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WALK IX.
JULY.
Let us be off to the fields once more; the sun is very hot, but we can find refreshing shade under the trees when we are tired. What is this beautiful little plant with bright scarlet flowers fully expanded? It is the scarlet pimpernel, or "poor man's weather-glass;" for on rainy days, and even before the showers are coming, the little plant, conscious of their approach, closes up its flowers. Other wild flowers, such as the convolvulus, close before rain. The little pimpernel, however, is supposed to be the best barometer. There is another thing about the pimpernel; you will not often see its blossoms expanded after three o'clock in the afternoon. In other countries, also, the regular closing of the flowers has been noticed. Dr. Seeman, who went as naturalist on one of the Arctic Expeditions, noticed the flowers to close during the long day of an arctic summer. "Although," he says, "the sun never sets while it lasts, the plants make no mistake about the time, when if it be not night it ought to be, but regularly as the evening hours approach, and when a midnight sun is several degrees above the horizon, they droop their leaves, and sleep even as they do at sunset in more favoured climes." Look at the bright scarlet flower, with its small purple eye. Excepting poppies, with their dazzling brightness, I do not think there is another wild flower that has scarlet petals. However, the blossoms are not always scarlet; there is a white variety with a purple eye, and another having a dark blue blossom.
Well, Jack, you have found something, have you? Ah! this is a queer plant, it has queer habits, and a queer name; it is called "Jack-go-to-bed at noon." We sometimes call you after the name of another plant, "Jack-by-the-hedge." May, of course, is "May," or hawthorn blossom, and Robin at home, from his often tearing his clothes, is "Ragged Robin." Another name for the plant you hold in your hand is goat's beard; the leaves are long and grass-like, the flowers bright yellow; it is not yet quite eleven o'clock, and the blossoms are expanded; they generally close about noon. Look at the colour of the stem, it has a kind of sea-green bloom upon it. Well, you would never find this plant with blossom expanded in the afternoon; so "Jack-go-to-bed at noon" is really not a bad name for it.
"And goodly now the noon-tide hour When from his high meridian tower The sun looks down in majesty. What time about the grassy lea The goat's-beard prompt his rise to hail With broad expanded disc, in veil Close mantling wraps its yellow head, And goes, as peasants say, to bed."
Here we are at a stream; do you see those things at the bottom slowly moving? They seem to be bits of stick. "I know what they are," said Jack, "there is a good fat maggot in each of these cases; they are caddis-worms." Quite right, and in time they will change to insects. Here is another kind; the house is made of small bits of gravel, and it is attached to this smooth stone. I will break open the case; do you see inside is a long cylindrical case, with a thin covering; I slit this open with my penknife, and now you see the creature inside. There are a great variety of these caddis-worms, and most interesting it is to notice the different kind of houses they build. Some of the larvae live in movable cases, as we have seen, some in fixed habitations; the materials, too, out of which the different cases are constructed, are different, sometimes they are bits of gravel, or sand, wood, leaves, grass, the empty shells of various fresh-water molluscs. The fragments of stick and the small bits of gravel are held together by a kind of cement which the larva spins from his mouth. Sometimes we may meet with cases made of sand, having on either side long slender bits of rush or stick. A lady once took a number of the larvae out of their cases, and placed them in a vessel of water with various materials, such as coloured glass, cornelian, agate, onyx, brass filings, coralline, tortoiseshell; and these little maggoty things made use of and built their houses out of them. The perfect insect has four wings; and from these being closely covered with hairs, the order to which they belong has received the name of Trichoptera, which means "having hairy wings." You must know many of these insects; they are very common near ponds and streams; generally they fly in a zig-zag fashion, and have the appearance of moths.
Ah! here is a splendid bed of the forget-me-not growing on this bank near the stream. Look at the blue enamel-like flowers, each with a yellow centre-eye; the leaves are bright green and rather rough. There are other species very much resembling this one you may often see in hedgerows and fields; but they are generally smaller plants; this one is the true forget-me-not. There are several stories about the origin of the name. Here is one:—Many years ago, a lady and knight were wandering by a river; the lady espied these bright blue flowers, on a small islet I suppose, in the deep river, and wished to possess them. Her lover immediately plunged in and plucked the plants, but the strength of the stream was too much for him on his return. With a great effort, however, he threw the flowers on the bank, exclaiming "Forget-me-not," and sank!
"But the lady fair of the knight so true Still remember'd his hapless lot; And she cherish'd the flower of brilliant hue And she braided her hair with the blossoms blue, And she call'd it 'Forget-me-not.'"
We must proceed on our walk and not linger too long here, though, I must own, it is hard to tear oneself away from the banks of a gently-flowing river. So good-by to
"That blue and bright-eyed flowret of the brook, Hope's gentle gem, the sweet 'Forget-me-not.'"
As we crossed the road we met two men with cage-traps, and a slender twig covered thickly with bird-lime. In each cage-trap was a tame goldfinch, which were the decoy birds. The men had only succeeded in taking one goldfinch—for which they asked half a crown. The decoy birds attract other goldfinches by their call-note; these sometimes alight on the trap, which instantly closes upon them; sometimes they alight on the twig smeared with bird-lime, which is so sticky that they cannot free themselves from it. "Gay plumage, lively habits, an agreeable form and song, with a disposition to become attached to those who feed them, are such strong recommendations, that the goldfinch has been, and will probably continue to be, one of the most general cage favourites. So well also do the birds of this species bear confinement, that they have been known to live ten years in captivity, continuing in song the greater part of each year. This tendency to sing and call make them valuable as brace-birds, decoy-birds, and call-birds, to be used by the birdcatcher with his ground nets, while the facility with which others are captured, the numbers to be obtained, and the constant demand for them by the public, render the goldfinch one of the most important species included within the bird-dealer's traffic."
