Christmas Books now make their appearance, and the first and principal offenders in disturbing the Calendar are Messrs. BLACKIE & SON. "Among the names," says the Baron's juvenile assistant Co. Junior, "we recognise one of our boys' most favourite authors, G.A. HENTY, who this year gives them another exciting historical tale, _By England's Aid_, which deals with the closing events of the War of Independence in Holland. Also _Maori and Settler_, a story of the New Zealand War, when young England was quite a settler for the Maori. Both recommended. _Hal Hungerford_, by J.R. HUTCHINSON, is a good book for boys, and _A Rash Promise, or, Meg's Secret_ by CECILIA SELBY LOWNDES, is an equally good one for girls, and finally _The Girls' Own Paper Annual_, and _The Boys' Own Paper Annual_, are two very handsome capitally illustrated gift-books." Now the Baron's cheerful assistants have done their work, he himself, has something to say. "No, my dear and venerable Mr. T. SIDNEY COOPER, R.A.," says the Baron to that eminent octogenarian Academician, whose "reminiscences" BENTLEY AND SON have just published; "if you are correctly quoted in the _P.M.G._, your memory is absolutely at fault in describing DOUGLAS JERROLD as 'Editor of _Punch_.' He never was. Your account of the doings at the hebdomadal board of the _Punch_ Staff College must be taken with several pinches of salt, as never once in your lengthy career have you been present at any one of these symposia. No matter. Your health, and book!" [Illustration: A Cigarette-Maker's Romance.] Permit the Baron to strongly recommend MARION CRAWFORD's _A Cigarette-Maker's Romance_. Slight indeed is the plot, and few the _dramatis personæ_: but the latter are drawn with a Meissonier-like finish, and the simple tale is charmingly and touchingly told. The wonder of it is that so little to tell should have occupied two volumes; and a greater wonder remains, which is, that, at the close, the reader should wish there were a third. To create this desire is, after all, the very perfection of the art of novel-writing. The novelist who does not make the reader "wish as there was more on it," according to the philosophic _dictum_ of _Sam Weller_ on the art of epistolary correspondence, has failed. Henceforth this novel of Mr. CRAWFORD's goes forth to the world with the Baron's best _imprimatur_. This poor little cigarette-maker requires no puffing of her wares. Enough that the Baron should say to his readers, "_Tolle lege!_" You will be delighted with it, "_Il cigaretto per esser felice_." It is a charming story, says emphatically, THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS. * * * * *