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citizens once found an immense gourd lying in a meadow; they took it for an egg; but could not imagine what species of bird had laid it. In order to unravel the mystery, they decided that the Burgomaster was to undertake the office of hatching it. In vain did he protest: a certain period was allowed him, during which time he must hatch the wonderful egg. So he resigned himself to his fate, and sat brooding over the egg day and night. However, as the appointed time had elapsed, and there were no signs of life, a suggestion arose that the egg might be rotten, and ought therefore to be thrown over the city walls. This was accordingly done. The gourd burst in its fall, and a hare, who had been indulging in a nap under the shelter of the wall, sprang up affrighted at the noise, and scudded away. The worthy citizens of Rottweil immediately concluded on beholding this incident, that the long-eared animal had emerged from the gourd, and they shouted, "Look! look! a young donkey has come out of the egg!" From this event the inhabitants of Rottweil are nicknamed the "Donkeys."

An artist who knew this story contrived to make a portrait of a donkey the town banner. He painted first the Flight into Egypt, but he did all in water-colours except the ass, which was in oil, so that when a heavy shower once fell during a procession, the ass was the only figure not washed out.

Notwithstanding Swabia's low reputation for wisdom, she may well be proud of her sons. The great Schiller himself first saw the light at the little town of Marburg on the Neckar, while in more recent times Ludwig Uhland, Justinus Kerner, and Gustav Schwab, in poetry, and Berthold Auerbach in prose, have nobly sustained the fame of their native country, "the blessed land of Swabia," as its inhabitants fondly call it. And surely the traveller who gazes on the lovely scenery, fertile with vineyards, orchards, and hop-gardens, wild and mountainous in the Swabian Alp, and richly wooded in the Würtemberg part of the Black Forest, on the clear rivers and sparkling streams, will heartily echo this appellation.

A LEGEND OF EPIPHANY-TIDE.

1.

ONE came to me and said,
"Give Me thy shining gold,
Worn is My raiment fair,
Weary My Heart and cold,
Give Me, dear child of Mine,
All that bright gold of thine."

Then I sought down the hills,
Under the mountain stream,
To find the rich gold He asked ;
Ever I sought its gleam,
But I sought far-till He
Showed me His mystic gold-
LOVE, in my heart to Him,
Brightening as years grew old.

2.

Many the days till One
Whispered again to me-
"Give Me those spices sweet
Stored up, dear child, by thee;
Weary My wandering Feet,
Give Me thy nard so sweet."

Then I looked near and far,
Down in the garden plot,
Over the mountains blue,
But this my spice found not
Till He again came by
As I, at even, prayed,
"This is My frankincense,"
Softly He drew near and said.

3.

Faint grew the gloaming, night
Rose o'er the western sea,
But in the darkling One
Once more came unto me,
"Give Me of myrrh," He said,
Child, to anoint My Head."
"O where is myrrh for Thee ?"
So in my tears I wept ;
"Where, LORD, this sacred gift
In my poor ambry kept ?"
So did I mourning, fast,
Seeking this gift unpriced,
Till as I wept He said,

"Tears are the myrrh of CHRIST."
M.

Reviews and Notices.

Many persons at this season of the year are desirous of making Epiphany offerings to the Churches in which they worship, or are contemplating some similar pious act at Eastertide, and we strongly advise all such good Christians to possess themselves forthwith of the fifty-ninth edition of an Illustrated Catalogue of Church Furniture and Medieval Work manufactured by the well-known firm, Messrs. Jones and Willis, 43, Great Russell Street, London, and Temple Row, Birmingham. Doubtless previous editions of this exhaustive list of Church requisites, have long been in the hands of clergymen and churchwardens engaged in the work of restoration, as the first catalogue was issued in 1846, but the enterprising manufacturers have kept pace with the rapid progress of ecclesiastical art since that time, and the present catalogue contains many new designs. The refined taste and excellency of material

which has always distinguished the works of this firm, has won for them medals at all the great exhibitions since 1851, and the international exposition of Paris last year awarded three, for wood-work, metal-work, and textile fabrics. The catalogue, with its carefully drawn illustrations, is quite a manual of useful instruction for all who desire to promote the reverent ordering of public worship, and the reasonable terms at which its treasures can be obtained, will bring them within the reach of many whose goodwill may perhaps be greater than their means. An Appendix to the Catalogue has some especially beautiful designs for Altar Frontals, Sanctuary Lamps, and Lecterns, as well as many other matters.

Pat: a Story for Boys and Girls, by Stella Austin, (Masters, London,) is the work of one who has long since established a reputation for the production of exceptionally charming books for children, and we fully expect that her readers will pronounce this present work to be her masterpiece. It is a really fascinating tale which will be read with pleasure not only by the boys and girls for whom it is designed, but by those also who have left the days of childhood's joys and pains very far behind them. The hero, Pat, is an admirably drawn character, the lovable light-hearted boy who wins the affections of every one he meets, from the aristocratic lady to the costermonger and the sweep, and who is yet such an arrant pickle that he keeps his whole family in a state of continual dread as to what wild prank he may play next; his adventures are very amusing and his misdemeanours though undoubtedly most provoking, are all the result of the generous temperament which makes him wish to help every one in trouble whom he may happen to meet. The other characters in the book are equally well delineated. It must be owned that the midnight visit of one of Pat's brothers to an old baronet who believes himself to be the Prince Charlie of the '45, is very unlike real life; but it may be none the less acceptable to those who have not outlived their early spirit of romance.