Mr. Mayhew says that a goldfinch has been known to exist twenty-three years in a cage. The same person tells us that goldfinches are sold in the streets of London from sixpence to a shilling each, and when there is an extra catch, and the shops are fully stocked, at threepence and fourpence each. Only think, it is computed that as many as 70,000 song birds are captured every year about London; the street sale of the goldfinch being about a tenth of the whole. Goldfinches may be taught to perform many amusing tricks, to draw up water for themselves by a small thimble-sized bucket, or to raise the lid of a small box to obtain the seed within. A goldfinch has been trained to appear dead; it could be held up by the tail or claw without exhibiting any signs of life, or to stand on its head with its claws in the air, or to imitate a Dutch milk-maid going to market with pails on its shoulders, or to appear as a soldier, keeping guard as sentinel. One was once trained to act as a cannoneer with a cap on its head, a firelock on its shoulder, and a match in its claw; it would then discharge a small cannon. "The same bird also acted as if it had been wounded. It was wheeled in a barrow, to convey it, as it were, to the hospital; after which it flew away before the company." Another turned a kind of windmill; another stood in the midst of some fireworks, which were discharged all around it, without showing any fear. When we consider how docile and affectionate many birds become; when we think of their beauty and the sweet music they pour from their little throats; when we consider also of what immense use a great number of species are to man in helping to check injurious insects and caterpillars; does it not seem strange that they meet with so little protection? How often, as you know, we have met lads and great strong men with helpless fledglings in their hands, which they intend to torture in some way or other; perhaps they will tie strings to their legs and drag them about, or place them on a large stone and throw at them. To expostulate with them on the wickedness of such barbarous conduct is hopeless; one might as well quote Hebrew to a tadpole!
How noisy the grasshoppers are, with their incessant shrill chirpings; how thoroughly they enjoy the heat and sun! Just catch me one or two, Willy; there, one has hopped just before you; now he is on that blade of grass. Have you got him? No? Well, take this gauze net. Now you have him. "How does the grasshopper make that peculiar sound?" asked May. If you will get near one of these insects while he is making the noise you will see how he does it. There, one stands on that plantain stem. Do you see how briskly he rubs his legs against the wing-covers? Now he is quiet, and his legs are still; so it is evident that the friction or rubbing of the legs against the wings causes the sound. I rub the thigh of this specimen I hold in my hands against the wing. You distinctly hear the shrill sound. It is the males only who make the noise; the females are mute. Some people have described another organ which seems to increase the sound. I have sometimes placed both field-crickets and grasshoppers under a tumbler, and supplied them with moist blades of grass; it is curious to see how fast they eat them. You should remember that the grasshopper is a relative of the locust, to which, indeed, it bears a close resemblance; only the locust is a much larger insect. There are several species of locusts, and all are extremely injurious. You have read in the Bible of the fearful damage they are able to cause to the trees and various crops. It is seldom that locusts visit this country, happily, for there is not a greater insect scourge in existence. Our green grasshopper is also related to the cricket, so merrily noisy in dwelling-houses. Crickets are difficult to get rid of when they have thoroughly established themselves in a house. Like many noisy persons, crickets like to hear nobody louder than themselves; and some one relates that a woman who had tried in vain every method she could think of to banish them from her house, at last got rid of them by the noise made by drums and trumpets, which she had procured to entertain her guests at a wedding. It is said, but you need not believe the story, that they instantly forsook the house, and the woman heard of them no more. Possibly some half dozen more women in the house would have had the same effect, without the musical instruments! What do you say to that idea, May? "That is too bad of you, papa, but you know you are only joking."
Here is a large pond, and from this bank we can look down into the water. There are some yellow water-lilies with their broad expanded leaves. I have noticed that the blossoms are often attacked by the larvae of some two-winged flies. These flies lay their eggs within the petals, "lily-cradled" literally; the eggs hatch and the larvae eat the cradle. I do not know more of these flies: I have often meant to trace their history, but have somehow forgotten to do so. Do you see that pike basking on the top of the water; how still and motionless he lies. He is a good-sized fish, at least I should say he was four pounds weight. "I wish we could catch him," said Willy. We have no tackle with us; besides, when pike are sunning themselves in that way on the top of the water, they are seldom inclined to take a bait. "What is the largest pike," asked Jack, "you ever saw caught?" The largest I ever saw alive was caught in the canal about five years ago; it weighed twenty-one pounds, and was really a splendid fish. What voracious fish they are; they will often take young ducks, water-hens and coots, and will sometimes try to swallow a fish much too large for their throats. It is said that a pike once seized the head of a swan as she was feeding under water, and gorged so much of it as killed them both. The servants perceiving the swan with its head under water for a longer time than usual, took the boat and found both swan and pike dead. "Gesner relates that a pike in the Rhone seized on the lips of a mule that was brought to water, and that the beast drew the fish out before it could disengage itself. Walton was assured by his friend Mr. Segrave, who kept tame otters, that he had known a pike, in extreme hunger, fight with one of his otters for a carp that the otter had caught and was then bringing out of the water. A woman in Poland had her foot seized by a pike as she was washing clothes in a pond." Mr. Jesse tells the story of a gentleman, who, as he was one day walking by the side of the river Wey, saw a large pike in a shallow creek. He immediately pulled off his coat, tucked up his shirt sleeves, and went into the water to intercept the return of the fish to the river, and to endeavour to throw it out upon the bank by getting his hands under it. During this attempt the pike, finding he could not make his escape, seized one of the arms of the gentleman, and lacerated it so much that the marks of the wound were visible for a long time afterwards. Pike will live to a great age, ninety years or more. In the year 1497, according to old Gesner, a pike was taken at Halibrun in Suabia with a brazen ring attached to it, on which was the following inscription in Greek:—"I am the fish which was put into the lake by the hands of the governor of the universe, Frederick the Second, the 5th of October, 1230." This pike, therefore, would be two hundred and sixty-seven years old; people said it weighed three hundred and fifty pounds, and that its skeleton was nineteen feet long. I will show you a picture of this ring in Gesner's book when we get home.
WALK X.
OCTOBER.
How pleasant is the season of autumn, with its yellow fields of ripe corn, and its orchards laden with the fruits of the apple and the pear. But now the golden grain is safely stored. The birds, too, have done singing, with the exception of the robin and the hedge-warbler, which even in the winter occasionally cheer us with their welcome notes. There are yet, however, a few wild flowers to interest us, and the ferns are still beautiful. The various kinds of fungi are springing up in the fields and woodlands; it is a charming day for a stroll; we will drive to the Wrekin and explore the woods at its base. I am sure we shall be able to meet with many pretty forms. The woods are rendered extremely beautiful by the rich autumnal tints of the foliage. We will go through this wicket and follow the path in the direction of Ten-Tree Hill. Now, who will be the first to find the bright scarlet fly agaric? It is a poisonous species, though so beautiful. We will put the wholesome fungi in one basket and the suspected ones in another.
