_Everybody's Business_, by ISMAY THORN, nobody likes interference, but in this case it proved the friend in need. _Chivalry_, by LÉON GAUTIER, translated by HENRY FRITH, is a chronicle of knighthood, its rules, and its deeds. To the scientific student, _Discoveries and Inventions of the Nineteenth Century_, by ROBERT ROUTLEDGE, B.S., F.C.S., will be interesting, and help him to discover a lot he does not know. Those who have not already read it, _A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys_, by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, will have a real treat in the myths related; _Tanglewood Tales_ are included, and these are delightful for all. _Rosebud_, by Mrs. ADAMS ACTON, a tale for girls, who will love this bright little flower, bringing happiness all around. _Holly Leaves_, the Special Number of _The Sporting and Dramatic_, is quite a seasonable decoration for the drawing-room table during the Christmas holidays. My faithful "Co." has been reading _Jack's Secret_, by Mrs. LOVETT CAMERON, which, he says, has greatly pleased him. It has an interesting story, and is full of clever sketches of character. _Jack_, himself, is rather a weak personage, and scarcely deserves the good fortune which ultimately falls to his lot. After flirting with a born coquette, who treats him with a cruelty which is not altogether unmerited, he settles down with a thoroughly lovable little wife, and a seat in the House of Lords. From this it will be gathered that all ends happily. _Jack's Secret_ will be let out by MUDIE's, and will be kept, for a considerable time--by the subscribers. Girls will be the richer this year by _Fifty-two more Stories for Girls_, and boys will be delighted with _Fifty-two more Stories for Boys_, by many of the best authors: both these books are edited by ALFRED MILES, and published by HUTCHISON & Co. _Lion Jack_, by P.T. BARNUM, is an account of JACK's perilous adventures in capturing wild animals. If they weren't, of course, all true, _Lyin' Jack_ would have been a better title. _Syd Belton_, unlike most story-book boys, would not go to sea, but he was made to _go_, by the author, Mr. MANVILLE FENN. Once launched, he proved himself a British salt of the first water. _Dumps and I_, by Mrs. PARR, is a _par_ticularly pretty book for girls, and quite on a par with, her other works. METHUEN & CO. publish these. _Pictures and Stories from English History_, and _Royal Portrait Gallery_, are two Royal Prize Books for the historical-minded child; they are published by T. NELSON AND SONS, as likewise "_Fritz_" _of Prussia, Germany's Second Emperor_, by LUCY TAYLOR. _Dictionary of Idiomatic English Phrases_, by JAMES MAIN DIXON, M.A., F.R.S.E., which may prove a useful guide to benighted foreigners in assisting them to solve the usual British vagaries of speech; like the commencement of the Dictionary, it is quite an "A1" book.