found in the middle of the book. There is a short form for self-examination; but the best instruction on that subject for girls is in Miss Sewell's Readings before Confirmation. (Longmans.) The Cards published by the S. P. C. K. are the most suitable for poor children.

If a letter be sent to the Editor for Greta, it shall be answered with full information about The Society of the Apostolic Rule.

Declined with thanks.-Nona; C. J. C.; Legend of the Rhine. Not one of these has an address on the same paper with the MS.

In reply to H. H.-Does 'H. H.' know 'English Medieval Embroidery, published by Parker; and 'Church Needlework,' by Miss Lambert (Murray)? H. H.'s second question is asked in Vol. VIII. of Penny Post, and thus answered:-' Poetry is the history of ancient times. To Herrick we must confess our obligation for acquaintance with some of the manners pertaining to this great feast (Candlemas)—

"Down with the Rosemary, and so
Down with the Baies and Mistletoe,
Down with the Holly, Ivie, all,

Wherewith ye dressed the Christmas hall." *

In Vol. IX. the query is again asked, and thus answered:- Christmas decorations are generally removed on the vigil of the Purification. In Vol. X. of the Penny Post, in Minor Notes for the Month: There seems a very clear tradition that this is the day for taking down holly and ivy from our churches and houses, (referring to Candlemas,)—

"Down with the Rosemary, and so,' &c.

Answer to Eva.-The repetition of the Psalm was a mistake, owing to its not having been erased from the list of material in type.

Can anyone who is a working member of The Ladies' Industrial Society, the depôt of which is, or was, 75, Westbourne Grove, speak encouragingly of its results, to one who would be glad to dispose of her works?-H. E. H.

H. C.-The Sisters of St. Michael's, Shoreditch, are of the Church of England. A convent simply means a place of coming together; and we can see no reason against its adoption. If no name ever used by Roman Catholics was permitted, our ecclesiastical nomenclature would be small indeed, and would certainly exclude Sisters and Sisterhoods.-ED.

Muriel.-Collections of varieties of postage stamps had better be advertized in the exchange columns of the Queen or the Mart newspapers. Miss E.'s-if old English penny stamps-would be best in the fire. It has been requested-we believe by authority-that such collections should not be made, as they are of no possible use, and are liable to fall into hands that use them fraudulently.

St. Luke's Mission, Burdett Road, Stepney.-The Rev. W. Wallace acknowledges with thanks:-F. B., a Parcel of Clothing; F. P., Farnham, 3s.; M. P., £2; C. F., £2 7s. 6d.; from Burnley, 1s.; K. P., £1; from Wellington, Salop, a very useful Parcel of Clothing; F. L., £10 10s.

N. N. would suggest to Helen, if she wishes for modern and fashionable patterns, to get paper models from Madame Adolphe Gouband, 30, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. A flat pattern is sent, as well as the same made up-trimmed. N. N. has found it a good plan to let the children (if it is a class in a school) pay for pinafores and other garments as they make them, as it gives the children an interest in their own work, and leads to saving habits; but N. N. should add it is a rather more troublesome way than an ordinary saving club.

J. E. asks for means of obtaining employment as an illuminator, or of disposing of her illuminations.

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DANTE, in the ninth Canto of the Inferno, has drawn afresh upon the stores of classical legend. The Thessalian witch Erichtho is mentioned by the poet Lucan in his Pharsalia; but we have no means whatever of identifying the spirit evoked from the Giudecca, if indeed Dante had any one individual in his thoughts, and was not merely devising a way to account for Virgil's knowledge of the lower circles of hell. Proserpine, the queen of everlasting woe,' is apparently in a position of greater honour than her husband Pluto: she does not, however, appear further in the narrative. It will not be necessary here to narrate the details of the old story of Medusa, and the head which turned those who looked on it to stone. We shall better act up to the poet's exhortation by referring our readers to Dr. Neale's Stories from Heathen Mythology,' in which he allegorizes with his accustomed skill the ancient fable, wherein Perseus during his fight with the Gorgon dares not look upon her face, but views her reflection in the polished mirror which the goddess of wisdom had given him: signifying to us Christians the shield of faith, which will be as a mirror to us, shewing us sin in its true light; whereas if we look at it as it seems, we shall be, as Lot's wife was, turned to stone, and have no power to flee from it.' We do not think such an interpretation will be found unsuitable to the present passage. The beauty of the description of the Angel's approach needs no pointing out. The last line of his speech refers to the legend of the capture of Cerberus by Hercules, who dragged him up to the world above in obedience to the command of Eurystheus.

VOL. 7.

THE INFERNO.-CANTO IX.

THE Coward hue with which my cheek was stained
When back to me I saw my master wending,

The sooner his unwonted air restrained.

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Mindful he stopped, as one by ear attending,
For eye soon failed in its comprehension
Through the black air and grossest clouds impending.
Then he, 'We needs must win in this contention,

If not... 'twas such did offer... one expected
By me... O how delays his intervention!'
Well did I notice how that he corrected

His opening words by those thereafter spoken,
In meaning with the former unconnected.
Yet since perhaps I strained his sentence broken
To worse significance than he intended,
His utterance seemed of fear the certain token.
'Hath any e'er from the first round descended

To the pit's bottom through these drear expanses,
One whose sole pain is hope for ever ended?'
This question when I asked, 'It seldom chances
That any of us,' he in turn replied,

Along the road which now we take, advances.
'Tis true, I once this downward journey tried,
By that fierce Erichtho's enchantments taken,
Who souls and bodies joined that erst had died.

But lately was my flesh of me forsaken,

When she within that city made me enter,

A spirit from Judas' circle to awaken.

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20

There is the lowest place, gloom's very centre,

Farthest from heaven's all-circling sphere: unfailing
I know the road; be this thy fear's preventer.

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This pool, its pestilential fog exhaling,

Lies round about the city full of mourning,
Whither we go not without wrath prevailing.'
And more he said, which I forget; for turning
My fixed glance under the full attraction
Of that high pinnacle with summit burning,
I saw uprise there in a moment's fraction

The three infernal furies, blood-besprinkled,
Who seemed feminine in limb and action,

With greenest hydras girt, while intermingled

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Were horned snakes for hair and vipers growing

With which were bound their temples fiercely wrinkled.

And he, of those hand-maidens not unknowing

The queen of everlasting woe that tended,

Said, 'Lo, the Erinyes, with hot anger glowing.

That is Megæra, to the left ascended;

Alecto on the right; in mid position

Tisiphone.' And therewith his words he ended.

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