Here you see is the elegant parasol fungus, with its tall stem and top spotted with brown flakes; it is a most delicious one to eat, and in my opinion is superior to the common mushroom. "Shall we find the beefsteak fungus, papa?" said Willy. I have never seen it growing here; the beefsteak fungus prefers to grow on very old oak trees, and it is, moreover, by no means common. It is so called from its resemblance to a beefsteak when cut through; a reddish gravy-like juice flows from the wound, and I think the whole fungus when young very inviting. I have on three or four occasions eaten this species, but I do not think it a very palatable one, though perfectly wholesome and doubtless nutritious.
Here is a quantity of Amanita phalloides, very beautiful with its green tints and white stem; but I should not like to eat any of this kind. Do you notice what a very unpleasant smell it has?
What a number of animals are nailed to that beech-tree! Let us see what they are: two cats, three weasels, two stoats, four jays, two magpies, two kestrils, an owl, and a sparrow-hawk. The keeper has trapped or shot these as enemies to the game, and no doubt, with the exception of the weasels, owl, and kestrils, the other animals often destroy young pheasants or suck their eggs. Still I should not like to see all wild animals destroyed that occasionally harm game preserves. Gamekeepers have strong affection for their hares, partridges, and pheasants, and consider all other wild animals as either enemies or beneath notice. Indeed, a gamekeeper's zoology is confined to five things—pheasants, partridges, hares, rabbits, and ants' eggs. Ah! I do think I espy about twenty yards ahead the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria). To be sure, here is a fine lot; some just appearing above ground in the form of scarlet balls; others fully expanded. How splendid they are! You notice many white patches on their tops; let us see how these patches are formed. Here is a specimen hardly showing itself. I will dig it up. There, now you see; the whole fungus is wrapped up in a thin white envelope; this is called a volva, from the Latin word volvo—"I roll up." When the volva breaks, it leaves scattered patches on the top. The gills are white or yellowish and the stem is bulbous. This is not a very common fungus; it is, however, frequent enough in the woods about the Wrekin. The effects of this fungus on a person who has eaten it are of an intoxicating nature. Dr. Badham, who used to eat various kinds of fungi and has written a very good book on wholesome kinds, once gathered some specimens of the fly agaric. He sent them to two lady friends, intending to call soon afterwards and explain that he had sent them on account of their extreme beauty solely. Dr. Badham did not come, but these two ladies said, "Oh, of course Dr. Badham would never send us anything unwholesome; let us have some cooked for tea." So they had some cooked and ate thereof, and were taken very ill. The bad effects, however, soon passed away. Look at that little squirrel, see how nimbly he climbs the tree; now he hides on a forked branch and thinks we do not see him. Well, I must not forget to tell you that this fungus, growing in this spot so plentifully, is called fly agaric because a decoction of it was once used to destroy flies. The people in Siberia swallow portions of it to produce intoxication. Here is another species closely related to the one we have been considering, and not unlike it in form; this is the blushing agaric (Amanita rubescens); you see its top also is covered with whitish flakes or warts; and persons who are not in the habit of noticing differences might confuse this species with the other. Now look; I will cut this specimen through with my knife, and bruise it slightly; do you see how it changes to a reddish hue, thus at once distinguishing itself from its unwholesome relative? This quality gives the name to the fungus. The blushing agaric is perfectly wholesome. You remember how often we had it cooked last autumn, and how delicious it was both for breakfast and dinner. I would never, however, advise persons who have not paid attention to the study of fungi to gather and eat them without asking the opinion of some one who had knowledge of the subject; and I am sure that you, children, will never think of eating any kind that you have not first brought to me. There sits the squirrel. Let us make him show us how he can leap from one bough to another. I clap my hands and Jack throws a stone, and off the little fellow goes, taking wonderful leaps. As the winter approaches the squirrel will be busy laying up stores for consumption during that season, such as nuts, acorns, and beech-mast. For the greater part of the winter the squirrel is dormant; on fine warm days, however, he ventures out of his retreat in the hole of a tree, visits his cupboard, cracks a few nuts, and then goes to sleep again. The nest of the squirrel is made of moss, leaves, and twigs curiously intertwined, and is generally placed between the forked branches; the young ones, two or three in number, are born in the month of June. A gentleman, in a letter to Mr. Jenyns, says "a pair which frequented a tree opposite the window of one of the rooms, evinced great enmity to a couple of magpies with whom they kept up a perpetual warfare, pursuing them from branch to branch, and from tree to tree with untiring agility. Whether this persecution arose from natural antipathy between the combatants, or from jealousy of interference with their nests, is not known."
What are those black circular spots some four or five yards in diameter, so common in the woods of the Wrekin? They are places where wood has been burnt for charcoal. Always examine such spots, as you may find rare plants growing upon them which scarcely grow anywhere else. Here, for instance, is Flammula carbonaria abundant. On these charcoal spots this fungus delights to grow, and I do not think you will find it elsewhere. Mr. Worthington Smith tells us it is a very rare British fungus; it is not mentioned in Mr. Berkley's 'Outlines of Fungology.' Here is a beautifully marked variety of Polyporus perennis, also very rare; it is tinted with rich sienna, chocolate, and black; it is found only in these charcoal rings. Let us go farther on. Look at that splendid bright, orange-yellow fungus growing amongst the moss in large tufts as it were. Each plant has a tender stem with short branches; what a number are growing together with roots or lower portions of the stem closely intertwined! This is Clavaria fastigiata. Here we meet with the sticky Gomphidius viscidus, and here with the handsome Tricholoma scalpturatus, and the lovely T. rutilans. I am obliged to use Latin names as there are no English ones. The ground here is covered with the small Clitocyle fragrans; it smells like newly-mown hay. And now we meet with various Boleti. Look at the under surface; you see it is riddled with numerous small holes, very unlike the gills of the mushroom and all agarics. We shall find Boletus luteus, B. flavus, B. edulis, B. scaber, the handsome but poisonous B. luridus. Boletus edulis is, as its name imports, very good to eat and perfectly wholesome; so, too, is B. scaber and B. luteus. Holloa! what bird has just fled before us? it is a woodcock evidently, and has probably lately arrived in this country from the south of Europe, though woodcocks occasionally reside here all through the year. The woodcock is a very handsome bird with its dark mottled brown plumage, long bill, and large, full, black eyes. "What do these birds feed upon?" asked Willy. You often hear people say "they live upon suction," and "do not eat any food." That I fancy is a common belief amongst sportsmen. It is, however, altogether a mistake; for these birds eat quantities of earthworms, as has frequently been witnessed. I will give an instance of this in the case of a woodcock kept in an aviary somewhere in Spain. "There was a fountain perpetually flowing to keep the ground moist and trees planted for the same purpose; fresh sod was brought to it, the richest in worms that could be found. In vain did the worms seek concealment; when the woodcock was hungry it discovered them by the smell, stuck its beak into the ground, but never higher than the nostrils, drew them out singly, and raising its bill into the air, it extended upon it the whole length of the worm, and in this way swallowed it smoothly without any action of the jaws. This whole operation was performed in an instant, and the action of the woodcock was so equal and imperceptible that it seemed doing nothing; it never missed its aim; for this reason, and because it never plunged its bill beyond the orifice of the nostrils, it was concluded that the bird was directed to its food by smell." There is one very interesting point in the natural history of the woodcock which I must not forget to mention. The old birds sometimes carry their little ones from the place where they are hatched down to soft marshy places to feed on the worms and insect larvae found there; they take them in the evening and return with them in the morning. "But how do they carry them?" asked May. Some observers have said they are carried in the claws, but Mr. St. John maintains that the little birds are clasped tightly between the thighs.
