After the marvellous achievements in his two Chinese campaigns, which were sufficient to have made the reputations of a dozen ordinary colonels, Gordon came back to England in 1865 as poor as when he left home. During the next six years, which he spent in Gravesend as an engineer, the future keeper of Khartoum devoted a large portion of his leisure to visiting the sick and to teaching and training many of the ragged and neglected boys of the rough neighbourhood. So truly did these poor lads love their colonel that it was not uncommon to see chalked up on the walls the singular inscription, "God bless the Kernel." Their gratitude was apparently stronger than their orthography. When Englishmen reflect how Gordon placed his Divine Master first in every enterprise of his life, they must feel that no institution intended to honour the dead hero at Khartoum can be a worthy memorial which is not grounded on the rock of Christianity. Christmas Cards and Gift-Books. Christmas is pre-eminently the season of universal good-will, and the custom of conveying seasonable greetings by means of the attractive Christmas card is every year becoming more general. Amongst the publishers of these mementoes Messrs. Raphael Tuck and Sons take front rank, and the specimen box of cards, calendars, story-books, and illustrated texts, recently received from them, affords ample proof that the variety and artistic excellence which have always characterised their productions are well maintained this year. Some of the cards are veritable works of art, and deserve more than the temporary appreciation usually accorded to such; but the palm for novelty, both in design and treatment, must be accorded to the calendars, many of which are most original in conception, and all are daintily and tastefully produced.--For years past we have been accustomed to look for a Christmas book from Mr. Andrew Lang, and this season he has edited an edition of "The Arabian Nights Entertainments," which Messrs. Longmans have published in a charming cover, and with a number of clever illustrations by Mr. H. J. Ford.--Another suitable gift-book for children is "His Big Opportunity" (Hodder and Stoughton), a brightly written story by Amy Le Feuvre; whilst for young people what more inspiriting and interesting work could be presented to them than the life-story of the pioneer missionary, "Mackay of Uganda," of whose biography a new illustrated edition has just been issued by the same publishers.--We have also received the current yearly volumes of our contemporaries, _Good Words_ and _The Sunday Magazine_ (Isbister & Co.). These would both form valuable additions to any Sunday-school library, and are also admirably adapted for use as prizes or presents. [Illustration: (_From a Photograph._) THE LAUGHING GOD OF CHINA.] Compensation.