[Illustration] HISTORICAL TALES. These are of considerable value, not only as serving as ‘sugared history’ and conveying facts, but sometimes as supplying the element of romance which is almost essential to a wholesome development. Moreover, these stories are of great assistance in making it evident that the actors in history are not mere names with dates attached, to load the memory for an examination, but that they have been flesh and blood beings like ourselves. There has been of late a great attempt to supply these tales, with very varied success. Some are so interesting as to be read apart from all purpose, for their mere interest. Others present nothing but wooden puppets put into the carefully studied costume of their period, and stiffly working out the facts, with much pains but no life. These, however, have a certain value, not only because perverse youth will read them when it will not read real history; but also because when a special period has to be ‘got up,’ they impress details of manners, dress, and habits in a convenient way. We shall therefore endeavour to give a chronological list of English, foreign, and Church history tales. _TALES ON EARLY CHURCH HISTORY._ There are many of these, and it is difficult to choose among them. Those are here mentioned which may serve best to interest young people in the primitive Church, and give some idea of the days of martyrdom. =361. Triumphs of the Cross, and Deeds of Faith.= By Rev. J. M. NEALE. (Masters) Two series, each 2_s._ =362. Lent Legends.= By Rev. J. M. NEALE. (Masters) 2_s._ =363. Followers of the Lord.= By Rev. J. M. NEALE. (Masters) 2_s._ Brief tales through the whole range of Church history, some of them quite unrivalled in effectiveness. =364. Helena’s Household.= By the author of ‘The Schönberg-Cotta Family.’ (Nelson) 4_s._ This tells of the days of the Catacombs. =365. Gaudentius.= By the Rev. G. F. DAVIES. (S.P.C.K.) 2_s._ 6_d._ The builder of the Colosseum, who afterwards became a martyr there. =366. Lapsed not Lost.= By the Author of ‘The Schönberg-Cotta Family.’ (S.P.C.K.) 2_s._ 6_d._ A failure from weakness in the days of St. Cyprian. =367. The Egyptian Wanderers.= By Rev. J. M. NEALE. (Masters) 2_s._ Giving with much vividness the trials of the Christians at different times of persecution. =368. Narcissus.= By the Bishop of RIPON. (S.P.C.K.) 3_s._ 6_d._ =369. Conquering and to Conquer.= (S.P.C.K.) 2_s._ 6_d._ The days of St. Jerome and the Gothic invasion of Rome. =370. Bilihild.= By JULIE SUTTER. (R.T.S.) 1_s._ 6_d._ The conversion of part of Germany. =371. Mitslav, or the Conversion of Pomerania.= (S.P.C.K.) 3_s._ 6_d._ =372. Tales illustrating Church History.= (Parker, Oxford) In seven 3_s._ 6_d._ vols., to be had separately.