The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-04 00:00:00

GOSLINGFORD.

Goslingford is a thorough old English country town,
and, in the days of which I speak, though these are not
very remote, had not been invaded even by a railway. It
consists of four streets, at right angles, somewhat narrow,
but very picturesque ; the coburing, old, dusky, and mel-
lowed, and the tall chimneys and overhanging upper stories
throwing, in the summer sunshine, those shadows, broad
and deep, so dear to the heart of the aceomplished gentle•
man who writes the " Stones of Venice." A broad river,
bearing a little—a very little—traffic on its bosom, steals
lazily by, past the little town, and through green meadows,
mostly flat, onwards to the sea. Cattle repose in these
meadows, amid cowslips and buttercups, and under the
shade of tall elms and wide spread oaks ; and low hills, not
robed, however, in "the azure hue" of distance, but
chequered with the unmistakeable yellow and green
of corn fields or turnip fields, gird in the pleasant
vale, which has many a counterpart in rural England.
Thus, though a pretty and an interesting old town, it
is a very everyday one—being, in fact, in architec-
ture and situation, the very commonest type of
an English uncommercial town. The people, too,
are the very kind of people who reside in such towns, even
in these days of rapid and constant communication of every
place with every place else, when everybody is becoming,
outwardly at least, so like everybody else, that national and'
local distinctions, and even individual character, seem in
danger of being obliterated by the modern monotony of re-
finement and cultivation. But as yet, at Goslingford, most
people still dined at three o'clock, and went out to tea par-
ties at six; and it was, by many parse's, thought very fine
and foolish of the Smiths, when they gave a dinner party
at the irrationa: hour of half-past six, at which the wine
was handed round by Thomas, indoors man-servant, and
Sarah, housemaid, instead of being put nn the table, that
the guests might drink with each other in the old friendly
way, when "people were not too fine to enjoy themselves."
The tide of public feeling, that is, the feeling of the
polite world of Goslingford, for a time rose decidedly on
the Brown side.

" Old Mr. Brown," said Miss Clara Welby, to her friend
Miss Harriet Richards, " would never have permitted such
new-(angled nonsense. But people now-a-days must all
be finer and wiser than their fathers. Perhaps next time
the meat will be all carved at the side table."

The " mighty war" of the Browns and the
Smiths is, for the most part, a very tame
affair. It rises in interest, however, when the heir
of the Smiths becomes the suitor for the only
daughter of the Browns—Hannah. This Hannah
is a quiet undemonstrative girl, endowed with
strong feelings and animated with very high
principles, as is conspicuously manifested in two
most important incidents of her career. We
must admit, however, that we have perused
her story at a disadvantage, her name continually
producing upon us the same uncomfortable
sensation as a jarring chord in a melody.
We have no fault to find with " Hannah,"
neither do we object to " Brown," but
the combination, the fatal combination,
" Hannah Brown," has continually recalled to mind
the horrible tragedy of Greenacre, a tragedy in
which, it will be remembered, one Hannah Brown
was the victim ! We hope that other readers may
not be haunted by the same unfortunate reminis-
cences, for Hannah herself is a dear,good girl,worthy
only of suggesting pleasant associations. As the
best exemplification of her peculiar character, so
humble, so loving, but so determined ; and, as
giving a glimpse also of the different individualities
of young Smith and old Brown, we will give a
scene aptly named—

A CRISIS.

Mr. Brown and Mr. Edgar Smith were both standing.
Edgar at the window, apparently looking out on the church-
yard ; Mr. Brown at a writing table in the middle of the
room.

Hannah dared not look at her father's face; but she in-
stinctively felt it was a bad omen that her lover did not
advance to meet her, or even turn to her on her entrance.
He made, however, an involuntary twitching movement as
he heard the door open and close. Hannah took hold of
the back of a chair. The moment was sickening.

