_À propos_ of Christmas numbers, my Baronitess writes: _The Queen_ and _The Gentlewoman_ present themselves beautifully "got up." They are both decidedly smart, and, like their titles, their stories are by a very select company. By-the-bye, in _The Gentlewoman_ the little bird says that her New Year will open with an exciting serial, _Sons of Fire_, from the indefatigable pen of Miss BRADDON. There is a hearty, warm sound in it, agreeable at this time of the year. According to the researching remarks of JOSEPH JACOBS, who has arranged a new and selected edition of _Æsop's Fables_ (MACMILLAN & CO.), one gathers that the "modest violet" is not in it with the retiring manner in which every other writer of fable have hidden their worth under the sheltering leaves of the ever green laurels of Old ÆSOP. Their number might be termed fabulous. But SHERLOCK HOLMES has not lived in vain. With unerring instinct the true mythical authors have been tracked, and their deeds brought to light. The immortal genius may at last enjoy his own wealth, which he finds fits better now that it has not to be stretched. Quaint little pictures, done by RICHARD HEIGHWAY, adorn the pages. "A pretty volume of fairy tales," writes one of the Assistant Readers, "comes from Messrs. SEELEY & CO. It is called _Lily and the Lift_, and is not only written, but also illustrated, by Mrs. HERBERT RAILTON. _Lily_ herself, the little heroine, who is wafted in the magic hotel-lift through the regions of Fairyland, is a darling. Beautiful butterflies, wonderful birds, quaint dwarfs, and lovely fairies abound in the marvellous country visited by _Lily_. Mrs. RAILTON writes with delightful fancy and quiet humour, and her illustrations add a great charm to a book which is bound to please the little ones for whom it is intended." [Illustration] _In Furthest Ind_ (BLACKWOOD) purports to be the narrative of Mr. EDWARD CARLYON, of the Honourable East India Company's service, comprising his escape from the hands of the Inquisition at Goa, his journey to the Court of the Great Mogul, and much else. It all took place some two hundred years ago, and was "wrote by his own hand in the Year of Grace 1697." As for Mr. SYDNEY C. GRIER, he simply "edits the narrative with a few explanatory notes," which is very modest of him. The narrative is a moving one, full of local colour, plastered on pictures of the outskirts of India in John Company's day. Mr. EDWARD CARLYON is a properly pragmatical person, with true British obstinacy knocking his head against any wall that comes in his way. He makes my Baronite almost think kindly of the Inquisition. And this is genial at Christmas time, when we like to think well of everybody, "and so bless us all, Pen-and-Inkysition included," quoth TINY TIM, alias THE GAY BARON DE BOOK-WORMS. * * * * * A SEQUEL TO THE STORY OF UNG. (A FABLE FOR THOSE WHO RESENT CRITICISM.)