The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-07 00:00:00

MACARIA.

" Of old, when Eurystheus threatened Athens, Macaria,
in order to save the city and the land from invasion and
subjugation, willingly devoted himself a sacrifice upon the
altar of the gods, Ah, Russell I that were an easy task, in
comparison with the offering lam called upon to make. I
can not, like Macaria, by self immolation, redeem my
country ; from that great privilege I am debarred ; but I
yield up more than she ever possessed. I give my all on
earth—my father and yourself—to my beloved and suffering
country. My God I accept the sacrifice, and crown the
South a sovereign, indepondent-natian t Gladly, unahrink-
ingiy, wouta I meet a death so sublime; but to survive the
loss of those dearer than my life, to live and endure such
desolation—oh I my lot, and that of thousands of my
fellow-women, is infinitely more bitter than the fate of
Macaria I "

She smothered a moan, and her head sank on his shoulder;
but lifting it instantly, with her fathomless affection
beaming in her face, she added—

" To the mercy and guidance of Almighty God I commit
you, dear Russell—trusting all things in His hands. May
Ho shield you from suffering, strengthen you in the hour
of trial, and reunite us eternally in His kingdom, is, and
ever shall be, my constant prayer. Good-by, Russell I
DJ your duty nobly; win deathless glory on the battle.
field, in defence of our sacred cause; and remember that
your laurels will be very precious to my lonely heart."
The chief heroine of the book is Irene, but Electra
Grey occupies a prominent position, and her cha-
racter and career aro among the extravagances we
have alluded to. Here is a ridicalous description
of the emotions of this precocious maiden :--
A "SENSATIONAL" DAMSEL.

Fourteen years had taughtiter an unusual amount of
stoicism, but sealed lips cannot sepulchre grief, and trials
have a language which will not be repressed when the
mouth is at rest. She looked not gloomy, nor yet quite un-
happy, but like one who sees obstacles mountain high loam
between her and the destined goal, and asks only permis-
sion to press on. Hors was a passionate nature; fierce
blood beat in her veins, and would not always be bound by
icy fetters. There was no serene plateau of feeling where
she could repose; she
enjoyed keenly, rapturously, and
suffered acutely, fearfully. Unfortunately for her, she had
only Himalayan solitudes, sublime in their dazzling height,
or valleys of Tophet, appalling with flame and phantom.
Upon such a passage assuredly comment is need-
less I In better taste is the following eminently
practical advice, administered by a judicious friend
to the other heroine—.
All cannot be °
missionariesl4pEN
in RIT
the
term. I believe that very few are really called to spend
LE;i
ordinary
acceptation of
their lives under inclement skies, in dreary by-corners of
the earth, amid hostile tribes. But true missionary work
lies at every man's door, at every woman's; and, my little
of
fand sister, yours waits for you, staring at you daily. "Do the
work that lies nearest to thee." Let me give you the rule
of a profound
in-
calculable good had he walked the narrow, winding path
which he stood
thinker,
afar who
that thou canst work at, and work at it like a Horculus ;"
pmeii might have accomplished
nted out to others—" Know
and amid the holy hills of Jerusalem the voice of Inspira-
tion exclaimed—" Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do
it with thy might."

As another evidence of the strong emotions which
animate the hearts of the women of the South, and
which of themselves are sufficient to proclaim the
deathless endurance of the struggle for Southern
independence " Macaria" has an interest peculiarly
its own.

Number Thirty•one. A Novel. Two vols. Pitman.
The moral of this tale may be very excellent, but
its manner is not attractive and its details are very
unpleasing. The following remarks upon the effi-
cacy of tact are sufficiently truthful :
TA CT.

What is it, after all, that does the chief lint of the busi-
ness of life ? Is it genius, technically and inexplicably so
called ? Is it talent? Is it erudition ? Is it not rather,
tact? It is, truly 1 Tact has broil described, but never
worthily defined ; how can such a trim, compact, natty
littlo word be defined ? Impossible! Tact is nimble-
fingered and quick-footed—tact has eyes that are perfectly
independent of the optician's art—tact has always an abun
dance of small change at command—tact carries no heavy
weapons, but can do wonders with a sl:ng and stone—tact
knows where the corners are and how to turn them—tact
always spies a sycamore tree up which to run when things
on the crowded earth are difficult of management—tact is
master of the nod, the smile, the wave of the supple hand—
tact etudes a bunch of curiously-fashioned keys, and sur-
prises many a cunningly-wardei lock into a full confession
of its secrets—tact plants its monosyllables wisely, for
being a monosyllable itself it marshals its own order with
the tamiliarfty of friendship ;—aye. tact, sly, versatile,
diving, running, flying tact, governs the great world, after
all, and yet touches the orbicular baby so gently as to make
it reard the sceptre as a stick of barley-sugar. But Mrs
Dudgeon had no barley-sugar sceptre ;in a word, sho had
no /ad.
Assuredly tact formed nu part in the education of
the Dudgeon family. The indifference of the mother
and the intolerance of the father produced very
direful results, as number "thirty-one" sadly testi-
fied.

Askerdale Park. A Novel. By a Clergyman.
• Two Vole. Maxwell.
Thero is . a great deal of constructive ability