For yow and for noon other, ladye dere, At this ful jolyf sesoun of the yeer Now wol I truste, ne thynkynge naught of cost, This litel yefte to yon rede pilere post; Ryghte wel ystampen sikerly, I trowe, Anon myn yefte schal come to noon but yow. Ne golde han I to yeve, ne pretious gere, But floures that ben ful rare (this tyme of yeer). Ne yelwe astere, late ycome to toun, Ne yet (God wot) a grene carnacioun, But tak al fressche from Convent Gardyn plot Myn flour, and eek prayere, "Foryete-me-not." With feste and merie chere and moche solas Sone wol this jolyf sesoun yeve us grace; So mote ye spende, whanne that bels swete chyme At yule, in sothe a veray parfait tyme. "At Cristemasse merie may ye dance," And in the Newe Yeer han gret plesance: So fare now wel, myn hertes queene; I praie R.S.V.P.--Ther nys no more to saye! * * * * * OUR BOOKING-OFFICE. A Baronite warns me thusly: In opening _The New Standard Elocutionist_, selected by ALFRED H. MILES (HUTCHINSON & CO.), you may think there is a mistake somewhere, as on the first page you are confronted with an anatomical sketch of a cheerful-looking gentleman with his chest laid open for inspection. Don't be afraid, it's all right, the gentleman's countenance is reassuring, still, it makes me wonder if all reciters come to that. But after reading a little of LENNOX BROWN'S chapter, we find it is an object lesson teaching the usually inflated reciter how to work his diaphragm as it should be worked. Perhaps its advantages may be felt when the elocutionist wishes to rouse an admiring but slumbering audience with a little thundering out of "Rise! sleep no more." If the average recitation has a soporific effect, PHIL MAY'S drawings in _Fun, Frolic and Fancy_, by BYRON WEBBER will soon wake you up. The annual of three F's quite fulfils the "promise of May." Though _Kitty Alone_, by S. BARING GOULD, runs through _Good Words_ this year, edited by DONALD MACLEOD, D.D., she does it surrounded by excellent company. Just imagine how a child's preconceived notions of euphonious spelling will be upset by teaching _Artful Anticks_ spelt with a _k_, by OLIVE HERFORD (GAY AND BIRD). Such a frivolous liberty to take with any word in these days of solid moral educational principles. There always exists a certain sneaking friendly feeling for ghosts, especially at Christmas time, but it's nothing to the Paddies who experience a hurtful resentment if you won't listen to their familiar banshee yarns, and _Banshee Castle_, by ROSA MULHOLLAND is full of their sighing and wailing; they like to make themselves heard.