Riggiedy-Piggiedy, or Stories for EVerybody and Everybody's Children. By the
Right Hon. E. H. Knatohbull-Hugessen, M.P. (Macmillan.) —Mr. Kuatchbull-Hugessen is indefatigable. In session and out of session, he generally contrives to keep himself in evidence. His last volume of fairy stories is dedicated to the silent Members of the House of Commons, and be avers that the greater part of it has been written in the gallery of the House itself, though the next sentence does not fit well with that statement,—" the voice of the orator occasionally reaches me through an open door." Mr. Hugessen hopes his example may be followed by some of the silent Members ; may we suggest that he should offer it to the talking Members P—the silent Members can be silent anywhere. The stories are six in number, and are all most plea- santly written; they exhibit a pretty fancy, and a cultivated and ob- servant mind. "The Crone of Charing" is full, too, of a light-hearted gaiety that is almost contagious, and a quiet humour that is never forced or strained. The men of Kent will recognise what it is the fashion to call "local colouring" in almost every page. The illustra- tions are by Mr. Richard Doyle, whom we are always glad to meet, though we hive seen happier examples of his art than these. From the pen of a past and probably future minister of State, some of Mr, Hugessen's little sarcasms (particularly one regarding country magis- trates " now " and in those days," which we had marked for extracts) may perhaps attract attention. We have not lately met with a more thoroughly healthy and vivacious story-book than Higgledy-Piggledy.
Previous page
