Little Folks (December 1884) Part 23

To My Readers.

"What are you going to give us in the next Volume?" is, I dare say, the question which is in some of your minds to ask me; so, as usual on reaching the end of a half-year, I will tell you of a few of the arrangements made for the New Volume, beginning with the JANUARY Number.

These include:--

A SERIAL STORY by the Author of "A Little Too Clever," "Margaret's Enemy," "Maid Marjory," &c., to continue from month to month; and a Second SERIAL STORY, by HENRY FRITH, called "King Charles's Page; or, Two Children's Adventures in the Time of the Commonwealth," also to run for six months. The latter is an unusually exciting tale--full of novel incident and strange adventure. Then there will be

"LEGENDS AND STORIES OF FAMOUS RIVERS," by EDWIN HODDER ("Old Merry"), in which you will be told many curious tales and wonderful legends a.s.sociated with a few of the most celebrated of the world's Rivers.

"SOME NOTABLE PICTURES AND THEIR STORY"--telling, in a bright and chatty style, about a few of the masterpieces of Art, how they came to be produced, and what fortunes, good and bad, some of them experienced; including interesting anecdotes and facts concerning themselves and their painters.

"ENGLAND'S FORESTS IN DAYS OF OLD"--a series of papers relating the story of the stirring incidents of which some of the well-known forests of this country have been the scene.

"BIRDS AND FLOWERS OF THE MONTH"--consisting of full-page Pictures which M. GIACOMELLI, the well-known French Artist, has specially drawn for LITTLE FOLKS. One of these will appear in each number of the New Volume, accompanied by Verses appropriate to the subject.

"BIBLE STORMS BY LAND AND SEA"--a new series of Scripture Stories for "Our Sunday Afternoons;" and the usual "Bible Exercises" will appear every month.

"PAGES FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK." In response to repeated requests, I am glad to announce that this department of LITTLE FOLKS--comprising two pages of bold pictures and simple stories printed in large type--will be re-commenced in JANUARY, and continued every month.

MR. PALMER c.o.x, the American Artist, has drawn for LITTLE FOLKS some more HUMOROUS PICTURES in his well-known style; the Notes and Jottings by a Practical Writer on the subject of "THE CHILDREN'S OWN GARDEN" will be given, as well as FAIRY STORIES, with droll and laughable pictures, every month; and besides STORIES, POEMS, ANECDOTES, and PICTURES of every kind, all the regular features, such as "THE EDITOR'S POCKET-BOOK," "SONGS WITH MUSIC," "THE LITTLE FOLKS' OWN PAGES,"

"QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS," &c. &c., will be still maintained.

SEVERAL NEW SPECIAL COMPEt.i.tIONS FOR 1885 have been arranged in addition to the ordinary Monthly Puzzle and "Picture Page" ones. The most important of these is

A NEW "'LITTLE FOLKS' PAINTING BOOK COMPEt.i.tION," in which, as already briefly announced, a number of PRIZES IN MONEY, BOOKS, and MEDALS will be offered. It will be open to both Senior and Junior Compet.i.tors, and so arranged that all may have equal opportunities of being successful.

This Compet.i.tion will be in connection with "THE 'LITTLE FOLKS' PROVERB PAINTING BOOK," which is now ready; and the full Regulations and the list of Prizes to be awarded, as well as of those offered in all the other Special Compet.i.tions for 1885, will be printed in the JANUARY Number. In that number will appear, too, the names of the Prize and Medal winners in the Compet.i.tions for 1884, also those in the Puzzle and "Picture Page" Compet.i.tions announced in the September, October, and November numbers (including the "Home and Foreign" Compet.i.tions).

I am glad to find that the Compet.i.tions for the year now closing have been so popular with you, and I heartily thank you on behalf of the little ones in the Hospitals--among whom the articles of Needlework, Dolls, Illuminated Texts, Sc.r.a.p Alb.u.ms, Toys of various kinds, and the hundreds of Ill.u.s.trated Story-books written by yourselves, which you have sent to me, will be distributed at Christmas--for all the trouble and care you have so lovingly bestowed on your work. You are indeed amply repaid by the rays of gladness which these your gifts will bring to helpless sufferers!

A COLOURED PICTURE, called "THREE LITTLE KITTENS," will be given with the JANUARY Number, and the Frontispieces to all the other numbers will be printed in a bright colour as they have been in the present Volume.

You will also be pleased to hear that it is intended in future to make all the pages of our Magazine more attractive in appearance, but I need only just allude to this and leave you to see for yourselves in the JANUARY Number in what manner it will be effected.

Having thus told you what is to be done for _you_ in the New Volume, I will only add that I rely on you all to do everything you can for LITTLE FOLKS by persuading as many of your relatives and friends as possible to take it in. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Your very sincere Friend,

THE EDITOR.