"Hannah 1" said her father, and one could perceive that
it was only with an effort he spoke firmly, " this young gen-
tleman, this Mr. Edgar Smith, tells mu that, it is with your
consent that he comes here to ask mine to his marrying
you. Is this true ?"
Hannah could just find words to answer—" Yes, father."
She trembled excessively; but she was beginning to get
less nervous, though more alarmed.
" Hannah," he said, and there was grief and severity in
his tone; " had I not heard this from your own lips, I could
not have believed it. Are yea aware that this gentleman
is one of a family who would do anything—anything not in
the world's opinion dishonest—to better themselves, that
they even avow such principles? Have you forgotten, poor
simple girl, that you are the only heir of my fortune, and
has it never struck you that to a Smith that may have been
one of your chief attractions?"
Here Edgar turned fiercely round, and confronted Mr.
Brown with angry eyes. Edgar, though he was not quite
blind to family faults, like all the Smiths, had strong family
affections. But if lie intended to speak, Hannah prevented
him.
6‘ Father," elle said firmly, " you are ruistako. 1:10

would have loved me all the same if I had not had sixpence.
I know he would."

" Thank you, Hannah—thank you for ever," said the
lover, earnestly.

. .
"You have great confidence in your own charms, it ap-
pears," said Mr. Brown, _ _ _

_ •
"No, father; but I have great confidence in Mr. Smith's
sincerity."

" God bless you, Hannah I" said the young man, " now
no accusation can wound me."

" Fine words, and the folly of a love sick girl," said Mr.
Brown, "will not alter facts, will not excuse you, Mr.
Smith, for clandestinely stealing my daughter's heart,
when you must have known such an alliance would be dis-
tasteful to me."

" Sir, I have not clandestinely stolen your daughter's
heart. I have sought her in the face of the world, and the
moment I have known my affection was returned, I have
sought your countenance. I knew there were grudges be-
tween the families, but I hoped this union might have been
the means of terminating feelings which are neither right
nor wise."

"Perhaps, young man, your elders may be as goad
judges of that as you. And now, Hannah, that you know
my opinion, and I think you ought to have known it from
the beg.nning, will you inform me what you intend to
do ?"

Hannah looked up in amazement, and faltered out some-
thing about her father's consent. Old William Brown be .
czme very pale, set his lips firmly, and answered—
" That I should willingly consent that you make your-
self miserable for life is impossible. Hannah, you have
but one alternative. You are my only child—the only thing
left to me on earth to comfort me in my old age. Marry
this man, and I will not curse you, I will not disinherit you;
but if you do, you will break my heart, and bring my grey
hairs with sorrow to the grave."
For a moment there was a pause.

If William Brown had been pale, his daughter became
many degrees paler; but her trembling and her nervous-
ness were over for the moment. She stood upright, and
said in a firm though very low tone—
" Then, father, I will not marry him."
The sensation created in Goslingford by this inci-
dent may be imagined. Another lady-love lays
claim to the attentions of Edgar Smith, and serious
troubles fall on the devoted head of Hannah, but
in her case, as it generally happens in real life,
all ultimately turns out well for the faithful heart
and the unwearying patience.

My Nephew's History of Rome. By Caroline Ada
Norton. One Vol., pp. 135. Houlston and
Wright.
Better than Pinnock's Catechism,better even than
Goldsmith's Abridgment, this pretty little story book,
all about ancient Rome—as interesting as a romance
and as authentic as a careful research in the light of
Niebuhr and of Cornewall Lewis can make any his-
torical narrative—deserves, and we doubt nut will
attain, a wide popularity among the young people
for whose instruction and amusement it has been
intended. rine title we cannot but think a Dais-
take, as so many titles of far more important books
are, unluckily,of late years. Otherwise the volumette
is deserving of our frank and cordial commendation.

A Defence and Exposition of the Principles of
Astrology. By Alfred Pearce. Pp. 72. Berger.
This is not the first appearance of Mr. Pearce as
an enthusiastic champion of the pseudo-science of
Astrology. And a note at the close of the little
pamphlet, now published by him as a popular sketch
of celestial philosophy in all its branches, intimates
plainly enough that it is not intended to be his last.
Think of his zeal, in advocating the principles of
astrology, as we may, speak of it, write of it as
we may, say that he is bitten with a craze about
notions long exploded as idle day-dreamings,
yet day-dreamings formerly indulged in by some
of the mightiest intellects of whom the world
has had record, dreamings, however, it should
be added, that have long been set aside as
obsolete alike by the general multitude, and
by the great masters of modern philosophy—
still, in spite of all that, it is quite impossible
not to recognise that the writer of this very
curious argument is seriously in earnest, himself,
throughout it. It is dedicated by him in words of
fervent admiration to Zadkiel. It purports to con-
tain within it answers to all "religious, scientific, and
popular objections" to astrology. The motto placed
upon the title-page is ingeniously selected from
Thessalonians—" Despise not prophesyings ; prove
all things ; hold fast that which is good." In
obedience to which recommendations or injunctions,
Mr. Pearce, evidently himself believing in Zidkiel's
scheme of " Celestial Philosophy" as the right one,
undertakes, within the compass of seventy-two
pages, at the cost of no more than one shilling to
the purchaser, to " prove all things" in relation to
Astrology How far he succeeds in the attempt,
the reader need not only conjecture ; but—if he has
the leisure and the inclination—can actually see for
himself by skimming these fourteen chapters into
which Mr. Pearce has divided his rapid defence and
exposition of his pet hobby.

