YVONNE (_Hospital Nursing or Teaching_).--Since you feel drawn towards hospital nursing, you might do wisely to enter one of the largest London hospitals as a probationer, when you are twenty-three or twenty-four. Having only passed the Oxford Senior Local Examination, your prospects as a teacher cannot be very brilliant, and in the long run you might find yourself more favourably placed in life as a nurse. But in the meantime you had better continue to teach. It hardly seems to be advisable that you should give up your present situation when you appear to be kindly and fairly treated. People who hold the same opinions as ourselves even on the highest subjects are not always pleasant in their dealings. You can at all events strive to show the beauty of your creed in your life and conduct; for a noble example is often more persuasive than doctrine. In hospital wards, moreover, you will find quite as great a diversity of beliefs as you could possibly encounter on the Continent. MISCELLANEOUS. MARY L.--We quite agree with you. Our advice to you is not to miss reading Ruth Lamb's supplemental story--"Friend or Self"--for we feel sure, judging from your letter, that you will enjoy it quite as much as we have done. ANXIOUS.--The account of the very unnatural and unamiable state of mind of your "female friend" is a grievous one; but as she is only a little school-girl of fifteen, she may improve. We do not know of any book likely to effect a change. Such a girl would not care to read one giving advice. Talk to her of the love of our Divine Redeemer and of the obligation resting on us to "show piety at home," and to "requite our parents." It is His will that we should do so, and although we cannot purchase our salvation by our good works, we are bound to produce them in proof of our faith and our gratitude. "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." "Ye call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not the things that I say." "Every tree is known by its fruits," and our first duty is to our parents. MELISSA.--We recommend you to procure _Home Handicrafts_, published at this office. Chapter ix., p. 95, supplies the information you require on mirror painting. Instruction in fifteen different kinds of artistic and useful work are given in this book, and all equally suitable for both sexes. AMY.--There is certainly a family similarity evidenced in the handwriting, which is very general. It sometimes skips a generation and crops up again, just as personal features and peculiarities, as well as intellectual gifts. This fact is noted by Darwin and Lord Brougham (whose peculiar hand resembled his grandfather's). George Seaton expressed the same opinion, and so do others. But we all have the power to improve upon the family style, or change it. LOVER OF ART.--We believe that the oldest known English pictures are two portraits, one of Chaucer, and the other of Henry IV. The former is painted on a panel, the date about 1380; that of the king, 1405.