When you are alone, a few thoughts for hard workers, by E. Wordsworth, (Hatchards, London,) is a little sixpenny book of such modest appearance, that the discovery of the very great value of its contents comes almost as a surprise to the reader; it is in fact a work of a very high order of merit. The writer has apparently been brought in contact with the various forms of scepticism which are now unhappily so prevalent among working men and others of the comparatively uneducated classes, and endeavours to meet them with arguments which are quite within the range of an uncultivated intelligence; yet the considerations placed before the reader, simple as they are, could only have been conceived and expressed by one who has deeply studied the subject, and who in confronting it can draw on the resources of a far-reaching knowledge of all that concerns religion in the past. We cannot too strongly recommend this remarkable little work for distribution among the freethinkers of our towns and country parishes.

Helen Leslie, or a Little Leaven, by Darley Dale, (Warne and Co., London,) will certainly very much amuse any young person into whose hands it

may fall, as it is a lively pleasant description of the sayings and doings of a family of boys and girls who as the "whole lump" are successfully leavened by the Christian spirit exemplified in their teacher Helen Leslie. Elders with more experience of everyday life may probably feel that the children are unusually naughty, the governess exceptionally charming, and the complete conversion of the entire family, including a highly disagreeable mother, rather more than could reasonably be expected; also they might hint that the episode of the engagement between the governess and the nephew, who was as a son in the house, might advantageously have been omitted. But the tone of the little book is so good throughout, that these drawbacks are not likely to mar its beneficial influence.

The author of "An Elder Sister," a successful life of Anne Mackenzie and her brother the Missionary Bishop, which has lately reached a second edition, has now attempted a somewhat difficult task in a short story just published entitled At the Lion (Bemrose, London.) The Lion is a public-house, conducted in the usual fashion, and therefore a centre of evil influences in the early part of the tale, but which at the close is remodelled by a good man into what the narrator calls a "temperate not teetotal" establishment, where all sorts of virtuous amusements are provided for the customers under the patronage of the clergymen. If a public-house could really exist which combined the sale however moderate of beer and spirits "to be drunk on the premises," with religion and morals, we should be glad to see it multiplied by thousands,— but we must own ourselves rather sceptical as to the possibility of such a rara avis among taverns. The author is however very successful in showing how the severe trial which crippled the hero for life, in his youth, worked out its beneficent purpose in great good to himself and many others. The form into which the story is thrown as a history narrated by the clergyman's wife is somewhat awkward, it would have been more pleasant reading if told by the author in the ordinary way.

The Churchman's Diary (Masters) comes to us as usual this season with its full and accurate information on all that concerns the due observance of the Christian year. It holds its ground well among many new-fashioned Almanacks and Kalendars, as a thoroughly sound and reliable guide.

The Monthly Packet for December (Smith, late Mozley) concludes the Editor's tale of " Magnum Bonum," which has never flagged in interest from the first, it is a very clever story. "Polly Crane" has also been attractive as a stirring tale of adventures among Indians, and it is very pleasantly written. The least satisfactory contribution to this periodical of late has in our opinion been "Heriot's Choice"-it is neither a healthy nor an agreeable tale, though not wanting in ability. The "Note-book of an Elderly Lady" has a graphic description of an old-fashioned school, and the shorter papers have generally been up to the mark.

It is a curious Nemesis that Dr. Lightfoot after having argued on mere critical grounds, that Episcopacy was not a Divine institution, should himself be called to take a share in it. We are certain that he now feels it to be quite

otherwise. Nevertheless, he has no right to complain that Bishop Wordsworth of S. Andrew's should have thought his Consecration a right opportunity for remonstrance. Accordingly, he has published some very cogent Remarks on Dr. Lightfoot's Essay, (Parker,) for which the only excuse is that the Essay was written some eleven years ago.

Mr. Saumarez Smith's Lessons on Genesis, reprinted from the Church of England Sunday School Magazine, are very laboriously done, and cannot but be suggestive in many ways to a Teacher. But they are framed on a narrow type of literalism; and one misses altogether the Catholic savour of interpretation.

The Rev. W. Frank Shaw has published a Volume of thirty Sermon Sketches, (Skeffington) which are marked by the same fulness as his "Bible Class Notes on S. Matthew," which we noticed formerly, and are thoroughly sound in doctrine. We are glad to see these "Sketches" multiplied, as they are really helps to industry, not excuses for idleness.

We can award to the Sunday Scholar's Companion the praise of good engravings and a good choice of subjects. The general tone of the Articles too is satisfactory. It seems to be the fashion in Sunday Schools to present "New Year's Addresses," both to the children who attend, graduated according to age and sex, and also to the Parents of the children. The Sunday School Institute supplies a large variety of these, out of which School Managers and Teachers will be able to find what suits them.

Correspondence.

[The Editor is not responsible for the opinions of the Correspondents.] To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion.

Queries.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY OF TREATING
THE EAST END OF A CHURCH?
SIR,Now that the necessities of
Church Building and Church Restora-
tion have been fairly met, there is a
question that will come spontaneously
to the front-viz., In what way we can
make our Churches most suggestive of
worship-and in this question the
principal element must be the treat-
ment of the East End of the Chancel.
The conclusion in which the general
sentiment of Church-people seems now to
rest is, that the thing to do is to get a
stained glass window, in which deep

blues and reds are specially appreciated. But to this view I entirely demur. Of course if the whole east end is painted, so must the window be, in order to harmonise with the rest. But even then I say, be careful to avoid great blotches of colour, which are not in keeping with the surroundings.

But further I would maintain that if only a small sum of money can be afforded, Stained Glass had better not be attempted. It is better to throw your strength on a Reredos rather than on the Window. Tinted Quarries, designed after a good pattern and with a border, are really very satisfactory; and what is thus saved may be better expended first on the Altar, and then

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