W. B. 1HITTIMHAB and CO.'S PUBLICATIONS. 



Second and Revised Edition. Crown 8vo. doth elegant. 

 Price 2s. 



SERMONIC FANCY WORK 



On the Figures of our First Acquaintances in 

 Literature. By JOHN PAUL RITCHIE. 



I. Little Jack Horner. The Spirit of Self-Satisfaction. 



H. Peter White. How we are led by the Nose. 



HI. Humpty Dumpty. The Spirit of Exclusiveness. 



IV. Little Miss Mufflt. The Education of Fear. 



V. Jack Spratt and his Wife. The Perfect Law of Liberty. 



VI. Jack and Jill. The Climbing Spirit and its Incumbrances. 



VH. Little Bo-peep. The Eecovery of the Lost Sheep. 



Vni. Beauty and the Beast. The Union of the Strong and Beautiful. 



OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE FIRST EDITION. 



The Literary Churchman says : "Pungent, amusing, and 

 replete with clever satire." 



The Christian says : " In this ingenious and novel experiment, 

 gravity and mirth go hand in hand. The style is energetic and pointed, 

 and the matter pregnant and suggestive." 



The Sword and Trowel says: "Very clever." 



The Nonconformist says: " Under the guise of commentary 

 on texts from old nursery rhymes and stories, Mr. Ritchie really gives 

 us some admirable discourses ' Sermonic Fancy Work ' in very deed. 

 It is astonishing how, by the help of a slight vein of paradox and a 

 nimble fancy, he can pass, almost imperceptibly, from mild fun to very 

 sad earnest, touching not a few of our most ingrained faults in the 

 most efficient way." 



The Scotsman says : "A clever, wholesome, readable little 

 book." 



The Homilist says : " The sermons are really good. They have 

 satire, but it is satire which consumes religious rubbish and nonsense. 

 They have fun and humour, but you are made to laugh in order that 

 you may think with more vigour and seriousness." 



The Freeman says : " The ' Familiar Texts ' are the old nursery 

 rhymes treated homiletically. In the styles adopted we fancy we can 

 trace resemblances to those of some of the popular preachers of our 

 day. The wit is not without wisdom. The satire is not destitute of 

 sense. It is the sort of book that a reader with any humour in him 

 will find it difficult to lay down before he has read it right through." 



Capital and Labour says: "A droll book and yet con- 

 taining much quaint wisdom in searching out and applying prin- 

 ciples of truth and common sense. ..... As a whole, and 



considering its healthy tone and practical scope, we heartily commend 

 this handsome little volume. It is a fine specimen of the combined 

 arts of the typographer and bookbinder, and its attractive exterior 

 ought to draw many readers, who will then be charmed with the 

 contents and with the unconventional method of treatment." 



91, GKACECHUECH STEEET, LONDON. 



