LITERARY NOTICES.

THE SHAWM. By W. B. Bradbury & G. F. Root. Published by Mason Brothers. N. Y. City.

This collection contains the largest amount of music we have ever seen in a book of common psalmody, there being about one thousand pieces; and it is no small recommendation that, along with much music which is new, the compilers have inserted all the choicest of the old. The elementary department is arranged with judgment and skill, and on the entire work a great amount of patient labor must have been bestowed.

MAPLETON. Published by Jenks, Hickling and Swan. Boston.

In relation to the subject of Temperance, a great reform is in progress; but it has as yet reached only one class of three, namely, the middle class. The rich and fashionable, and many of the poor and degraded, are still in "the bonds of iniquity."

The object of the writer, in this work, is to sanction and uphold the Maine Law by a narrative showing how inefficient previous laws have been in rooting out the monster evil.

REDBROOK. By Francis Forrester, Esq. Published by Geo. C. Rand. Boston.

In the Sept. number we spoke of Arthur Elleslie, the brave boy. This beautiful little book is a continuation of Arthur's history, showing what a blessing he was to his unhappy mother, and how his good conduct was the indirect means of the reformation of his father from drunkenness.

MAN HIS RELIGION AND HIS WORLD. By Rev. Horatius Bonar. Published by Robert Carter & Brothers. N. Y. City.

The object of the writer in this work is to call the attention of men to the varied and subtle forms of evil by which they are surrounded, which are constantly leading them to grasp the unreal for the real, and amid the earnestness of the age, and the making haste to be rich, to forget their Maker and their destiny.

For earnestness in enforcing truth, for faithfulness in the exposure of error, for elegance of diction, and for all the elements of a beautiful style, we rarely, if ever, saw this book excelled.

CHRISTIAN DUTY. By Rev. John A. James. Published as above.

This is a volume of Pastoral Addresses, chiefly on the subject of religious duty. In furnishing books for the spiritual good of his fellow-men, the venerable author of this volume has won for himself a name held in the highest estimation by the two great English nations.

The great theme, practical piety, so faithfully, earnestly and effectually presented in his other works, is the leading topic here, and the volume is well adapted to promote its object.

This swing is one of the recreations of the New Zealanders. It consists of the trunk of a pine, erected in an open space near their village, from which are suspended strong ropes; taking hold of these, they whirl themselves round and round, as is seen in the above picture.

New Zealand is composed of two very beautiful islands, with a salubrious climate and a fertile soil; and is traversed by tall mountains. The inhabitants are tall, finely formed, intelligent and warlike, belonging to the Malay race; usually living in fortified villages situated on hills, which can be gained only by ascending narrow, steep, and intricate paths. They draw uncouth figures on their faces and limbs, by pricking their skin with black paint; this, together with their peculiar costume, makes them present a rather singular appearance.

They were formerly cannibals, very cruel and vindictive in their feelings; but a very pleasing change has been brought about by the active labors of missionaries.

M. G, H.

THE THREE MOTHERS.

EDITORIAL.

CHAPTER II.

During my stay with Mrs. Dater, I had scarcely seen my cousin, Mrs. Norton, as she and Mrs. Dater had quarrelled, and there was no intercourse between the families. I had promised to be at Mrs. Norton's to breakfast, which I was told was precisely at eight o'clock; and a few minutes before that hour, I was set down at a respectable looking house in Bleecker street. I had just time to place my trunks and arrange my hair when the city clock struck, and exactly at the same moment the breakfast bell rang.

I made my way down stairs into a couple of plain, but very neat parlors, and was thence conducted to the basement where Mrs. Norton was already seated at the table. She received me coolly, but civilly, excusing herself for not coming to meet me, on the plea of its being necessary for her to be at the table at the precise moment, on account of the children; her first duty, she said, was to her children. She did not admire the hap-hazard, accidental kind of way in which some people brought up their children; she was determined that hers should have good habits and live according to rule. I was forthwith introduced to a regular set of steps from eighteen to four years old; all with the smoothest of hair, the cleanest of collars, the neatest of teeth and nails, the most upright of backs, and the gravest and demurest of faces. "Well," thinks I to myself, "this is the family; we shall certainly have order and obedience, here." And, indeed, nothing could equal the order and exactness with which the meal was conducted. Every child was helped from the same dishes, nobody asked for more; it seemed a kind of allowance. To be sure the meal was rather stiff and formal. There were no attempts at pleasantry, except a few playful remarks which I addressed to a little fair-haired girl opposite to me, and which she seemed sufficiently disposed to respond to, a disposition which a glance from the mother checked on the instant.

I

Prayers had been attended before breakfast, and as soon as the meal was finished, the daily family routine was entered upon. begged that my presence might make no difference in the ordinary arrangements; to which Mrs. Norton acceded with a lock of surprise, that I should for a moment have supposed it would make any difference. She informed me that she never permitted any thing to interfere with her family arrangements; that however other people might choose to manage their houses, servants and children, she was determined that hers should be managed in the best possible manner. She had begun she said, with the birth of her first child; she had taught it to obey before it was three weeks old; she had been studying and practising ever since, and if she did not know how to govern and bring up a family she did not know who did. Now, then, I was with a model mother; I should see, I should learn. I would take notes.' I would write whole quires to Maria Dilmer. She should have all the benefit of instruction; and moreover, it would be a pleasant satire upon her own want of system. So I took my post of observation.

observe and watch.` And though, as she

It gratified Mrs. Norton that I should She was willing that her light should shine. said, (rather unnecessarily I thought,) that I should probably never need to put in practice her maxims myself, still it could do no harm to any one to know how children should be brought up and servants managed. The world was getting to a sad pass, and she was determined to do what she could to correct it.

And, certainly, nothing could be more perfect in its way than the order and system observed. Every thing went like clockwork. Every hour had its regular employment; every individual, his or her appointed duty. Mrs. Norton governed her family. She loved to give minute and special directions, and her word was law. The meals were ready at the exact moment, and if Mr. Norton or any of the children were not at the table, they were warned that they were behind the time. The house was as neat

as wax. No litter was allowed. No careless spilling was unreproved. Even the boys (a most unusual thing with boys) were taught to put away their clothes in their presses. No stray garments were left hanging over the backs of chairs; no boots were