BOUT four hundred the background, where appears Joseph with those humble animals of the field. It is the early morning, as the first faint signs of dawn tinge the hills and sky in the distance; but the important light of the picture is that shining with a heavenly radiance from the Infant resting in his mother's arms as she kneels before a manger holding straw. The face of Mary reflects the glory of her Son as she gazes fondly upon him, undazzled by the brightness from which the young woman on the opposite side screens her eyes by holding up her hand. A sturdy old shepherd looks on in amazement, and raises his hand to his head as if afraid he is not really awake; and a younger shepherd looks up at him as if saying, "It is strange, but too beautiful to frighten any one." Above are joyful angels who have just floated down on a billow of clouds to gaze upon the scene; but they do not bring with them the light upon the clouds: that, too, is a reflection from the Christ Child. Other artists have attempted to represent this same idea of Christ at his first entrance into this world casting a glory about him, but never so successfully as Correggio, who has sometimes been called "Ariel the Light-bringer " because the light in his pictures is so clear and bright. This "Holy Night" is one of the most beautiful that he ever painted, and though artists sometimes find minor faults in the drawing, they never cease to admire the wonderful glow shining from the heavenly Child who came to this world nineteen hundred years ago. THE SPELLING MATCH. BOOKS AND READING. THERE is no doubt that young folks love a spelling-match, and so many have sent in corrections of the story "Eh Kernel's Sun," printed in the October number, that the awards cannot be made till next month. Not all the versions have yet been examined, but it is already certain that very many correctly spelled versions have been received, so that the prizes must be awarded to the competitors who, age of the writer and neatness of the answers considered, have done best. Many of you failed through the veriest carelessness; but accuracy is difficult! A TRAVELING WE are always glad to hear of new books BOOK-LIST. or books new to us - that are worth reading; and yet we seldom, except by chance, think of recommending them; that is, we seldom take the trouble to spread the news of a happy find. It would take little time and little effort to write a postal-card or, better, a note to the friends we are sure would enjoy what we have found delightful. A group of young friends could arrange among themselves to keep one another informed of the good reading they come upon. Sometimes men who have been classmates in college agree after graduation to write what are known as "circular " letters. Number One begins by writing to Number Two, giving an account of what he has seen or done. Number Two adds his account of himself, and mails both to Number Three, who adds his own letter, and forwards all to Number Four, and so on back to Number One. It may be that this plan could be made useful in telling about books. Each of the friends who took up the plan could add a title or two, with what remarks occurred to him, and thus a list could be kept upon its travels. Right End, Hector. We think this an excellent team, and creditable to its inventor, Mr. Jack Miller, to whom our thanks are due. A rival - and a girl! makes up yet another team. It is as follows, except for two slight changes, neither of which weakens the team, we think. Left End, Alfred the Left Half, Ivanhoe. Left Tackle, Briareus. Guard, Strong Back (Grimms' Tales). Right Tackle, Brian de Bois-Guilbert. Right End, Douglas. Quarter, Alexander the Great. There are still plenty of giants! See Brewer's " Dictionary of Phrase and Fable," new edition (1900), page 514. MOHAMMED AND THE MOUNTAIN. A YOUNG inquirer asks for the origin of the saying: "If Mohammed will not go to the mountain, the mountain must go to Mohammed." We have usually seen this stated the other way. In the same edition of the "Phrase and Fable” there is an explanation of the saying on page 865, but no authority is given. NUT-CRACKER." "HISTORY OF A A LETTER, comes from England asking for information about Alexandre Dumas's "Histoire d'un Casse-noisette." We must refer the inquiry to our readers. We remember an English translation of the story, called "The Nutcracker of Nuremberg," but do not find the entry in the Publishers' Catalogue. Is the book to be found in either French or English? SOME QUAINT THE friend who sent us INSCRIPTIONS. an early copy of "Goody Two-shoes" writes to this department about a boy's inscriptions in his Bible in 1718: DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: In looking over an English Bible recently sent me from London, I have found several verses, evidently written by a boy, which I think may interest your boys and girls. The Bible was published in London in 1603. The binding has brass corners, and the arms of James I. are on both sides. The writing is plain, but "John" shows he had many struggles before he had finished his verses. I have copied the form and capitals, or want of capitals, but, unfortunately, cannot give you the lettering. On the back of the title he has written: DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: In one issue of the ST. NICHOLAS you ask for a list of the best of the juvenile books that have appeared during the last two or three years. I send you a list of twenty good books for boys and girls that have appeared during 1897-1901. I did not dash them off on the moment, but thought a good while before compiling this list. I think that the twenty books that follow this letter are the best of the mass of books that have been published during the last three years. I would have liked to include the "Story of Barnaby Lee," but as that has n't come out in book form, I could n't do it. "The Wouldbegoods" appeared in September and is just fine. Here is the list: WHAT THE MIS A PRETTY doll in a stock While near her a soldierdoll bravely swung, When, lo! the timepiece struck twelve o'clock, And gave the mistletoe quite a shock. Then the startled doll heard the soldier say : "All right, little neighbor! It's Christmas Day." Joel Stacey. THE STORY OF BARNABY LEE. BY JOHN BENNETT. [This story was begun in the November, 1900, number.] CHAPTER XXXIII. THE LAST DAYS. ON Saturday morning, August 31, 1664, Colonel Richard Nicolls sent his last imperious summons for the surrender of New Amsterdam, citadel and town. Stuyvesant once more replied that he had no right to demand it, and again the blunt English commander rejoined: "The right does not concern me a tittle; I was sent hither to take New Amsterdam, and I am going to take it." "I will protect and defend the city to the last extremity," responded the Director-General. "Come easy, come hard," returned Richard Nicolls," I shall take New Amsterdam. I am weary of this parleying. I have offered terms to the city, and if they are not accepted, I hold myself clear of responsibility for whatever may ensue. At the end of twenty-four hours I shall move upon the town, by land and sea; it behooves you to make up your minds." When this imperious message was heard in New Amsterdam, men, women, and children flocked to the Director-General's door, beseeching him that he would submit; but his only answer to them was, "I would rather be carried out dead!" "Then give us the terms, or, upon our souls, we will surrender anyway!" they cried. |