likely to linger on the mind of childhood; the First Weavers, by the Rev. C. Williams, is as ingenious in its way as Professor Rennie’s Bird or Insect Architecture:  it enumerates many interesting processes of weaving by insects and birds, who, unlike human artificers, pursue their tasks in the untainted atmosphere of nature;—­there are also two or three pretty playful prose sketches, and some clever lines by Miss Leslie, of Philadelphia, on C.R.  Leslie’s picture of Lady Jane Grey’s reluctance to accept the crown of England.  We quote the concluding lines, by L.E.L., to accompany the frontispiece:—­

THE ROSE OF EDEN-DALE AND HER HOT-HOUSE FLOWERS.

  They were so beautiful this morn—­
    The lily’s graceful wand
  Hung with small bells, as delicate
    As from a fairy’s hand. 
  The Indian rose, so softly red,
    As if in coming here
  It lost the radiance of the south,
    And caught a shade of fear. 
  The white geranium vein’d with pink,
    Like that within the shell
  Where, on a bed of their own hues,
    The pearls of ocean dwell. 
  But where is now the snowy white,
    And where the tender red? 
  How heavy over each dry stalk
    Droops every languid head! 
  They are not worth my keeping now—­
    She flung them on the ground—­
  Some strewed the earth, and some the wind
    Went scattering idly round. 
  She then thought of those flowers no more,
    But oft, in after years,
  When the young cheek was somewhat pale,
    And the eyes dim with tears—­
  Then she recalled the faded wreath
    Of other happier hours,
  And felt life’s hope and joy had been
    But only Hot-house Flowers!

The Engravings, ten in number, with an inscription plate and vignette, are above the usual calibre of the “juvenile” embellishments:  they are better than mere pictures for children, and the chosen subjects harmonize with the benevolent tone and temper of the letter-press; all of them will tend to cherish kindly feelings in the hearts of the little readers.  Among the best of the prints are Going to the Well, from Gainsborough; and the Industrious Young Cottager—­a contented girl at work, with a bird in an opened cage beside her:  the little scene is one of happy un-imprisonment and cheerful task.

* * * * *

THE GATHERER.

* * * * *

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

[In one of the recent prize essays of the Highland Society of Scotland, the Ettrick Shepherd writes thus of his distinguished contemporary.  The general subject of the Essay is the statistics of Selkirkshire:  after referring to Sir Walter as sheriff of Ettrick Forest for thirty years, Mr. Hogg observes:]