THE "FAMILY FRIEND."

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 289, 5 December 1889, Page 5

THE "FAMILY FRIEND."

MONSTER CHRISTMAS ISSUE

The near approach of the festive season is heralded by thepublicationoftheCHßiSTMAS Numbkk of the Family Friend, and it may safoly be averred thab the efforts put forward by the proprietary of this popular weekly budget have been attended with merited success. Ib consists of nearly one hundred columns of seasonable illustrated reading matter, in which great care is evidenced in theselection. Among theliberary pabulutnwill be.ioundanumberof Christmas stories for young and old of both eexes, an acting charade in four scenes entitled "Mistletoe," Christmas games, jokes, nuts to crack, conundrums, items for the little ones, and general- hints to housekeepersj with some first-class recipes, etc., to say nothing of the usuaf serial stories. Bub the feature of this monster Christmas issue of the "Family Friend" is undoubtedly the profuse number of illustrations with which it is embellished. Prominent amongst these may be mentioned " A Token of Love," " A Merry Christmas, Grandma," "The Nativity," "Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire," " A Chapter of Accidents," " Mixing the Christmas Pudding," "Oh, I Feel so Sleepy," "Aurora," "That's Missus' Picture," 'The Christmas Tree," " The Disobedient Doll," "Glory to God in the Highest,' "Good Cheer," "Our Christmas Tree," etc. These illustrations are not only beautifully drawn and executed, but are particularly suitable . for the season of the year. Their artistic excellence is undoubted, and the whole production forms the best series of-illustrations that has ever emanated from the colonial press. Notwithstanding the fact that this monster issue has entailed considerable expense, it is published ab the nominal price" of threepence, which should undoubtedly bring it within the range of all readers. The large editions printed last year were very quickly exhausted, and therefore, to prevent any possibility of disappointment, orders for copiea should be sent in to the publisher at once. Tho issue will be on sale in a few days.