CHRISTMAS BOXES. 
231 
CHRISTMAS BOXES. 
The custom of making presents at Christmas is one which younger folk, who 
have not yet learnt the superior blessedness of giving to receiving, would not 
willingly let die, nor are older folk likely to be allowed to pass it by without due 
observance. “What to give” is the next consideration, and we propose to offer 
our readers some suggestions under that head. 
There are many reasons why we place Mrs. Brightwen’s new book at the head 
of our list. In manner, in matter, in illustrations, and in price, it has every claim 
to that position. The author’s name is a bye-word among Selbomians, and a 
synonym for all that is bright and kindly. Among the Inmates of my House and 
Garden (Unwin, 3s. 6d.), readers of Nature Notes will find a certain number 
of old friends — “ Asnapper, the Owl,” for example, with his portrait, which by the 
courtesy of the publisher we are enabled to reproduce, and the various household 
dwellers about whom Mrs. Brightweij talked so pleasantly at the annual meeting 
of the Selborne Society.* The title “ A Fairy Story,” might lead the reader 
to surmise that the author had for once deserted the realms of fact for those 
of fancy, but this fairy “is a tiny white-throat, a sleek, delicate, grey-coloured 
bird, with a white breast ; lovely in form, swift in flight, and of a most engaging 
disposition.” Fairy made her appearance one morning at the window, “a tiny 
half-fledged bird, sitting on the ground, looking pitifully up.” “ Of course, 
such a poor little motherless waif must be cared for,” and the result of the care 
was the addition to an already sufficiently varied minage of a new and most 
interesting pet. The history of Mungo, the ichneumon whose early life was 
chronicled in More About Wild Nature, is brought up to date, and lemurs, doves, 
squirrels, tortoises, bees and wasps, cork moths, death-watches, cheese mites, and 
other matters, down to the making of pot-pourri, go to the making up of a 
volume which can give nothing but pleasure, and must enkindle that interest 
in^ Nature which it is one of the objects of the Selborne Society to promote. 
M e must not omit to say that the numerous and charming illustrations by Mr. 
Theo. Carreras add to the attractiveness of the book. 
See p. 146. 
