OUR LIBRARY TABLE.

THE HAWK.-(Wheaton, Ringwood: supplied by all booksellers for 3s. per annum.)— It was a happy thought to suggest this periodical, which has marked out a place for itself quite distinct from any occupied by its contemporaries. The only thing to be regretted is its size, which is, however, limited by its price. Two sheets of sterling and often novel matter, well printed on good paper and carefully edited, is a cheap twopennyworth; but a little increase of size and price would very materially add to the reader's pleasure, who is occasionally provoked by short instalments of interesting articles, the enjoyment of which is wholly spoiled when served in too small quantities. We are aware that to obtain variety this sacrifice is necessary; but we cannot help thinking that the majority of subscribers would prefer a finished paper to half-a-dozen fragments. The continued article on the "Island and Cave of Elephanta" a very interesting paper by the way-has led to this discursive grumble, and we must finish it by observing that though ballast is desirable and even necessary, it is possible to overweight a bird light of wing as the "Hawk," and a trio of such solidly serious articles as the "Origin of Mankind,' "The Fifth and Sixth Creation Days," and "One Day in Seven," are overmuch for one number, though relieved by the papers headed "Queries, Researches, &c."-an omniform article, which promises to preserve much curious information. "Dissonant Rhyme," and "The Four Pages." A correspondent, under the head of " Queries,"

observes:

A day or two ago I cut off a sprig of bloom from the parent stem of a wild-growing plant of very com mon occurrence in neglected hedgerows, which I am not botanist enough to designate with any great confidence. On my showing it to some bright-eyed, smiling little sylvans, who were near, and asking them what they called it, the only answer they could give me was either "Arrow, arrow, twice go arrow," or "Harrow, harrow, twice go harrow." The varying use of the mute or aspirate sound among them left the right orthography a very dubious affair. Whether, therefore, the saying be a remnant of an ancient British idolatry on the part of tender-hearted maidens to the God of the Bow, accounting the tough stems of this plant to furnish good shafts for arrows; or the cry of arable agriculturists to the celestial instructress of Triptolemus, that she might speed the harrow in its two draughts across the field, direct and then athwart, in eradicating such stark and persistent intruders as this large-growing weed seems calculated to prove, I am at a loss to determine, and respectfully solicit illumination from better botanists than myself, and from those more versed in folk-lore. That which seemed to me to favour the arrow hypothesis was that the little band of growing-up "babies," when the question was put to them, Why do you call it by that name?" all concurred in affording one explanation-"We hold the sprig in our hand, and we say

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'Arrow, arrow, twice go arrow, Arrow, arrow, unto thee; If I loves you as you loves me A drop of blood I wish to see.' Then we put it to the nose, one of the party said to their own nose; another said, to the nose of the person to whom they were speaking, and see if the blood will come; if the crimson drop favoured them by appearing, it was a most promisingproceeding. J. K. C.'s description of the tough stems and spines of the plant almost identify it with Rest harrow (Ononis), the flowers of which, however, by no means agree with the umbelliferous ones of chervil; on the other hand, the stems of this latter plant are slender and jointed, and it has no sharp spear. We should be strongly inclined to think (if indeed the doggrel sung by the children had any meaning in connection with the plant) that J. K. C.'s second inference was the correct one, as Rest-harrow was very much deprecated in days of more primitive farming than the present. Amongst the poems we call attention to one entitled "My Father," that really merits it, on more accounts than the exceptional position of the writer. "Grenville's Death," by William Reade, jun., is, however, the poetic specialty of the number, and describes the heroic end of one of Elizabeth's commanders, who fought "until his powder, weapons, and men were all exhausted, and his ship riddled through and through." Dying on one of the Spanish decks (he had faced fifteen Spanish ships) of many wounds, he said: "Here die I, Sir Richard Grenville, with a joyful and quiet soldier ought to do, that had fought for his mind, for that I have ended my life as a true country, Queen, religion, and honour, whereby my soul most joyfully departeth out of this body, and shall leave behind it an everlasting fame of a valiant and true soldier that hath done his duty

as he was bound to do."- Froude.

APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS, and other documents relating to the history of Christ. By P. Harris Cowper, editor of the "Journal of Sacred Literature."-(Williams & Norgate, 14, Henriettastreet, Covent Garden, London.)-These apocry phal gospels and documents, of which the present publication contains twenty-eight, have been translated from the originals, in Greek, Latin, Syriac, &c. The nature of the contents may be gathered from the headings of a few of them:-The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, or the infancy of Mary and of Jesus; The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary; The History of Josepn the Carpentter; The Story of Veronica: The Gospel of Nicodemus, or Acts of Pilate; in two parts; Descent of Christ to the Under-world; The Trial and Condemnation of Pilate; The Death of Pilate; The Revenging of the Saviour. The appendix contains the Syriac Gospel of the Boyhood of our Lord Jesus,

THE LADIES' PAGE.

CROCHET NET FOR A NIGHTCAP.

MATERIALS.-Boar's head crochet cotton, of Messrs. Walter Evans and Co., Derby; small piece of Indiarubber cord.

Begin from the middle, and work round in separate rows, consisting alternately of 1 double treble and 5 chain-in these increasing alternately as required, now in the middle of the chain, then in the two upper threads of the double treble of the preceding row.

For the first double treble crochet always 3 chain, and close each row with 1 single in the third of these chains; after which, at the beginning of the next row, sufficient single stitches must be worked to reach the middle of the next scallop. Begin the net with 7 chain; close them in a ring with 1 single. Round this work 5 double treble, separated by the 5 chain, which, in the second row, are doubled, so that there will be 10 double treble worked alternately in the chain-stitch scallop, and in each double treble.

The third row has 15 double treble, after which the second under double treble must be passed over.

The fourth row contains 23 regularly-divided double-treble; whilst the fifth and seventh rows are worked quite plain, without any increase.

The eighth row, lying between, has 34 double treble, at which, as well as at the third row, the second under-treble is always passed over.

After the eighth row, which contains 49 double treble, work nine rows without increasing or decreasing; then work the little lace for the outer edge.

1st row. * In 1 double treble of the preceding row work 2 double treble, 5 chain, again 2 double treble, then 5 chain, with which pass over 1 double treble of the preceding row. peat from⚫ to the end of the row.

Re

2nd. Again in the middle chain between the double treble 2 double treble, 5 chain, and 2 double treble; then 3 chain, 1 double in the middle of the next under chain, and then 3 chain, and repeat from * to the end of the row, which finishes the net. The Indiarubber cord, or band, the length of which must depend upon the size of the head, must be drawn through the little lace edge.

CROCHET FLOWERS.-SCARLET GERANIUM.

shade of green, increasing one stitch in every fourth loop (a wire in the edge). For the next row you must take a shade of green, deeper in colour than the second row, but much lighter than the last. Work this row in long stitches, increasing one stich in every fourth (wire again in the edge); and for the last row use the second shade, working it without wire, stitch for stitch in the loops of the preceding row, one plain stitch, one double crochet, three long stitches, and one double cro

Five separate petals for each flower. Make a chain of six stitches (rather tight), with a deep shade of scarlet Berlin wool, split, fasten the wool, and break it off; then take a lighter shade of scarlet, also split, make a loop on the needle and work round the chain the first two stitches in double crochet; then nine long stitches (putting three stitches in the top loop), and two stitches of double crochet in the last loop; fasten the wool, and break it off two or three inches from the work; twist the two ends of the wire together, and fasten off with a loop-chet; repeat these stitches throughout the row. stitch. Three of the petals must be made of the same size, and two smaller ones, making the chain of only five stitches, instead of six; place five small white stamens in the middle of the flower, tie the five petals together, placing two of the large ones at the top, one at the bottom, and the two smaller ones on each side; cover about half an inch of the stalk with the end of the silk, in order to fasten the wires firmly together; cut off three of them, leaving two for a little stem, which must be covered with a bit of green wool, split.

LEAF.-Make a loop of wire, about the size of a finger-ring; work in it fifteen long stitches, of a light shade of yellowish green wool, split, with a wire in the edge, fasten the wool, and break it off. Take a deeper shade of green, make a loop on your needle, and in the loops of the preceding row work a row of long stitches, increasing one stitch in every fourth loop (a wire must be worked in the edge); work the next row in double crochet, with a very dark

Then take a rug-needle, threaded with green split wool, sew up neatly the ends of the wool, cut them off, twist the wires together, and cut them off also, with the exception of three, which must be left to form a stalk: cover this by twisting the remainder of the wool round it, and fasten the leaf on the stem of the flower.

