My home was still in the shadow, I longed in vain; what he asked for Once I staked all my heart's treasures, Yes; and just now I have seen him Laid in his coffin. God help me! I am cursed still to live:-even Among the longer poems in this volume, "The Legend of Provence" and "Philip and Mildred," to our thinking, take the lead. The following is a gem; perfect in thought, feeling, and rhythm, it lingers in the memory like certain phrases of Mozart and Beethoven, which condense into a few bars the force and meaning of the whole, as here a dozen lines reveal the sorrow and burden of an entire life: EXPECTATION. The King's three daughters stood on the terrace, Sighed Princess May, "Will it last much longer, For hope deferred makes the spirit sick." But Princess Gwendoline smiled and kissed her:- Expecting joy is a happy pain, The future's fathomless mine of treasures, Sighed Princess Alice, as night grew nearer:- But Princess Gwendoline kissed her, sighing,- Possible loss means possible gain. Those who still dread, are not quite forsaken; Is the loneliest depth of human pain." We will not further forestal our readers' enjoyment of the book itself. They and we have already benefited by the appearance of some of the poems in these pages, and we have much pleasure in being enabled to inaugurate the opening of the New Year with a poem from this gifted writer's hand. 1. Andersen's Tales for Children. Translated by Alfred Wehnert. Illustrated. Bell and Daldy. 2. Parables from Nature. By Mrs. Alfred Gatty. Illustrated. Bell and Daldy. 3 The Children's Picture Book of the Life of Joseph. Written in simple language. Illustrated. Bell and Daldy. To write a book which shall charm and satisfy the very young, which shall enter into their views and ideas so completely that those stern and acute critics, children, are content, and which shall yet have so deep and full a reality that the oldest can still delight in it, and the most experienced find a hidden truth and meaning, is an art in which Andersen of all others has succeeded. The humor and the pathos of his children's stories are so simple that the tiniest little reader who can but just master the words will laugh and cry alternately, and yet in these very stories is embodied a bitter penetration of the world's ways, and a kindly pity for the blunders, foibles, and errors of humanity which only a wide and deep knowledge of life could either give or appreciate. And they have one special charm to usthere is no "information' lurking under the mask of amusement, and no useful knowledge disguised so as to entrap the unwary. But Andersen's tales are known to most children, so we will rather say that the present edition is very nicely got up, and prettily illustrated. It will be a most welcome Christmas present, whether the book comes as an old favorite in a new and handsome dress, or still better, as a yet unopened mine of very certain pleasure and very delightful reading. But we have said enough to make many young people long for the volume and let us hope many older ones resolve to give it to them. Mrs. Gatty has the art of talking to young people. Her Aunt Judy's Tales are about as pleasant a juvenile book as we know, worthy to be ranked beside Miss Edgeworth's and Miss Martineau's children's stories. It is sufficient, therefore, to say that the "Parables from Nature are by this favorite authoress; and when we add that Holman Hunt, among other artists, has contributed the illustrations, we give a decided proof that Mrs. Gatty's tales have been duly honored in the getting-up, and make a very desirable "gift-book." The "Life of Joseph" is illustrated with sixteen pictures of the events of his life. The author has not injured the pathos and grandeur of the story in putting it into very simple language, fit for quite young children. The Tempest. By William Shakespeare. Illustrated by Birket Foster, &c. Bell and Daldy. BIRKET FOSTER'S illustrations of the Tempest are, as usual, very good; and though some of the others are more conventional in design than suits our taste, the gold and magenta exterior will no doubt make up for this in many eyes, and render the volume well suited for a drawing-room table. The British Workman. Yearly Part, No. 6. Office, 9, Paternoster Row. Of all the many cheap publications this is at once the cheapest and best, both as to the manner in which it is got up and the objects it has in view. The yearly part now before us, price eighteenpence, is a literary marvel, and no British workman can more judiciously expend that sum, in pleasure and profit to himself and his family, then by investing it in this work, prepared expressly for him and his. We are glad to see by the editor's announcement that this excellent periodical shows signs of becoming self-supporting. It should be in the houses of all honest God-loving mechanics, LIII. OPEN COUNCIL. (As these pages are intended for general discussion, the Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed.) To the Editor of the English Woman's Journal. DEAR MADAM, I am rejoiced to see that the subject of the organization of woman's work is taken up by one who is so likely to make it popular, as the writer of " My Life, and What shall I do with It?" a book which will probably be read by a large portion of the upper and middle classes. Following so closely upon the admirable article in the Quarterly Review upon "Deaconesses," we may hope for a rapid increase of interest in this direction. I may perhaps be allowed to remark that the suggestion as to " Associated Homes," is precisely that which I brought forward in the pamphlet on "Deaconesses,"* published last spring, when I urged that the growing needs of our parishes and institutions would soon compel us to make some practical effort of this kind. Such an effort need in no way discourage desultory and voluntary efforts, but I think no one who has had practical experience of this kind of assistance can doubt that something else is wanted. When persons who undertake to be visitors to certain institutions are absent from town for fully six months out of the twelve, it is not difficult to imagine why we ask for some others on whose services and time we can more fully depend. My object in writing these few lines, however, is chiefly to say that a small beginning in the direction indicated will, I hope, be made very shortly in the carrying out of a project which has been before noticed in these pages, viz., the "Industrial Home for Young Women," established by the Workhouse Visiting Society. A house for this purpose is taken in New Ormond Street, * See pp. 11, 12. which will, we trust, be opened early in the coming year; and I look forward to the time when it may, by God's blessing, become