volumes which are comprised in the collection; and even those which are thus deficient, (being, in almost every instance, translations from a foreign language,) are at least useful as specimens of the literature to which they belong.

The volumes before us will need no lengthened criticism. If beautiful typography and exquisite illustrations can make reading interesting and attractive to youth, these little books cannot fail to find readers in abundance. The tales of the well-known Danish writer Andersen, are just of that class of imaginative writings, which stimulate at once the wonder, the affections, and the understanding of the youthful reader. We shall best commend them to notice by transcribing one of the tales, the first in order. It is entitled "The Buckwheat."

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"Often, in passing by a field of buckwheat after a thunderstorm, we see it all look black and drooping; we might almost think a flame of fire had swept over it; and it is then that the farmer is used to say: Ah, the lightning has done all that to it!' But why has the lightning done all this?' will be asked perhaps by some solitary traveller, who seeks for a natural cause, or, at least, a simple reason for all that nature does. I will now tell you what the house-sparrow told me about it. The house-sparrow had it from an old willow-tree that once stood, and indeed is now standing, close by just such a field of buck-wheat. It is a large, grave willow-tree, gnarled, and rich in years, that seems to have burst in the middle, and from whose gaping clefts grow the grass and the bramble, and seem quite at home there. Its trunk bends over very much, as if it wanted a prop; and its branches hang down to the ground like long green hair.

"Over all the fields about grew beautiful grain-rye, and barley, and oats: yes, the pretty oats, which, when they are quite ripe, look just like a flight of little canary-birds on a bough. The growth of the corn had been blessed; and the heavier it was, the more humbly the good plant bowed its lowly head.

"But there was a field of buck-wheat too, and this field stretched itself out on one side till it reached the old willow-tree. The buckwheat did not bow its head at all like the other kinds of corn, but towered up in the air as proudly and stiffly as it could.

"I am as rich as the greatest of these,' it said, 'and much prettier too; my flowers are as beautiful as the rosy-apple blossom, and a delightful treat it is to look at me and my companions. Do you know of anything more beautiful, more noble, or, in short, any thing that can vie with us, you old, dreamy willow-tree?'

"And the mouldering stem nodded its mossy head, as if to say, 'Oh, yes, indeed, that I do!' But the buck-wheat tossed up its

head in pure disdain, and said: "The foolish tree! he is so old, that grass and weeds are creeping out of his body.'

"In the meanwhile a very heavy storm came on. All the flowers of the field folded their leaves together, or modestly bowed their tender little heads to the ground, whilst the wind whistled over them. The buck-wheat was the only one that stood saucily erect in its pride.

"Bend down as we do,' whispered the other kind flowers.

"What need have I to do that?' said the buck-wheat, who would not easily be taught.

"Bend down as we do,' cried the corn; 'the angel of the storm is coming; he has wings that reach from the highest cloud to the bottom of the lowliest vale, and he will dash you down before you can ask him to have pity on you.'

“Once for all, I will not make so little of myself,' answered the buck-wheat.

"Shut up your flowers, and draw in your leaves,' said the cautious old willow-tree. 'Look not up at the lightning when the cloud opens; even man dare not do so; for when it lightens, they can see quite into heaven, though the light strikes them blind. What, then, would not befall us, herbs of the field, if we, in our littleness, dared to do so?'

"In our littleness!' echoed the buck-wheat, mockingly. indeed! I will look straight through into heaven.'

No,

"And he did so in his guilty pride. It lightened so brightly that the whole world seemed to be in flames. As soon as the storm had raged its last, the flowers and the corn were seen standing in the still, pure air, refreshed by the rain, and happy as the spring. But the buck-wheat-the poor buck-wheat !-had been burnt black as a coal in the lightning. It was nothing more now than dead, useless weed of the field.

"And the old willow waved his branches in the wind, and large drops of water fell from the green leaves as if the tree were weeping. And the sparrows said: Why do you weep? It is so beautiful here. Look how the sun is shining, and the clouds sailing along. Do you not breathe the sweet scent of the flowers and the bushes? Why do you weep, then, you old willow-tree?

"And the willow-tree told of the pride and the haughtiness of the buck-wheat, and of the punishment which, sooner or later, always follows upon crimes. I, who now tell this story over again, had it from the chattering sparrows. They twittered it to me one evening when I asked them for some pretty tale."."-pp. 1-5

If all "children's tales" were as this one, we would gladly remain children all our lives.

XI.-1. Confraternity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the Conversion of Sinners. Richardson and Son: London, Dublin, and Derby.

2.-Little Office in honour of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; to which is annexed the Devotion of the Six Sundays to St. Aloysius. A new edition, revised and corrected by the Reverend THOMAS GRIMLEY. Richardson and Son: London, Dublin, and Derby.

3.-A Novena for the Holy Season of Advent, by way of preparation for the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; consisting of Prophecies, Anthems, &c., gathered from the Roman Missal and Breviary, set to Gregorian Chants, with an English Translation. Richardson and Son: London, Dublin, and Derby.

THE first of these little works contains a short account of the institution of the "Confraternity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary," its rules, and the forms of admission. If we may judge by what we have known ourselves of the great irregularity with which English Catholics take up and lay down these devotions at their pleasure, losing thereby all notion of a Society, we should think it would

be useful.

The two others are excellent devotions to our Blessed Lady. It is a very good idea to make the prayers and offices of the Breviary more accessible by giving them in this popular form, and with translations; and we think it would have been more completely followed out, if the. Gregorian chants could have been rendered into modern music, that all might have joined in singing those glorious anthems, "O Sapientia," "O Adonai, and the rest;

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the mere indications of which in our Directories we welcome with joy, and dwell upon as if the very sound of the words conveyed poetry. The hymns in the little office are well chosen and translated, but we cannot altogether like the litany of the immaculate conception; the titles addressed to our Blessed Lady, of "Strength of Martyrs,' "Virtue of Confessors," "Purity of Virgins,' "Sanctity of all Christians," are displeasing to us; we would not controvert the point, being well aware not only that they must be, and are intended in a proper sense, but how with a little ingenuity this might be made apparent. Still they might prove a stumbling-block even to those reasonable and liberal minded objectors who ought not to be scandalized, and we think there are even Catholics who will

agree with us that the words create a confusion of ideas which is unpleasant.

XII.-The Virtuous Scholar, or Edifying Life of a Student. Translated from the French. Richardson and Son: London, Dublin, and Derby.

WE most heartily recommend to all schools and to all young persons the life of this youthful saint; who was the delight and glory of his college during his short life, and died at sixteen. Nothing can be sweeter than the fervour of his youthful piety; but it was so simple, so well directed, and so applicable to his state of life, that the most cautious parent might recommend his life for imitation to their children without any qualification. The list of "Good Resolutions," which young Decalogne drew up for himself after his first communion, are excellently practical, as well as pious, being the result of the boy's own experience and sense of what conduced to his improvement; and, with the comments made upon them by his director, cannot fail to be useful to many young minds aspiring to walk in the same happy path.

XIII. Address to the Friends of the Cross. Translated from the French of the Venerable Servant of God, LEWIS MARY GRIGNON DE MONTFORT. Richardson and Son: London, Dublin, and Derby.

THE original of this "Address" appears to have been a sermon; at least it has all the characteristics of French pulpit eloquence, being, in fact, a vehement and impassioned harangue, an urgent exhortation to obey the words of Christ, and "take up the cross. It is needless to say that the matter is excellent, but this style of eloquence requires the fervour of delivery to give it full effect even with its greatest admirers. When read-and read in the form of a translation-it is apt to fail in making a due impression.