ELIOT, GEORGE: _Silas Marner_, an intensely human story, a heart history; _Romola_, a thrilling story of Florence in the days of Savonarola, a study in the degeneration of character that comes from doing only the agreeable things in life. GOLDSMITH, OLIVER: _The Vicar of Wakefield_, an amusing and at times pathetic picture of English country life in the eighteenth century. HAWTHORNE, NATHANIEL: _The Scarlet Letter_, a tale of sin and its punishment in Puritan New England; _The Marble Faun_, an Italian story full of the art and culture of Rome. HUGO, VICTOR: _Les Miserables_, one of the greatest novels of the world, but its digressions and its philosophy make it difficult reading for the young. Interesting abridgements of it may be had from the schoolbook houses. SAINT PIERRE, BERNARDIN DE: _Paul and Virginia_, a pretty love story from the French. SCOTT, SIR WALTER: _Kenilworth_, a tale of the days of Queen Elizabeth; _Old Mortality_, a story of the Covenanters; _Guy Mannering_, an eighteenth century tale, with Meg Merrilies, Dominic Sampson and others of Scott's most famous characters; _The Heart of Midlothian_, a tale of sin and its punishment, with a wonderful picture of a sister's love and devotion. STOWE, HARRIET BEECHER: _Uncle Tom's Cabin_, an interesting story, but like most books written for partisan purposes, its influence is not now wholesome. THACKERAY, WILLIAM MAKEPEACE: _Henry Esmond_, _Pendennis_ and _The Newcomes_ may be read in the order named. _Vanity Fair_ is better appreciated by adults. TWAIN, MARK: _Tom Sawyer_ and _Huckleberry Finn_, two stories whose fun every boy will appreciate. WALLACE, LEW: _Ben Hur, a Tale of the Christ_. An admirable historical novel. Poetry and Drama BROWNING, ROBERT: Besides the poems given in these books, _The Lost Leader_ and _Rabbi Ben Ezra_ are enjoyed by boys and girls. BRYANT, WILLIAM CULLEN: _The Poetical Works_ (Household Edition), D. Appleton & Co. _The Song of Marion's Men_, _The Green Mountain Boys_, _Thanatopsis_, _Sella_, _The Death of the Flowers_, _The Planting of the Apple Tree_ and _Robert of Lincoln_ are among his best poems.