"Pleasant it was to see her zealous activity, and the joy and surprise of the little creatures, who, weak, timid, and lonely, had till then only collected about a dozen ears, when they found themselves loaded with more than they could carry. Their faded frocks were by her contrivance pinned up about them, filled with the golden wheat-ears, and the children went home happy.... Many a rich mother might be proud of the two gleaners that we have seen this afternoon. They so pleased and so thankful to carry their poor store to that poor home; they carried thither better things than wheat." But for the fate of the stick, and how it was found, and what was done that day with Sir Philip Sydney's _Arcadia_, we must refer the reader to the book itself. We must now proceed to take some general survey of the far larger portion of the work, which consists of extracts, with some biographical and critical notices. The series of quotations does not open very auspiciously: we are presented with some Irish ballads of Mr Thomas Davis, which we do not think will excite in many readers the same amount of admiration they appear to have done in Miss Mitford. We must prefer the song she has given, as by Mr Banim, the author of the _Tales of the O'Hara Family_. It is simple and graceful:-- "'Tis not for love of gold I go, 'Tis not for love of fame; Though Fortune may her smile bestow, And I may win a name, Ailleen; And I may win a name. "And yet it _is_ for gold I go, And yet it _is_ for fame-- That they may deck another brow, And bless another name, Ailleen; And bless another name. * * * * * "Oh! when the bays are all my own, I know a heart will care! Oh! when the gold is sought and won, I know a brow will wear, Ailleen; I know a brow will wear. "And when with both returned again, My native land I see, I know a smile will meet me then, And a hand will welcome me, Ailleen; And a hand will welcome me."