THE KINGDOM OF HOME.  This is one of the books whose material never becomes commonplace, and whose stories and pictures never cease to have a delightsome freshness.  From the moment of its publication its welcome was assured, and it will continue, regardless of the literary novelties and favorites of a day which come and go, to be one of the best and most popular gift-books in all the catalogue of household treasures.  Its illustrations, which extend from full-page engravings to quaint end pieces, and include descriptive pieces of every character, are exceptionally abundant, and surprisingly good.  Full of pleasurable reminders are the stories which are told in picture as well as verse.  We have the old water-wheel making music in the village glen; the old farmhouse with its outlook upon brook and meadow; the little ones repeating their evening prayers.  In brief, all that makes home sacred—­its joys and sorrows, its welcomes and its farewells, its wedding melodies and cradle songs, find expression in the home born and hallowed songs of this volume.  While no anthology can be supposed to satisfy all the rules of criticism, this work, as truly remarked, “stands in a niche by itself distinct from anything yet known to us; and the continuous theme knits part to part in a beautiful whole.  The sunshine of home seems to beam from the large clear attractive pages provided by the publishers.” 8vo, Russia leather, seal grain, $6.00.

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IT IS THE CHRISTMAS TIME.  Is a volume which will be conspicuously attractive among books associated with Christmas.  Among exquisite engravings, it enshrines twelve ideal hymns and poems, time hallowed songs of Christmas, dear to the heart, such as “The Star Song,” by Herrick, the “Carols” of Wordsworth, George MacDonald, and Miss Mulock; Wesley’s “Herald Angels;” ever living hymns by Bishop, Heber, Tate and Watts, and the wondrous Angels’ Songs by Montgomery, Drummond and Keble.  For all who are in true sympathy with the religious sentiment and the deep significance of Christmas, this will be a most welcome book. 8vo, cloth, $2.00.  Turkey morocco, $5.00.

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BOOK NOTICES.

CHAUTAUQUA YOUNG FOLKS’ ANNUAL.  Illustrated, Boston:  D. Lothrop & Co.  Price, $1.50.  We doubt whether in any book of the year prepared for the benefit or entertainment of young readers, another volume can be found which contains within so small a compass so much information about everyday things which can be turned to practical account, as well as that of purely educational value.  It is well known that the house of D. Lothrop & Co. was selected by the Chautauqua Association to publish a course of reading of an instructive character for the clubs and unions formed on the Chautauqua plan throughout the country.  This has been done for two years past, and the papers so prepared have been issued as monthly