The Farmers' Almanac and Calendar for 1864.

Pp. 100. Ridgway.

Among the earliest in making its appearance be-
times each autumn, our old friend The Farmers'
Almanac and Calendar is among the most useful
and comprehensive of the publications of its class.
The new year 1864 is interesting, as we all bear in
mind, of course,• already, before it comes, as one of
those exceptional years called Leap Year, or Bisex-
tile. As an almanac and calendar of particular im-
portance, The Farmers' has still the benefit of a
double revision before making its appearance in
November. The contents of it being carefully
scrutinised and authenticated by Mr. William Shaw
and Mr. Cuthbert Johnson, F.R.S. A glance down
the alphabetical index—given upon its very title-
page i❑ triple columns—will yield assurance at once
to any one who opens it, that the publication could
hardly have been rendered more complete.

Ne CoiSe. Born to Good Luck. C. C. Dagobert.

One Vol. Pp. 152. Milan.
In this charming volumette a new serial issue is
commenced. The design kept in view throughout it,
by M. Dagobert, is—to furnish those who can only
"
study the French language by fits and starts,"with
a series of works calculated to facilitate their acqui-
sition of knowledge in regard to the structure and
idioms of that language, by fits and starts. IVe
Cot" or as it is freely translated, " Born to Good
Luck," is the first specimen of this pretty little
library in French and English, thus started for the
use (and amusement) of travellers. The system
upon which the work is constructed is not by any
means Hamiltonian. The French and English
confront each other upon opposite pages, and can be
read alternately or (so to speak) simultaneously at
pleasure, according to the whim and fancy of the
student-traveller. The notion of the series appears
to us to be very excellent.

The Spaniards have at length established! a
Punch, which is called El Cascabel.

A petition in favour of the Poles, signed by M.
de Montalembert, M. St. Marc Girardin, M. Odilon
Barrot, and other eminent personages, will be presented to
the Senate soon after the opening of the Chambers, praying
that France shall declare that Russia has forfeited the
rights she held by the treaties of 1815, and that she shall
forthwith recognise the Poles as belligerents.
A PERILOUS ADVENTURE.—Two youngsters,
named Lee and Inch, procured a boat from Meadfoot
beach, Torquay, on Sunday afternoon, and pulled over to
the Great Rock, which lies near Hope's Nose, and a little
less than a quarter of a mile from the shore. The rock is a
few acres in extent. The boys landed there and amused
themselves, having secured their boat. The wind, however,
rose to a gale, and when they looked for the craft,. it was
drifting far beyond their reach. The prospect of passing
the night on thin bleak, dreary, and inhospitable rock, was
far from inviting, and therefore young Lee,
stripping,
plunged into the eddying tide, which was lashed into fury
by the storm, and notwithstanding the swift currant which
sweeps along between the island and the main, succeeded
in reaching the shore, and crawled to a farm-house near in
a very exhausted state. No boat could live upon the sea
on Sunday night, and, therefore, it was not until Monday
morning that the other lad was rescued.— Weste7n Morning
News.
Beautiful for ever," is the title of a little
volume from the pen of the now well-known Madame
Rachel. It need scarcely be remarked that it is addressed
mainly to the gentle sex, its object being to afford them
certain hints as to the best means of preserving female
beauty. Madame Rachel comes in direct opposition to Mr.
Urquhart as to the use of the Turkish bath for ladies.
warning them against the use of cosmetics, and advocating
warmly the use of the fragrant productions of Arabia. The
authoress promises another publication on the subject, in
which will be given a more lengthened explanation of her
system, with such advice and receipts as may enable ladies
(says the writer) to make themselves " beautiful for ever:"