Buds may be made, if wished, by cutting five or six bits of scarlet wool, about an inch long, place them across a short length of wire, and confine them by twisting the wire tightly; turn the wool down, and fasten it, by twisting some green split wool round, about a quarter of an inch from the top; cut off the ends of wool closely, and cover the ittle stem. Green buds are made in the same way, substituting green wool for scarlet. A few of these buds placed round the stem of the flower will be a great improvement to it.

Pink geraniums can be made exactly as the scarlet, by using two shades of pink wool instead of red.

FIRST FIGURE.-Country toilet for a young basque, which resembles nothing so much as a lady, composed of a first skirt of blue foulard, Freemason's apron, but instead of fitting close trimmed at bottom with two tresses of grey rib- at the waist, it is hollowed out at the upper bon. Second skirt of grey foulard quite plain, part, and hangs like a festoon, being attached to cut in deep vandykes at the bottom, and trimmed the waistband on either side. A duplicate with a ribbon-tress and fringe of grey silk. trimming is worn at the back. This ornament, Blue waistband, finished with a rosette at the if it can be called one, is generally made of silk, side. Under-body and long blue sleeves contrasting well with the colour of the dress, trimmed with tresses of grey ribbon. Grey and is trimmed with crystal or cluny. In hat of the turban shape, bound with black vel-writing of trimming, I forgot to mention vet and trimmed with a wreath of autumn that the greatest novelty consists of perfumed flowers and foliage, with a falling spray at the passementerie-an invention from the Orientback. Swedish leather gloves. Rather short the odour of which fills the atmosphere of the jacket. wearer's logis. I should imagine, in every sense of the word, that this will prove a fleeting fashion. Perfumed gloves are also in favour. And now for a few lines on ball-dresses, models of which I have just seen. No. 1 is a train dress composed of a first skirt of white satin, with a tulle tunic open in front. White satin body: both skirts are trimmed with flowers or ornaments of jet. Coiffure of jet bandeaux; the nearest to the forehead has dants. Second dress in the Empire style, made of Persian lilac satin, without plaits at the waist, and entirely covered from top to bottom with mauve tulle puffings. In the hair sprays of periwinkle. Gold necklace in the Louis XV. style; bracelets to match. Third model consists of a dress of jonquil satin, or faye silk, trimmed with two rows of jet fringe, tracing large rounded points. Body very low; underbody of plaited tarlatane. Short jonquil sleeves. The hair interspersed with small pomegranates. Fourth toilet (for a very young lady) composed of a frock of Algerine gauze. Body plaited in the fan shape in the middle, before and behind, trimmed with jet ornaments.

SECOND FIGURE.-Dress of Bismark faye silk, ornamented with three rolls of satin. The body plain, with tight sleeves, Marie Antoinette fichu crossing front with long ends, tied loosely behind, and ornamented, like the skirt, with three rolls of satin. Fanchon bonnet, very short at the sides, composed of white puffed tulle, trimmed in front with autumn foliage and gold fruit, behind with a deep blond in narrow vandykes, falling over the chignon, and continued as an edging along the barb-strings.

Straw is in high vogue for trimming, and on black looks remarkably stylish. Fringes, gimps, buttons, cords, and pendants are made of it; and fancy straw cords, with tasselled ends, are tied round the neck, the tassels falling behind. Tresses or plaits, and rolls of silk and satin, are also much used for trimming. Jet continues in high favour, nor has the bead and bugle mania abated.

Skirts, though decidedly narrower, continue to be made very long; the width is reduced to five yards, and very generally they are made perfectly plain round the hips-a style not always becoming--and, where stout persons are concerned, a deep box-plait in front and at the back are specially recommended.

Everything continues to be tightly gored, even muslin and barége dresses; but we would whisper to our clients that the former never make up well; washing spoils them.

The peplum is, in a great measure, superseded by a fanciful affair, called an African

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pen

On the hair above the chignon a branch of roses. Velvet neckband, with three pendant gold medallions.

Fans assorted to the colour of the dress are de rigueur for the promenade; they are worn suspended from the waistband, at the side of a façon of English smelling-salts. For dress fans of white batiste, edged with a garland of Vallenciennes leaves, are in favour.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENT. S.

POETRY accepted, with thanks.- -"A Wasted Warning;" A Cradle Thought;" "A Soliloquy," "The Witness;' "The Lost Galleon;" "" Robin's Return."

Miss W, Wye.-The manuscript has been returned.

The owners of rejected manuscripts are particularly requested to apply to the Editor for them, enclosing stamps for their return if desired.

Serial Tale. Our correspondent is thanked, but we have no present need of one.

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