it is a fact that Lewis Carroll appeals just as keenly to adults as to children. In Edward Lear's rhymes and ballads the love of grotesque nonsense in the grown-up child is mainly appealed to; and these are certainly appreciated more by parents than by children. It would be easy, by multiplying examples, to drive home my contention that only two out of the very numerous authors who have written successfully on or for children have shown a clear recollection of the mind of healthy childhood itself. Many authors have achieved brilliant success in describing children, in verbally caressing them, in amusing, in instructing them; but only two, Mrs. Ewing in prose, and Mr. Stevenson in verse, have sat down with them without disturbing their fancies, and have looked into the world of "make-believe" with the children's own eyes. If Victor Hugo should visit the nursery, every head of hair ought to be brushed, every pinafore be clean, and nurse must certainly be present, as well as mamma. But Mrs. Ewing or Mr. Stevenson might lead a long romp in the attic when nurse was out shopping, and not a child in the house should know that a grown-up person had been there. There are at least a dozen pieces in the _Child's Garden_ which might be quoted to show what is meant. "The Lamplighter" will serve our purpose as well as any other: _My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky;_ _It's time to take the window to see Learie going by;_ _For every night at tea-time, and before you take your seat,_ _With lantern and with ladder he comes posting up the street,_ _Now Tom would be a driver and Maria go to sea,_ _And my papa's a banker and as rich as he can be;_ _But I, when I am stronger and can choose what I'm to do,_ _O Learie, I'll go round at night and light the lamps with you!_ _For we are very lucky, with a lamp before the door,_ _And Learie stops to light it as he lights so many more;_ _And O! before you hurry by with ladder and with light,_ _O Learie, see a little child, and nod to him to-night._