both in prose and verse, to our leading Magazines. “Helen Morton” appeared in 1849 under the auspices of the Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, and was well received. It has been followed by “Pictures from the Bible”, and a sequel to “Helen Morton,” called “Watch and Pray.” She is at present engaged upon a series of juvenile books, the first of which, intended for boys, and entitled “No Such Word as Fail,” is already completed. Of her works of a different kind, the first that has assumed the book form is the “Gossips of Rivertown, or Lessons of Charity.” Her other tales in Godey, Graham, and Sartain, would make, if collected, two or three volumes of the size of the “Gossips of Rivertown.”
Mrs. Neal is still one of our youngest writers, and what is of most favourable omen, shows in her writings constant signs of improvement. In the language of a contemporary critic, who writes on this subject con amore, and whose opinion we make our own: “Her poetry has more maturity than her prose; for the gift of song comes to the bard, as to the bird, direct from Heaven. Polish and metrical correctness may be added to genuine poetry; but it is doubtful whether the fount be not as pure and sparkling at its first gush, as when quietly flowing on in a deeper stream. Mrs. Neal’s prose compositions are continually improving, and the knowledge, which, with her uncommon industry, she is constantly acquiring, will enlarge her sphere of thought and illustration; and better yet, the religious tenor of her writings shows that she is guided by principles which will strengthen her intellect, and make her, we trust, in after years, an ornament and blessing to our famed land.”
THE CHILD-LOVE.
“He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us—
He made and loveth all.”—Coleridge.
“I am sure you love me, little Miriam?”
“Love you?—oh, so dearly!” And, as if her childish words needed a stronger confirmation, she put her arms caressingly about his neck and laid her head upon his bosom. Her face was very lovely as she looked up to him in all the winning truthfulness of an affectionate heart. Large gray eyes, with lashes so long and deep as almost to give them a sorrowful expression at times, and a mouth now smiling, and so disclosing small pearly teeth, and then the crimson lips would meet in pouting fullness—
