Page:New Peterson magazine 1859 Vol. XXXV.pdf/175

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The Tenant-House ; or, Embers from Hwerty’: Hearthstone. brilliant down brushed from their petals; fresh and bright as when first gathered from their native wild soil. The 1 ML, 12 mo. New York: R. III. Dewitt.-The author of this volume has, indeed. “ the voice of bird and the breath of book was appointed by the Legislature of the State of New spring." Mrs. Sigourney’s poem is a fitting tribute to the York. to inquire into the tenant system of New York city beauty of these flmvers. Several specimens are given with We have no doubt that this fiction grew out of the startling appropriate accompaniment-i in other plants of their season. facts he became acquainted with in the discharge of this Here we have the dogwood flinging its snowy sheen over the duty. Mr. Duganne always writes well. but has never done spring womls; the wild geranium, with downy leaves and more credit to either his heart or his intellect, than in the purple head, bending its slender stalk lifted amidst the May volume before us. The philanthropist, who reads for high grass; the modest ground pink and the trailing arbutus; the and noble purposes, as Well as the mere novel reader who mayflowcr of the Pilgrims; the hood-leavcd violet; the wild seeks only for amusement, will find the work of the greatest columbine, gleaming in scarlet and gold on the barren hill. value and interest. Some excellent illustrations adorn the side; the spring beauty, half seen in the grass bordering the volume. tangled wood; the delicious wild apple blossom and the pink Wild 512011.: in the Far West. By Frederic Gerstaccker. and crimson honeysuckle clinging to the arms of the forest. Translated from the German. With eight Crayon draw Among summer visitors we have here the gorgeous yellow ings, executed in oil colors. from designs by Harrison Weir. lily, with the harebell from its rock-shaded nook; the sweet l roI., 12 mo. Boston: Crosby. . 'ichols (£- G).—The author brier, loading the air with fragrance; the tulip tree, the belle of this volume is a German, who spent some time in the of the forest; the kalmia, making gay the mountain woods western part of this country, and, when he returned to with delicate bloom; the lovely wild rose. the daisy, butter Europe. wrote the spirited account of his travels now before cup and red clover; the evergreen rhododendron; the butter us. The book is one of the most interesting we have read /If! /-4 Iif/l/fI,/I].lf/I/IM~/VfIN/-I‘l/ JI ‘/IJ /f.l ’1

fly Weed, with its bright orange clusters veiled by the luxuri for a long while.

Allowances, of course. must he made for

ant meadow grass; the wood lily, and the delicate purple the author’s prejudices of education, and for a love of exag geration that seems to be natural to the man. The embel lishments are very showy, and in a new style.

fringed orchis; the cardinal flower. or Indian feather; the

purple wild aster and fringed gentian, late woodland visitors, when “the melancholy days are come." A brilliant cluster of red maple leaves is given. touched with the warm tints of early frost. The indefatigable authoress has not only drawn all these groups from nature, but has colored over ten thou sand impressions with her own hand. to secure absol e fidelity to the models. The delicate fringe and colored down, and the fine shading, are wonderfully true to nature, and creditable to the perfection of art. The volume should be on the centre-table of every lady of taste.

.Ni'ght alps. Stories."

By the author of “Aunt Fanny‘s Christmas

New York: Appleton it (‘0.—A book of stories for

little children, with eight illustrations. ‘- Aunt Fanny” writes charmingly for the little ones. “The Doctor,” and " Dame 'l‘rot and her Cat,” are two sidesplitting stories; while “Little Alice. and “Good Little Henry,” fully bear out the ~

A History of Philip the Second, King of Spain. By W'il //_'xI/-2‘J.’rIIIIrl/Mf‘tJ./lI-V"'J-/Il>W’r“JI/Mfl:NI!/3Mf2I/?lf‘ liam II. Prescott. Vol. III. Boston : I’hillips. Sampson 19 G).— We think this volume even more interesting than those which have preceded it, for, with the exception of two chap ters, which are devoted to Philip’s personal character and

habits, it is occupied by a narrative of the great Morisco re bellion, that last desperate effort of the Spanish Arabs to recover their lost Granada. It is in such narratives that Prescott excels. His rapid, graphic style; the masterly manner in which he groups events; the vivid pictures of the scenery amid which the action of the story is carried on; the dramatic force with which he often brings out his characters; all these render Prescott without an equal in this depart ment of history. Our author, also, is as thorough a student as he is a successful dclineator. He never sits down to write till he has mastered every detail,and become, not only accu rately informed of the minutest facts, but infused with the very spirit of the times which he is about to describe. More

author's intention, when she says in her preface, “ Especially have I tried to exhibit the beauty and goodness of virtue, so entwined in the thread of every story. as to render unneces» sary a dry moral at the end for the children to skip, as they invariably do.” Buds from the Christmas Bought, and other Tales. By Virginia F. Townsend. New York: Stanford d.“ Delis-321'.— A most seasonable book by one of our favorite contributors. Miss Townsend's stories are always charmingly written, and they are uncxceptionable in their high religious tone. Old and young will pick up the little volume before us, and but few will put it dowa till they have read it to the last page. “ Right Across the Street,” is one of the most beautiful storiel we have ever read. lllcta. Gray; or, What Make: Home Happy. By M. J. McIntosh, author of “Aunt Kitty’s Thin,” dc. (it. New York: D. Appleton & (ix—The announcement of a book by Miss McIntosh. is sufficient to insure its sale. The volume before us is adapted to young ladies particularly, and is written in the author’s usual happy style. No mother need be afraid to place this volume in the hands of her daugh

over, he is always charitable, though he does not hesitate to

censure, when the censure is deserved. Motley, who has written upon some of the same events, is more minute, more declamatory, and more eloquent, as many may think. But his heat sometimes suggests the possibility of partizanship. The calmer mood of Prescott preserves the latter historian from every such imputation. We rise from the perusal of this volume. feeling our incompctency to praise it as it de serves, and regretting that there are not more of such books of history in the language.

tors.

The Fair llfaid of Perth.

By the author of “ Waverley."

2 rols., 12 mo. Boston: Ticknor .r- F.'¢1.i.;._w0 have here the fortydhird and forty-fourth volumes of the now famous “Household Edition of Scott's Novels.” Every lady of taste ought to have this edition of tho romances of the great Wizard of the North; and as the series is now nearly at its close, the present is a fitting occasion for purchasing.

Sunshine; or. Hate l’inton. By Harriet B. lil’Ketrer. 1 1:01., 12 mo. I’hiloda: Lindsay d5 Blackiston.—The aim of the writer of this book. has been, as she says in her preface, to present a youthful Christian, in the midst of much in firmity, still adorning the doctrine of God, her Saviour. in all things. This aim Mrs. M'Keever has successfully carried out. It is just the book for mothers to put into the hands of their daughters. The publishers have issued it in a very neat style. 1

‘.

The I'ulc Log. A series of Stories for the Young. A'cw fork: Stanford at Dclisscr.--This little volume will be a prize for children who love fairy stories: and what child does not! The volume is' issued by Stanford it Delisser, in their usual superior style. The Mustce.

By B. F. Presbury.

1

12 mo.

Boston:

Shepard. Clark é Brown.—-A new novel, intended to depict

American life, but whose merits we cannot speak of, as we have not yet had time to peruse it.