The Garden of God : a Series of Conversational Catechisings
and Addresses for Children. By the Rev. C. J. Atherton. (Skeffington.) —Among the many things that are being done for children nowa- days, things of which our fathers and mothers seem scarcely to have thought, are " children's services," services made as different as possible from the dreary functions to which most of us were condemned in our youth. Mr. Atherton gives us here sixteen discourses suited to the tastes and intelligence of young hearers. With each he gives two appropriate hymns chosen from " Hymns Ancient and Modern," and by way of memoriz technica, an acrostic on some leading word in each text. In the "Loveliness of the Garden," for instance, we have,—G, Glad ; A, Arranged ; Ready; D, Designed; B, Endless; N, Need; words afterwards connected together in this way :—" This glad place was arranged for you by your loving Father, and was ready and designed for you when He sent you into the world, for He loved you, and wanted to supply the endless need of your heart and life." This may seem childish ; but, perhaps for that reason, it is what is wanted.—The Joy of Youth. By Robert Collyer. (Dickinson.) This is a volume of vigorous discourses addressed to young men—it takes its title from the first of the talks—" with asides to young women." We have not often seen anything better of its kind. The preacher speaks out of his heart, without formality, and in a strong spirit of sympathy, such as is suggested by the motto prefixed to the introduction :—" Though we are justices, and doctors, and Churchmen, Master Page, we have some salt of our youth in us."
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