a sort of centre, or nucleus of interests, for the general objects of our society. A mere cold formal institution can do little towards fitting girls to become servants in small households; this, therefore, we hope to make a home, not only for the poor girls whom we shall rescue from the adult wards of our unions, (where, alas! no vestige or trace of home is to be found), but for some also of a higher class, who may aid in the work of training them, and at the same time furnish the household occupation and practice which is so essential to any efficient teaching. At all events, one lady, a matron and a teacher, will at once reside in the house; the rest of the plan must be developed in God's good time, as He gives us the means and the opportunity; but it is a portion and aim of our work which we mean to keep steadily in view, and which we trust public opinion will aid us in carrying out. Already more regular visitors are required for workhouses, and from this source we shall hope to be able to furnish them as they are needed, with more and more regularity and steadiness of purpose. Only let us make the want felt and known, and the remedy will surely have to follow. I cannot but think there will be fewer lonely hearts and depressed weary minds in a generation to which such "homes" are open, offering work, sympathy, companionship and counsel. May I venture to remind your readers that to make this beginning successfully we require funds? To take a house in London, and to repair and furnish it, cannot be done at a trifling expense; and for the present, at least, we shall have to maintain the inmates without any assistance from the poor rates. Any contributions towards this effort, from those who sympathize in our objects, will be gratefully received at the office of the National Association, 3, Waterloo Place, S.W. December 3rd, 1860. MADAM, Yours sincerely, To the Editor of the English Woman's Journal. L. I have read with great satisfaction of X. Y. Z.'s kind and excellent movement for the benefit of governesses. Its distinctiveness in requiring the cooperation of the class to be benefited, and in pressing upon those who create that class, the employers, to join in the same proportion, together with the low and uniform subscription, and the mutual freedom from canvassing, all seems to me in the best taste and policy. I speak only of this proposed supplementary association; others have their own merits. I venture upon your pages chiefly to ask how the scheme can be sufficiently made known? The mighty Times will not reach many probable friends, nor will the machinery of long-existing similar institutions, (which will, of course, lend their aid,) carry it into fresh quarters to the extent required. I think a circular is needed, containing not only the skeleton plan of the X. Y. Z. fund, but all the good reasons and explanations to be found in the Advertisement, Open Council, and Passing Events of this Journal, December 1st, 1860; and if this were printed on the thinnest paper, so that a single postage would carry several copies, I think the E. W. J. editors would not refuse to forward such packet to each of their own subscribers, who in their turn may be reckoned upon for putting such copies into the hands of those interested by condition or sympathy. I merely suggest this as one means. The E. W. J. editors have supplied what is wanting in the advertisement and Open Council letter, viz., the specific assurance that the X. Y. Z. fund is to be exclusively devoted to governess subscribers. I think there should be further explanation as to how soon after the embodiment of the society there may be an election, upon the candidate making up the amount of ten years' subscription, which I think should be allowed in the first ten years of the establishment. I have only to add, that I am glad the subscription comes within my own means, and I shall hope to interest two or three more. A. E. MADAM, To the Editor of the English Woman's Journal. The ENGLISH WOMAN'S JOURNAL has just been lent me, and in reading your correspondent's letter regarding the X. Y. Z. fund, I foresee an injury which I think will at once result from it to the Annuity Fund now existing, unless some advantageous arrangement can be devised. I have no doubt that many governesses (like myself) have subscribed to that fund for years, out of gratitude to the Giver of all good, for comfortable situations and homes, or out of compassion to their suffering sisters, or other motives. But as such subscriptions are probably, in most cases, the most they can afford, the consequence will be they will withdraw from that fund so as to subscribe to the new one which offers a provision for themselves, should they live to require it. I beg to state that I venture to express this opinion, as it will in no way concern my own subscription; therefore I am only putting before you what immediately occurred to me. I am in the receipt of an excellent salary, and, unless it should please God to alter my future prospects, shall in my old age be otherwise provided for. Therefore my remarks are impartial. I think the two funds, in so far as governess subscribers are concerned, should be in some way incorporated, or the advantages in some measure united. Suppose, for instance, that the governess subscribers to the Annuity Fund should be allowed one vote for each 5s. instead of each 10s. 6d. subscribed? They could then divide their subscription, and I do not think such an arrangement would lessen the number of subscribers to the old Annuity Fund, but would on the contrary, double them; numbers would gladly give the 5s. if thereby entitled to a vote, who could not give 10s. 6d. as well as 5s. to the X. Y. Z. fund. I remain, Madam, A sincere Well-wisher to both Funds, December 17th. A. V. LIV.-PASSING EVENTS. EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY, now passed away, will be memorable in the world's history as the era of Italian regeneration. Throughout its course Italy has held the first place in men's thoughts, and save, perhaps, a rash speculator here and there, to whom the state of the money market was all in all, the first glance at the daily paper has been directed to the telegram from Italy; nay, is still so directed; for while Francis II. remains in Gaeta, the French in Rome, and the Austrians in Venetia, the good work is but begun which is to restore consolidated Italy to its place among nations, and strengthen the hands of liberty throughout the European world. Even as we go to press, Gaeta may be at last evacuated, and Louis Napoleon and the Pope driven to show their hands and play their last cards. Among the many acts of heroism and self-devotion this Italian crisis has developed, we |