"Is it not a difficult thing to tell the difference between the male and female woodcock?" asked Willy. Yes, I do not think it is possible in every case to tell the difference; the male bird is smaller than the female of the same age, and there are slight differences in the colour of the plumage, but as you may meet with birds of different ages, and as woodcocks are much subject to variation of plumage, it is difficult to pronounce whether this woodcock is a male and that a female.
"Oh, papa, what are these ring-marks on the end of this bit of timber upon which we are sitting?" said Willy. These rings or zones represent the various growths made every year by the tree when it was growing, each zone being the produce of one year. As the wood ceases to grow for some months in the winter, a distinction in appearance between the last wood of a former and the first wood of the succeeding year is occasioned; so that, in our own country at least, the age of a tree can be ascertained within some limit by counting the number of zones; there is, however, great difference in the size of the same species of trees, even of the same age, and great difference too in the width of the zones; indeed, you can see this in the case of the wood we have been sitting upon. See how the zones differ, how broad some are, how narrow are others; nay, even in one year you see how the zone varies. The subject of the growth of trees is very interesting, and I would advise you, when you get older, to pay some attention to it.
Here is another fungus, and a species which I am very glad to find in the Wrekin woods, though it grows but sparingly. Take it up; turn it over. How curious! the under side is not a series of gills, as in Agaricus, nor a substance perforated by a number of little holes, as in Boletus. It is formed of a quantity of delicate white teeth or spines; see how beautiful they are and how easily broken. The spines are exactly like miniature awls. It is called from the prickly appearance of the under surface, or hymenium, the hedgehog mushroom (Hydnum repandum). "Is it good to eat?" asked Jack. It is, in my opinion, one of the most exquisite fungi that grows, and the most curious thing about it is that its flavour very strongly resembles oysters. Last year we had some of these fellows cut up in bits about the size of a bean and stewed in white sauce; the sauce we ate with a beefsteak at dinner, and I do think that as far as flavour is concerned one might almost pass it off as oyster sauce without any one finding it out. Not that the hedgehog-mushroom-sauce is really as good as oyster sauce, but, as I said, the flavour strongly reminds one of it, nor do I think that any fungi, delicious as they are, can ever come up to oysters, the ne-plus-ultra of exquisite food.
It is getting towards evening and we must not linger much longer. How many eatable fungi have we got? let me count. Lepiota procera, Amanita rubescens, Hydnum repandum, and Marasmius oreades which we gathered in the meadow before we entered the wood. We will take them home, they will come in very well either at breakfast or at dinner time. The other fungi we will also take home and compare them with the descriptions and drawings in my books.
* * * * *
And now our rambles are ended; we have seen there is much to notice, much to admire. Let us never forget our great Creator who has made all the beautiful things we see around us; let us learn this lesson from the contemplation of the works of the Almighty—that as all created things are fulfilling their appointed work, so we too should fulfil ours, and by obedience, diligence, kindness, and patience show our love of Him for whose "pleasure all things are, and were created."
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Each Book sent Post Free for 12 Stamps.
UNION JACK; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY MRS. S. C. HALL.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"Mrs. Hall has written a charming story. The scene is laid in Ireland. The characters are for the most part Irish, and the name of the tale is 'Union Jack.' It is written with much simplicity, and is calculated to amuse men and women as well as children, for whom it is professedly written."—Western Daily Mercury.
THE TOWN OF TOYS; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY SARA WOOD.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"One of the best of the series; the narrative is clearly and concisely written, the subject matter is good, and above all it is replete with that sustained interest, without which children's stories become worse than useless."—English Churchman.
NO MAN'S LAND; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY T. MILLER.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"A series of very amusing and instructive tales for children, written by a talented author."—Brighton Gazette.
THE SEA SPLEENWORT; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE."
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"A capital little book for children, both amusing and instructive."—Liverpool Daily Post.
LOTTIE'S HALF-SOVEREIGN; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY MRS. RUSSELL GRAY.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"The story before us is a most delightful one, and such as may be placed in the hands of any child with the utmost confidence."—Hull Advertiser.
THE SHEPHERD LORD; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY JULIA CORNER.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"We cannot imagine a better book for children educated at home; it combines the fascination of romance with the truth of history, and will be eagerly devoured by the youth of both sexes."—Somerset County Herald.
THE CAPTIVE'S DAUGHTER; and other stories.
BY W. HEARD HILLYARD.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"If one were asked to select a series of stories most suitable for presents to children, and affording real pleasure in their perusal to 'children of a larger growth,' very few would hesitate to name this series as the very first and best of the class."—Coventry Herald.
THE ORPHANS OF ELFHOLM; and other stories.
BY FRANCES BROWNE.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"A book to be prized by the young, for its several tales are well written and full of touching interest."—City Press.
