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lying to his apprehension in pagan night, reached his ears, and awakened in his heart irrepressible longings to go forth and do battle with the hosts of heathenism. At length a stranger, visiting the recesses of the hills, brought the wondrous news that a Christian emperor had ascended the throne of the Cæsars-that the temples of the false gods were transformed into Christian churches-and that Christian hymns resounded through the lands which now had rest from persecution and alarm. For a moment it gave him pain to hear that the victory was won, while he had had no share in the fight. But this unworthy feeling passed away, and was succeeded by a more burning desire than ever to go into the wide world, and witness the glorious triumphs of his king. He divulged his purpose to his pious mother, who sent him forth with her blessing and prayers. The first Christian city which he reached was Milan, then ennobled by the presence of good Bishop Ambrose; but rude were the shocks given to his airy hopes as he entered and surveyed the place, and these disappointments were deepened every day during his stay. His ardour chilled, but not quenched, he repaired to Rome, by easy stages, so as to study the scattered population of the country, which he found to be, with few exceptions, pagan still. Rome disenchanted him more than Milan had done, with its fierce conflicts for power, its bitter disputes, and its baptized paganism. Hearing of the fame of Augustine, the new bishop of Hippo, he continued his travels to Africa, hoping there to find what he sought. Thence the pilgrim wended his way to the Holy Land, where, at Bethlehem, he came in contact with the austere Jerome, who had established a monastery on the site of the Saviour's birthplace. Here the wayfarer was stricken down by fever, and narrowly escaped death. His illness had raised up for him a sincere friend in the young monk, Macarius; and as soon as returning strength allowed him to travel, they together took ship at Joppa, bound for Constantinople, where Chrysostom was then creating great excitement by his zealous and faithful preaching. Under him the two young men resolved to labour in the vineyard of the Lord. This they did; and the greater portion of the narrative is occupied by details of the toils, dangers, and sufferings of the golden-mouthed bishop and his faithful flock, until he was sent into exile by the wicked court, which could not endure his reproofs, and his zealous coadjutors were hunted down by corrupt ecclesiastics. Thus the production under consideration comprises a succession of dissolving views, perfectly reliable, of the state of the church under the early Christian emperors. The graphic account is

supposed to be communicated in a series of letters to the young pilgrim's mother, still abiding among his native hills, far beyond the reach of all this turmoil and unhallowed strife. It forms altogether a charming lure to the study of early church history."

"Thank you, thank you!" exclaimed several voices at once; "you have whetted our appetites for a speedy perusal of the book ourselves."

"Am I at liberty to introduce a story to your notice?" asked Ellen.

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Certainly," replied the Editor; "what is it, my dear ?" "It is a collection of inscribed leaves torn from the great volume of modern life, and as such cannot be expected to possess the powerful and stimulating interest of a work like Emmeline's, which deals with the mighty dead' and their undying works. It bears the title of FERNFOOT; OR, HEART PORTRAITS;'* and the author vouches for the strict accuracy of nearly every incident embodied in the sketch. The acute reader would have inferred as much, from the verisimilitude which it bears to our actual, every-day experiences and observations. To give in a few sentences a resumé of the tangled story is quite impracticable-the characters who figure being so very numerous, and the details of that common-place kind which elude all attempts at generalization. The usual ingredients which add so much zest to our social existence are here mingled in fair proportions. There is love, with its fluctuating hopes and fears, its disappointments and fruitions; there is gossip and scandal enough to gratify the most inveterate busybody; there are sweet pictures of domesticity and home quiet, and social gatherings of all kinds, from balls to conferences for church and manse-building; there are partings and meetings, with their usual concomitant excitements; and recognitions and restorations of lost relations to each other that smack strongly of romance. Altogether it is a very pleasant and readable volume; though, I must confess, that I have failed to distinguish any marked purpose present to the writer's mind in penning it."

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"A very just remark," said the Editor; every book that is put forth into the world to do a work there for God and man, if it has not its aim and object branded on its forehead, should yet teach some definite lesson or lessons, and leave a clear impression of the same upon the mind of every thoughtful reader. Authors are too often indifferent to this plain and obvious duty."

* London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co. Edinburgh: W. P. Kennedy.

"That important principle of authorship receives a striking exemplification in this precious volume," said Mrs. M., taking from the table CHRISTIAN SOLICITUDE, BY THE LATE REV. J. HARRINGTON EVANS, A.M.'* "Its purpose gleams through every part of it, 'from title-page to colophon." It consists of a series of discourses, delivered some twelve or fourteen years ago, on the Epistle to the Ephesians. It has often been a subject of regret by those who heard them, that they were never prepared for publication, of which they were preeminently worthy. Mr. Evans, not long before his death, announced his intention to do so, but the increasing infirmities of age prevented the execution of his plan. A fragment only was produced, which appeared in his Memoirs and Remains,' edited by his son. The contents of the present volume have been collated from the short-hand notes taken at the time of delivery by several of his hearers, who were ever glad to treasure up for subsequent edification the sweet and consoling words of this modern Barnabas. It is gratifying to know that the proof-sheets of the work were submitted to Mrs. Evans, and have received her imprimatur. Although the outline of thought and illustration is probably more meagre than it would have been, could it have received the finishing touches of the master's hand, yet there is nothing in the volume unworthy of his high reputation. It is replete with all the rich qualities of his luminous mind and fervent heart."

"Here also is an admirable work, though quite of a different character from the one just noticed," remarked Augustus. "It is just such a companion as I have been seeking after for several years. There is scarcely a volume, periodical, or newspaper, which we now take up to read, wherein we are not perpetually stumbling upon phrases from some foreign language, living or dead, which, besides disfiguring the page, often renders the passage in which they occur quite unintelligible to readers like myself, who make no pretensions to philological attainments. How often, at such times, have I longed for a volume at my elbow which would extricate me from these little embarrassments. The longdesired reference book has at length appeared, to supply a want so widely felt. It bears the plain and business-like title of THE NEWSPAPER AND GENERAL READER'S POCKET COMPANION.'* The bulk of the book consists of actual extracts, taken word for word from the leading journals and periodicals of the day, and exceed 2000 in number. A copious index at the close adds greatly to its value and availability.”

* London: J. F. Shaw,

+ London: J. F. Shaw.

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THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF TITUS INTO ROME, WITH THE SPOILS OF THE JEWISH TEMPLE.

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