And own thy need of grace to help, ere long.”
Archbishop Trench’s Poems are published by Macmillan.—2. We do not think your writing is, as you say, “very bad.” The tails of your g’s and y’s are not bold enough for the rest of it. The only way to improve is daily to copy some model you admire, and never to let yourself write carelessly.
C. G.—1. Many thanks for your pleasant letter. We have no knowledge of the word “crofts,” in the sense in which it is quoted, and should think it must be a misprint for “cups” or “crockery”; but if it is a local expression, you would gain information by writing direct to the author of the article in question.—2. If you cannot read an English play with your party of thirty German girls—and we see your difficulty—could you spend the time in working and reading some very interesting English story aloud in turn? If that would not do, the only alternative seems to be, to play English games. Of these there are a great variety. “Subject and Object” is a good game. Two go out of the room, and return personating a character in history or fiction, and some thing or animal well known in connection with the character, such as King John and Magna Charta; Una and the Lion. The others, by questioning them, have to guess who and what they are. Any English handbook of games, or The Girls’ Indoor Book (56, Paternoster Row) would be useful. Two questions are our limit, but we could not in any case help you about the translations.
Pansy.—If you had told us in what part of England you live, we could have helped you more definitely. There are numbers of schools and classes all over the kingdom where girls can be trained as teachers in any branch of technical instruction, and we can only advise you to write for exact information to the Secretary, Board of Technical Education, St. Martin’s Lane, London, W.C. You may also refer to Mrs. Watson’s articles in The Girl’s Own Paper, for 1897, on “What the County Councils are doing for Girls.”
F. L. J.—Your verses are very immature. For instance, you say “is come” and “has come” in close connection; your lines are of irregular length, and verses ii. and iii. dispense with rhymes, excepting in the chorus. Your metaphors are mixed—sea, blast, battle, &c., are all applied to life, in a confusing manner. We do not wish to be severe, but it is necessary to observe the laws of composition and of versification in attempting poetry.
Ancient.—It is impossible to value old Bibles without seeing them. Yours is probably a reprint of the Geneva version and not valuable. If, however, you would like to forward it to J. Arnold Green, Esq., 56, Paternoster Row, London, E.C., he will be happy to give you advice respecting it. Or you might apply to a firm of booksellers—Messrs. Sotheran & Co., 140, Strand.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Cookie (Barcelona).—Perhaps the following recipe would suit you. Take one pint of wholemeal, one teacup of milk, butter of about the size of a walnut; add a few small raisins and a teaspoonful of baking powder. Mix well, and bake for about half an hour. To make good soda buns, take of flour half a pound, butter three ounces, of sugar three ounces, of candied orange-peel one ounce (or more, cut in small pieces), one small teacupful of milk, the yolks of two eggs and white of one, of carbonate of soda a small teaspoonful (not heaped), and a little grated nutmeg. Beat and blend all well together, butter an oven-tin, and drop the mixture into it, and bake for fifteen or twenty-five minutes in a moderate oven. This will make about a dozen small buns.
A. M. Gard.—If the man to whom you are attached has told you that he cannot at present marry, on account of his circumstances, and says, in addition, that the oftener you meet each other, the harder it is for you, and begs you not to fret, it is clear that he considers it expedient for both to be free, and to keep apart. Under these circumstances it would be both honourable and unselfish to keep out of his society. We should always look for Divine leading, and pray for it; and the indications in this case (quite out of your control) are very clear, and point to retirement on your part.
A Berkshire Reader.—Take eight eggs for the rice cake. Tea, loaves and biscuits are to be obtained of any baker or grocer.