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG; and other stories.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "A TRAP TO CATCH A SUNBEAM."
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"The precept of moral courage which it inculcates, coupled with its excellent tone throughout, stamps it at once as being of the right sort."—English Churchman.
NOT CLEVER; and other stories.
BY FRANCES M. WILBRAHAM.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"Pure in tone, full of interest, well got up, and cheap."—Hereford Times.
DEAR CHARLOTTE'S BOYS; and other stories.
BY EMILY TAYLOR.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"We are glad to receive a volume of these pretty stories. There is something refreshing in them, scarcely to be found in any other publication."—City Press.
THE STORY OF NELSON; and other stories.
BY W. H. G. KINGSTON.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"Mr. Kingston, with great skill, brings out the stirring events of the great Admiral's life from the lips of an old Greenwich pensioner. The story is told with all the enthusiasm of a true 'Salt,' and has the further merit of capital descriptive writing."—Plymouth Journal.
BLIND URSULA; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY MRS. WEBB.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"A domestic tale of humble life, which will well repay perusal. There is an excellent tone, moral and religious, throughout the narrative."—Leeds Intelligencer.
SEA-SHELL ISLAND; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY G. E. SARGENT.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"An exceeding pretty story."—Somersetshire County Herald.
WHICH WAS THE BRAVEST? AND OTHER STORIES.
BY L. A. HALL.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"A tale of the Christmas holidays on the banks of the Shannon, intended to show, by the conduct of a party of young people, that rashness and disobedience are no proofs of courage. It should be widely spread, for the spirit of the little book is excellent. The engravings are appropriate and pleasing."—Plymouth Journal.
THE CLOCKMAKER OF LYONS; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY E. M. PIPER.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"An interesting tale, forming one of Messrs. Groombridge's Series of Gift Books, and by no means the worst of the series."—Cheltenham Journal.
THE ANGEL UNAWARES; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY MARY HOWITT.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"A pretty story of kindness rewarded by success. The principal actors are children, and the teaching of the story, while it is full of point for older learners, is adapted especially to the capacity of youth."—Plymouth and Devonport Journal.
HISTORICAL DRAMAS.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE."
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"Combines amusement with instruction in a way that must please the rising generation."—Renfrewshire Independent.
LOST IN THE WOOD; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY MRS. GILCHRIST.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"Perfectly healthy in tone, and highly interesting, these tales are indeed most suitable for family reading."—Gloucester Mercury.
RAINBOW'S REST; AND OTHER STORIES.
BY THOMAS HOOD.
Illustrated with 15 Wood Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, 1s.
"These are excellent stories for children, and nicely got up and illustrated."—Paisley Herald.
A COMPLETE SET OF THE TWENTY VOLUMES, VIZ.:—
UNION JACK. By Mrs. S. C. HALL. TOWN OF TOYS. By SARA WOOD. NO MAN'S LAND. By T. MILLER. SEA SPLEENWORT. By Author of "The Heir of Redclyffe." LOTTIE'S HALF-SOVEREIGN. By Mrs. RUSSELL GRAY. THE SHEPHERD LORD. By JULIA CORNER. THE CAPTIVE'S DAUGHTER. By W. HEARD HILLYARD. THE ORPHANS OF ELFHOLM. By FRANCES BROWNE. WHEN WE WERE YOUNG. By Author of "A Trap to Catch a Sunbeam." NOT CLEVER. By FRANCES M. WILBRAHAM. DEAR CHARLOTTE'S BOYS. By EMILY TAYLOR. STORY OF NELSON. By W. H. G. KINGSTON. BLIND URSULA. By Mrs. WEBB. SEA-SHELL ISLAND. By G. E. SARGENT. WHICH WAS THE BRAVEST? By L. A. HALL. THE CLOCKMAKER OF LYONS. By E. M. PIPER. THE ANGEL UNAWARES. By MARY HOWITT. HISTORICAL DRAMAS. By Author of "The Heir of Redclyffe." LOST IN THE WOOD. By Mrs. GILCHRIST. RAINBOW'S REST. By THOMAS HOOD.
Enclosed in a Box, 20s.
"We have read most of them with great care, for we are very watchful over books for the young, and can assure our readers they are well worth a mother's attention. They vary in interest and in moral value, but all of them are calculated both to amuse and instruct. Some convey valuable historical information, others lessons in natural history, and most of them convey a healthy moral influence. All are subservient to religion as well as morals, but they are not tinctured with any ism, nor do they inculcate any peculiar tenets."—British Mothers' Journal.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.
GROOMBRIDGE'S SHILLING PRACTICAL MANUALS.
Each Book sent post free for 12 stamps.
1. HOME-MADE WINES. How to Make and Keep them, with remarks on preparing the fruit, fining, bottling, and storing. By G. VINE. Contains Apple, Apricot, Beer, Bilberry, Blackberry, Cherry, Clary, Cowslip, Currant, Damson, Elderberry, Gooseberry, Ginger, Grape, Greengage, Lemon, Malt, Mixed Fruit, Mulberry, Orange, Parsnip, Raspberry, Rhubarb, Raisin, Sloe, Strawberry, Turnip, Vine Leaf, and Mead.
2. CARVING MADE EASY; or, Practical Instructions for Diners Out. Illustrated with Engravings of Fish, Flesh, and Fowl, and appropriate instructions, whereby a complete and skilful knowledge of the useful art of Carving may be attained, and the usages of the Dinner Table duly observed. By A. MERRYTHOUGHT.
3. SINGING MADE EASIER FOR AMATEURS, explaining the pure Italian Method of Producing and Cultivating the Voice; the Management of the Breath; the best way of Improving the Ear; with much other valuable information equally valuable to Professional Singers and Amateurs.
4. COTTAGE FARMING; or, How to Cultivate from Two to Twenty Acres, including the Management of Cows, Pigs, and Poultry. By MARTIN DOYLE. Contains, On Enclosing a Farm, Land Drainage, Manures, Management of a Two-acre Farm, Cow Keeping, The Dairy, Pig Keeping, Bees and Poultry, Management of a Ten-acre Farm, Flax and Rape, Management of a Farm of Twenty Acres, Farm Buildings, etc.
