ACROSTICS.

1.

Thus we come our friends to greet, Thus we crave their welcome kind, Thus we strive their tastes to meet, Thus pleasing them, our pleasure find. 1. Perhaps our book may some amusement be, When you awhile seek this with dignity. 2. Don't say this cruel word, or we shall grieve, We hope more gentle treatment to receive. 3. Secluded here, we'll help to pass the hour, By the fireside, or in the garden bower.

4. 'Twill be no hard one, should you choose to strive

To solve the Acrostics in our Series Five.

2.

A. E. H.

The summer's favourite, the fairest fair, 'Mid all the other beauties blooming there. 1. A classic river, from whose wandering tide An English verb arises for our use. 2. A Saxon primate, one who did divide

A royal pair, and marriage bonds unloose. 3. The brilliant star betokening summer drought, Which marks the hound beside his master

dear.

4. The river near whose banks brave Joan was

brought,

And burnt to appease the English hate and

fear.

XIMENA.

3.

Pretty little harmless creature,
Brown of hue and bright of feature,
Darting, creeping, slyly peeping,
Watch around your home you're keeping.
1. Initials inappropriate
To this timid little pet.

2. Quite another sort of field;

Rich and blue the crop 'twill yield. 3. Stately stride with head in air; Of the sportsman keen beware. 4. Loyal France's favourite flower; Wilt thou e'er resume thy power? 5. Loyal England's loved Princess; Her may Heaven shield and bless. I. F.

4.

Though one is wont to roam,
And one must stay at home,
Yet when the time is up,

To breakfast or to sup,

Then each with each should vie

In punctuality.

1. 'Twas grand to rule the wandering tribes of

old,

2. And equal scales of equity to hold.

3. Though with a name of utmost shame ;
4. A name that's not unapt to lead to strife,

5. 'Twixt those who dwell in daily intercourse of life.

5.

Each succeeds each, and man is blest With time for labour and for rest. 1. I'm used by night and not by day. 2. A game some children love to play. 3. I'm used to silence outcry wild. 4. I gently soothe the wailing child.

*

5. When the bright glow of sunset fills the sky, How beautiful my Last, beholders cry!

6.

S. M.

One loves to jump, the other likes to crawl;
One sings-the other has no voice at all.
1. A newspaper's ambitious name.
2. In Italy a town of fame.

3. Here lords and rogues together meet,
Those to be cheated, these to cheat.
4. If you have seven, keep them tight,
Don't lose them in a sudden fright.
5. Of kinsmanship a pleasant tie.
6. At Tara heard in days gone by.

7. The snows of Russia this large river feed.
8. No flower, and yet we talk of beds and seed.

9. Not singular, but often odd,

10. This mountain's top is seldom trod. 11. A poet says that when I'm found

Loud laughs the land with plenty crowned.

M.

7.

My First, whilst rolling on its way,
Does cause my Second day by day.

1. You can put it on tables, or at the door;
These people sit on them on the floor;

3. 'Tis strange they do it perhaps you think; But the coffee is good they always drink.

8.

One of us never fails to please,
The other often loves to tease.

R. C.

1. In Yankee land a shortened name,
Which lately met much praise and blame.
2. Five vocalists stand in a row,

To help us talk of these, take two.

3. At Manchester with me you'll meet, I'm also well known in the fleet.

9.

M.

Go gather my First, a good dish it will make,
But don't bring my Second to me by mistake.
1. A member of Parliament this must be ;
2. A vowel twice you must write for me;
3. It is used by some of the Bishops they say;
4. You can give this price when you go to the
play;

Polish your table, and polish your chair;
The name of a Russian Princess so fair;
A lovely stone which I wish I had;
And it is this last, which is not bad.

R. C.

2.

10.

A DELIVERER AND A DESTROYER.

1. The second monarch on the Hebrew throne. The princely priest, the learned "ready scribe,"

Who read the law return'd from Babylon, Expounding it to each attentive tribe. 3. The Canaanitish deity, which lured To vile idolatry the chosen race. 4. The captain of the army, who procured

The death of Zimri, and usurped his place. 5. The patriarch's fairest, best beloved wife, The first to greet him in a foreign land; Her son of sorrow cost his mother's life,

She, dying, called him, "Son of my right hand."

6. That ancient monarchy, whose records graved For centuries lost, have now unburied been. 7. The Hebrew girl, whose wit and courage saved Her captive race, and who was made a queen. ΧΙΜΕΝΑ.

11.

A gift bestowed on you who read these lines;
A precious gift, too oft misused or lost;
And if you'd all the wealth of India's mines,
You'd fail to ransom it, or pay the cost.

1. A fearful midnight cry.
2. What must I pay, and why?
3. Sees Nature all awry.
4. Haste to the rescue, fly!

I. F.