CURRENT LITERATURE.
GIFT-BOOKS.
Atalanta. Edited by L. T. Meade. (Trischler and Co.)—The last volume of this magazine is not inferior in point of literary or of artistic merit to any of its predecessors. Mrs Molesworth contributes a serial story, " Imogen," which runs through part of the year. " A Younger Sister," by the author of " The Atelier du Lys," and a delightful little story, complete in one part, " Three Feet of Obstinacy," by Mrs L. B. Walford, may also be men- tioned. The " Reading Union," a valuable feature of the periodical, has had for its subject Shakespeare's plays, taken according to the chronological arrangement which marks them off into History, Comedy and Tragedy, Early, Middle, and Late, as the case may be. Among the miscellaneous papers may be mentioned a series of papers on travel, " In the Sunny South of France," by J. C Wills ; " Edge Hill and Compton Winyates," by Miss Julia Cartwright ; "Cupid's Cunning : a Comedietta in Two Acts," by the Rev. Frederick Langbridge ; and " Voices from my Books," five studies in recitation by Mr. Arthur Burrell. Good verse is a feature in Atalanta, the volume being prefaced by a little poem by Miss Chris- tina G. Rossetti, which we venture to quote :- "'YEA, I HAVE A GOODLY HERITAGE.'
My vineyard that is mine I have to keep Pruning for fruit the pleasant twigs and leaves. Tend thou thy cornfield : one day thou shalt reap In joy thy ripened sheaves.
Or if thine be an orchard, graft and prop Food-bearing trees, each watered in its place : Or if a garden, let it yield for crop Sweet herbs and herb of grace.
But if my lot be sand, where nothing grows ?- Nay, who hath said it ? Tune a thankful psalm : For though thy desert bloom not as the rose, It yet can rear thy palm."
Previous page