5. MARKET GARDENING, giving in detail the various methods adopted by Gardeners in growing the Strawberry, Rhubarb, Filberts, Early Potatoes, Asparagus, Sea Kale, Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Celery, Beans, Peas, Brussels Sprouts, Spinach, Radishes, Lettuce, Onions, Carrots, Turnips, Water Cress, etc. By JAMES CUTHILL, F.R.H.S.
6. COTTAGE COOKERY. Containing Simple Instructions upon Money, Time, Management of Provisions, Firing, Utensils, Choice of Provisions, Modes of Cooking, Stews, Soups, Broths, Puddings, Pies, Fat, Pastry, Vegetables, Modes of Dressing Meat, Bread, Cakes, Buns, Salting or Curing Meat, Frugality and Cheap Cookery, Charitable Cookery, Cookery for the Sick and Young Children. By ESTHER COPLEY.
7. CLERK'S DICTIONARY OF COMMERCIAL TERMS; containing Explanations of upwards of Three Hundred Terms used in Business and Merchants' Offices. By the Author of "Common Blunders in Speaking and Writing Corrected."
"An indispensable book for all young men entering a counting-house for the first time."
8. THE CAT, Its History and Diseases, with Method of Administering Medicine. By the Honourable LADY CUST.
9. ELOCUTION MADE EASY for Clergymen, Public Speakers, and Readers, Lecturers, Actors. Theatrical Amateurs, and all who wish to speak well and effectively in Public or Private. By CHARLES HARTLEY. Contents: Cultivation of the Speaking Voice, Management of the Voice, Pausing, Taking Breath, Pitch, Articulation, Pronunciation, The Aspirate, The Letter E, Emphasis, Tone, Movement, Feeling and Passion, Verse, Scriptural Reading, Stammering and Stuttering, Action, Acting, Reciting, etc.
10. ORATORY MADE EASY. A Guide to the Composition of Speeches. By CHARLES HARTLEY. Contents: Introduction, Power of Art, Various Kinds of Oratory, Prepared Speech, Constructing a Speech, Short Speeches, Command of Language, Reading and Thinking, Style, Hasty Composition, Forming a Style, Copiousness and Conciseness, Diction or Language, Purity and Propriety, Misapplied Words, Monosyllables, Specific Terms, Variety of Language, Too Great Care about Words, Epithets, Precision, Synonymes, Perspicuity, Long and Short Sentences, Tropes and Figures, Metaphor, Simile, etc.
11. THE GRAMMATICAL REMEMBRANCER; or, Aids for correct Speaking, Writing, and Spelling, for Adults. By CHARLES HARTLEY. Contents: Introduction, Neglect of English Grammar, Divisions of Grammar, Parts of Speech, The Article, The Silent H, Nouns, Formation of the Plural, Genders of Nouns, Cases of Nouns, Comparison of Adjectives, Personal Pronouns, Relative Pronouns, Demonstrative Pronouns, Regular and Irregular Verbs, Shall and Will, The Adverb, Misapplication of Words, Division of Words, Capital Letters, Rules for Spelling Double l and p, A Short Syntax, Punctuation, etc.
12. THE CANARY. Its History, Varieties, Management, and Breeding, with Coloured Frontispiece. By RICHARD AVIS. Contains, History of the Canary, Varieties of the Canary, Food and General Management, Cages, Breeding, Education of the Young, Mules, Diseases, etc.
13. BIRD PRESERVING and Bird Mounting, and the Preservation of Birds' Eggs, with a Chapter on Bird Catching. By RICHARD AVIS.
14. WINE GUIDE; or, Practical Hints on the Purchase and Management of Foreign Wines, their History, and a complete catalogue of all those in present use, together with remarks upon the treatment of Spirits, Bottled Beer, and Cider. To which is appended Instructions for the Cellar, and other information valuable to the Consumer as well as the Dealer. By FREDERICK C. MILLS.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
GIFT BOOKS AT ONE SHILLING AND SIXPENCE.
These well-written and beautiful Stories are lively, instructive, and moral; their endeavour is to teach; to entertain while they improve—to inform the mind and educate the heart. Each volume, crown 8vo, is printed from new type, on paper made especially for the series, handsomely bound, and illustrated by the leading Artists of the day. They are among the best and cheapest books published for young people.
OSCAR: A TALE OF NORWAY. AND OTHER STORIES. CONTAINING OSCAR: a Tale of Norway; HOME AT THE HAVEN; THE FOUNDLING OF THE WRECK.
THE CHILDREN AND THE SAGE. AND OTHER STORIES. CONTAINING THE CHILDREN AND THE SAGE: a Story of Galileo; THE SEEKER AND THE FINDER: a Story of Columbus; THE STORY OF WELLINGTON.
ALFRED THE GREAT. AND OTHER STORIES FROM HISTORY. CONTAINING ALFRED THE GREAT; THE KING AND THE BONDMEN; THE CRUSADERS.
ROUND THE WORLD. AND OTHER STORIES. CONTAINING ROUND THE WORLD; THE PROPHET AND THE LOST CITY; THE SHIP AND THE ISLAND.
MOFFAT, THE MISSIONARY. AND OTHER STORIES. CONTAINING MOFFAT, THE MISSIONARY; HALCYON DAYS; THE REWARDS OF INDUSTRY.
LOUIS DUVAL. AND OTHER STORIES. CONTAINING LOUIS DUVAL: a Story of the French Revolution; THE SEA KINGS; THE YOUNG EMIGRANTS.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.
Crown 8vo, elegantly bound, cloth gilt, Illustrated with 8 beautifully coloured full-page Plates and numerous Wood Engravings, price 3s. 6d.
THE MICROSCOPE
A Popular Description of some of the most Beautiful and Instructive Objects for Exhibition.
With Directions for the Arrangement of the Instruments and the Collection and Mounting of Objects.
BY THE HON. MRS. WARD.
"This elegant book deserves at our hands especial commendation for many reasons. There is no book that we know of that we would more willingly place in the hands of a beginner to create an interest in the science of Microscopy. The Illustrations are beautiful, coloured to represent nature, and all original. To our readers we cannot give better advice than to become purchasers of the book—they will not regret the outlay."—Electrician.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
* * * * *
Crown 8vo, elegantly bound, cloth gilt, Illustrated with 12 beautifully coloured full-page Plates and numerous Wood Engravings, price 3s. 6d.
THE TELESCOPE
A FAMILIAR SKETCH
COMBINING A SPECIAL NOTICE OF OBJECTS COMING WITHIN THE RANGE OF A SMALL TELESCOPE
With a Detail of the most Interesting Discoveries which have been made with the assistance of powerful Telescopes, concerning the Phenomena of the Heavenly Bodies.
BY THE HON. MRS. WARD.
"It is with pleasure that we direct the reader's attention to a little gem lately published by the Hon. Mrs. WARD. One of the most admirable little works on one of the most sublime subjects that has been given to the world. The main design of the book is to show how much may be done in astronomy with ordinary powers and instruments. We have no hesitation in saying that we never saw a work of the kind that is so perfect. The illustrations are admirable, and are all original."—Western Daily Press.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
Crown 8vo, elegantly bound, cloth gilt, Illustrated with 8 full-page coloured Plates and numerous Wood Engravings, price 3s. 6d.
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COUNTRY WALKS OF A NATURALIST WITH HIS CHILDREN.
BY THE REV. W. HOUGHTON, M.A., F.L.S.
"A fresher, pleasanter, or more profitable book than this has rarely issued from the press."—Art Journal.
"Contrives to furnish a large amount of interesting natural history in brief compass and in a picturesque and engaging manner."—Pall Mall Gazette.
"It is wonderful what a very large amount of most instructive matter connected with the animal and plant world the writer has condensed into a small compass."—Land and Water.
"This pretty little volume forms one of the best little books on popular Natural History, and is admirably adapted as a present to the young."—Birmingham Daily Journal.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
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Crown 8vo, elegantly bound, cloth gilt, Illustrated with 8 beautifully coloured full-page Plates and numerous Wood Engravings, price 3s. 6d.
SEA-SIDE WALKS OF A NATURALIST WITH HIS CHILDREN.
BY THE REV. W. HOUGHTON, M.A., F.L.S.
"The wonders of the sea-shore are detailed in an easy, pleasant, and lucid style."—Examiner.
"The book is very attractive, and its usefulness is enhanced by its many careful illustrations."—Daily Telegraph.
"Families visiting the sea-side should provide themselves with this convenient and instructive work."—The Queen.
"It is pleasingly written, and the scientific information is correct and well selected."—Athenaeum.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
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Crown 8vo, elegantly bound, cloth gilt, Illustrated with 8 beautifully coloured full-page Plates and 90 Wood Engravings, price 3s. 6d.
FIELD FLOWERS A HANDY BOOK for THE RAMBLING BOTANIST, SUGGESTING WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND WHERE TO GO IN THE OUT-DOOR STUDY OF BRITISH PLANTS.
BY SHIRLEY HIBBERD, F.R.H.S.
"It will serve as an excellent introduction to the practical study of wild flowers."—The Queen.
"We cannot praise too highly the illustrations which crowd the pages of this handbook; the coloured plates are especially attractive, and serve to bring before us very distinctly the most prominent flowers of the field, the heaths, and the hedgerows."—Examiner.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
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Crown 8vo; elegantly bound, cloth gilt; illustrated with 8 beautifully coloured Plates and 40 Wood Engravings, price 3s. 6d.
THE FERN GARDEN HOW TO MAKE, KEEP, AND ENJOY IT OR, FERN CULTURE MADE EASY.
BY SHIRLEY HIBBERD, F.R.H.S.
CONTENTS.
FERNS IN GENERAL FERN COLLECTING HOW TO FORM AN OUTDOOR FERNERY CULTIVATION OF ROCK FERNS CULTIVATION OF MARSH FERNS FERNS IN POTS THE FERN HOUSE THE FERNERY AT THE FIRESIDE MANAGEMENT OF FERN CASES THE ART OF MULTIPLYING FERNS BRITISH FERNS CULTIVATION OF GREENHOUSE STOVE FERNS SELECT GREENHOUSE FERNS SELECT STOVE FERNS TREE FERNS FERN ALLIES
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
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Crown 8vo, elegantly bound, gilt edges, Illustrated with 12 beautifully coloured Engravings, price 3s. 6s.
THE CANARY ITS VARIETIES, MANAGEMENT, AND BREEDING WITH PORTRAITS OF THE AUTHOR'S OWN BIRDS.
BY THE REV. FRANCIS SMITH.
CONTENTS.
A PLEA FOR THE CANARY ORIGIN OF OUR OWN CANARY THE WILD CANARY OUR LIZARDS OUR YORKSHIRE SPANGLES OUR NORWICH YELLOWS OUR LONDON FANCY BIRDS OUR BELGIANS OUR GREEN BIRDS OUR CINNAMONS OUR TURNCRESTS PREPARATIONS FOR BREEDING NEST BOXES AND NESTS OUR FIRST BIRDS OUR MISFORTUNES OUR INFIRMARY ON CAGES
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
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Post 8vo, cloth gilt, with Woodcut Illustrations, price 5s.
THE ROSE BOOK A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON THE CULTURE OF THE ROSE COMPRISING
The Formation of the Rosarium; the Characters of Species and Varieties; Modes of Propagating, Planting, Pruning, Training, and Preparing for Exhibition; and the Management of Roses in all Seasons.
BY SHIRLEY HIBBERD, F.R.H.S.
CONTENTS.
THE FAMILIES OF WILD ROSES THE FAMILIES OF CULTIVATED ROSES SUMMER ROSES FORMING THE ROSARIUM CULTURE OF ROSES IN THE OPEN GROUND AUTUMN PLANTING SPRING PLANTING PRUNING, DISBUDDING, AND SEASONAL MANAGEMENT CLIMBING ROSES PILLAR ROSES YELLOW ROSES ROSES IN POTS ROSES IN BEDS ROSES IN GREAT TOWNS TEA ROSES IN TOWNS VARIOUS MODES OF PROPAGATING SELECT LISTS OF ROSES REMINDERS OF MONTHLY WORK IN ROSE GARDEN HINTS TO BEGINNERS
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
BOOKS FOR YOUNG NATURALISTS.
Crown 8vo, elegantly bound, gilt edges, Illustrated with 16 beautifully coloured Plates and numerous Wood Engravings, price 5s.
NESTS AND EGGS OF FAMILIAR BIRDS.
Described and Illustrated with an account of the Haunts and Habits of the Feathered Architects, and their Times and Modes of Building.
By H. G. ADAMS.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
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Crown 8vo, elegantly bound, gilt edges, Illustrated with 8 beautifully coloured Plates and numerous Wood Engravings, price 3s. 6d.
BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES. DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED
With an Introductory chapter, containing the History of a Butterfly through all its Changes and Transformations. A Description of its Structure in the Larva, Pupa, and Imago states, with an Explanation of the scientific terms used by Naturalists in reference thereto, with observations upon the Poetical and other associations of the Insect.
BY H. G. ADAMS.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
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Crown 8vo, elegantly bound, gilt edges, Illustrated with 8 beautifully coloured Plates and numerous Wood Engravings, price 3s. 6d.
BEAUTIFUL SHELLS THEIR NATURE, STRUCTURE, AND USES FAMILIARLY EXPLAINED.
With Directions for Collecting, Cleaning and Arranging them, in the Cabinet.
Descriptions of the most remarkable Species, and of the creatures which inhabit them, and explanations of the meaning of their scientific names, and of the terms used in Conchology.
BY H. G. ADAMS.
GROOMBRIDGE AND SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
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Crown 8vo, elegantly bound, gilt edges, Illustrated with 8 beautifully coloured Plates and Wood Engravings, price 3s. 6d.
HUMMING BIRDS. DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED. WITH AN Introductory Sketch of their Structure, Plumage, Haunts, Habits, etc.
BY H. G. ADAMS.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
NEW EDITION OF THE WORKS
OF
ANNA LISLE.
This elegant edition, large crown 8vo; is handsomely bound in cloth, gilt edges, suitable for presentation, and Illustrated by the leading artists of the day.
In One Volume, large crown 8vo, Illustrated, price 5s.
SELF AND SELF-SACRIFICE OR, NELLY'S STORY.
BY ANNA LISLE.
"A very beautiful story, with characters well drawn, scenery vividly described, and interest admirably sustained. The tendency of the volume is not only unexceptionable, but excellent in a Christian point of view. We have seldom seen a book in which the best and highest aim is so manifest without the attractiveness of the tale being at all lessened by the embodiment of religious principles."—Eclectic Review.
"The story is so delightful, and the whole spirit of the book so pure, that it compels our admiration."—Daily News.
"Since 'Currer Bell' we have read nothing more genuine, nor more touching. 'Nelly's Story' has power to carry the reader right through with it, and can hardly fail to impress a moral of inestimable importance."—Carlisle Journal.
"Admirably written, pervaded throughout by fine, correct, and wholesome sentiments."-Morning Post.
"Its excellent moral tone, and keen observation, are sure to render the book widely popular."—John Bull.
"'Nelly's Story' is a good one. It is one of the best we have read for a long time."—Bucks Advertiser.
"Abounding in interest. We can hardly conceive a more suitable gift-book."—Lady's Newspaper.
"Will be welcomed, read, and talked about."—Gentleman's Magazine.
"'Nelly's Story' is told in such a good and pleasant way, and withal is so useful and world-like, that we trust it may bring to its authoress the fame that she is well able to support."—Tait's Magazine.
"We recognize and proclaim in the authoress of this thrilling tale a quality beyond mere ability—genius of a very high order. We claim for Anna Lisle a place amongst the most distinguished writers of her age. The story is a brilliant effort of refined and sanctified imagination throughout, quite as fascinating as anything in the way of story, whether told by Scott, Stowe, Dickens, or Currer Bell."—Sentinel.
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In One Volume, large crown 8vo, Illustrated, price 5s.
QUICKSANDS
A TALE.
BY ANNA LISLE.
"It is a thoroughly woman's book. We can fairly say that we have seldom met with a graver or more striking warning against the consequences of over eagerness about worldly position and advantages, more forcibly and, at the same time, gracefully conveyed."—Literary Gazette.
"Contains a great deal of quiet and powerful writing. Marty, the maid of Mrs. Grey, might pass for a creation of Dickens. The moral of 'Quicksands' is at once comprehensive and striking."—Weekly Mail.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
GIFT BOOKS FOR BOYS.
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INVENTION AND DISCOVERY
A COLLECTION OF INTERESTING ANECDOTES.
BY RALPH AND CHANDOS TEMPLE.
"Has a point and object, and a good one—nicely worked out."—Saturday Review.
"We can recommend this book as a Christmas present, and one which has given us no small pleasure."—Literary Churchman.
"Exceedingly well-timed. A volume which should be added to every working-man's club in England."—Notes and Queries.
"Exhibits a conscientious regard for accuracy."—Athenaeum.
"The tendency is to instil the principle of self-help and the advantage of earnest purpose."—Bell's Messenger.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
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Foolscap 8vo, cloth gilt, Illustrated with 8 full-page Wood Engravings, price 2s. 6d.
ENTERPRISE AND ADVENTURE
A COLLECTION OF INTERESTING ANECDOTES.
BY RALPH AND CHANDOS TEMPLE.
"Very handsomely got up. The 'Temple Anecdotes' will be one of the most popular of Christmas books."—Standard.
"A sensible, well-written book."—Globe.
"We know of no work which will make a more acceptable present than this extremely handsome and really useful book."—Era.
"As a present for boys, nothing can be better."—Daily News.
"The anecdotes are told with a clearness and simplicity that cannot fail to give pleasure."—Spectator.
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row, London.
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Transcriber's Notes:
Some illustrations were repositioned to avoid breaking up sentences.
Original spelling and punctuation were retained from the printed book, including spelling inconsistencies (i.e.: kestrel and kestril) except for the following changes:
Page 1: where-ever changed to wherever for consistency. (to admire wherever we stroll)
Page 10: ear-bones changed to earbones for consistency. (a mole's earbones)
Page 15: fore-arms changed to forearms for consistency. (his forearms are something)
Page 30: added closing quotes. (Try, try, try again.")
Page 78: water crow-foot changed to water-crowfoot for consistency. (spawning amongst that water-crowfoot,)
Page 107: added quotes to continuation of quote. (says, "taken near Norwich)
Page 110: Ply changed to Fly. (Fly thee home, lady-bird, ere it be gone.)
Page 118: bind-weed changed to bindweed for consistency. (the greater bindweed, with its large)
Page 125: added quotes to show second paragraph continues quote. ("She indicates her desire to sit)
Page 146: in the Fungi illustration, the backwards 3 has been righted.
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