The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-06 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

CHRISTMAS BOOKS.

Love in the .1110017. ; a Poem, with, Remarks on that
Luminary. By Patrick Scott, author of " Lelio."
Taylor, Walton, and Ma,berly.
The author of " Lelio " has here given evidence
that his powers of fancy are of no
,mean order--
they even extend to the verge of extravagance. .As
a playful extravaganza, however, this elegant little
volume, with its cover of cerulean blue, illumined
by a golden moon, comes appropriately among the
Christmas books. The prefatory remarks contain
some interesting scientific particulars respecting the
actual condition of the moon as known to astrono-
mers, but the moon of the poem is of a somewhat
different nature. The scene of action is the hemi-
sphere not turned towards the earth, consequently
it is not within the power of Arago or Lord Rosso
to gainsay the suppositions of Mr. Scott. On that
distant lunar hemisphere we are to' believe that
human beings, exist, and hence this episode of
"Love in the Moon," seeing that, according to the
happy fancy of Mr. Scott, " Wher6 there's Life,
there must be Love." .
But we shall not introduce these lunatics to our
readers, furthermore than to say that their names
are Lunari, and Argentine, and that, finlike the in-
habitants of our world, their bodies hre contained
within their souls ! Having said thisit is needless
to repeat that the poem is purely an extravaganza,
and we are inclined to think that Mr. Scott might
have turned his powers of fancy to better purpose.

The Inn, by the Sea-side. An Allegory. By Anna
Harriet Drury. Pickering.
We have on other occasions noticed some of
Miss Drury's 'excellent works—her' beautiful tale
of Eastbury, and her most charming story, of
" Friends and Fortune"--one of the most charming
books of its kind that we are acquainted with.
This Christmas, we have no story, from her
pen ; but in its stead, however she gives us, an
allegory—a most felicitous examioile.of that effective
mode of truth-telling. The " Vision of Mirza,"
and others of the kind, have been familiar to us all
from childhood. Of a kindred spirit is this truth-
ful description of that Inn by the Sea-side, in
which, travellers all, we make our passing abode,
entering either by the Gate of Thorns, the Gate of
Oak, the Flowery Porch, or the Princely Archway,
but all leaving it by the same dark portal. For-
getting that they were travellers bound on a far
journey, the visitors of this Inn too often forgot
that it was not their abiding place, and the sum-
mons of departure continually found them with
their travelling garments unprepared, and their
reckoning not paid.

The Picture Pleasure-Book. Actiey.

As a Christmas-box, or New-Year's gift, for the
inhabitants of the nursery, we are satisfied that no
book or toy can surpass in attractions this most
attractive Pleasure-book. It has been making its
appearance with the magazines for some months
past in folio numbers, containing some half dozen
pages of pictures, for the moderate price of six-
pence. One volume is now complete, and that
volume, or even one of the monthly numbers, will
afford immeasurable delight to little folks. Children
so love " a story and " a picture ;" and the beauty
of this work is, that its pictures tO.l their own
26k e stori'

_ies, and, moreover, they are for the most part
reprints from good drawings—a most important
matter, seeing that the unformed taste of children
should be early accustomed to good designs. These
pictures, as works of art, are excellent, and their
selection will, we are confident, give pleasurd to
those for whom they are provided. Sketches of
various animals, and representations of little do-
mestic scenes and adventures are the chief subjEkts,
and sometimes a whole nursery tale is narrated in
successive pictures. Some of these are admirable.

38. g
31 g
8t
•
201 20
101 9i 10A

pm. x.n.

Arbell : A Tale for Young People. By Jane
Winnard Hooper, author of the " Recollections
of Mrs. Anderson's School." Addey, Old Bond-
street.

This is a most desirable book for young people,
and it is. likely to prove serviceable to them as
it represents, in life-like manner, what would
be disregarded in a series of reflections. The good
character of the little heroine is made the subject
of deserved eulogium, and it is especially pointed
out that she could never by her own efforts have
become what she was. After years of careful
training, Miss Travers was enabled to rejoice in
the rtsults of the labour of love in which she had
been sedulously engaged. Arbell was an orphan,
thrown on her bounty, the child of an old friend.
Neglected by all her rich relatives, deserted by :her
friends, the poor mother, as a last resource, sought
out her old playmate Miss Travers, and her dying
prayer was answered. Her daughter was warmly
welcomed to her new home. In that peaceful re-
treat she passed a happy childhood. Georgy Cas..
tellan, the great friend of our heroine, was a very
pleasing girl : her disposition contrasted well with
that of Arbell.e' She was perfectly natural—a merry,
thoughtless girl, yet notwithstanding evincing some
times great powers of boservation and. judgment.
The most interesting part of the story is when the
time of trial comes, when Arbell is introduced to
her grandfather, who, struck by her appearance,
offers to make her his heiress. However, his kind-
ness does not extend to the true friend who had
guarded so well the early years of his grand-
daughter. In the following scene Arbell declares
her intentions :—" Come here, I have something
to say to you, and I must say it quickly, for I am
in a hurry," said her grandfather. " You are my
grand-daughter, and I intend to make you ,my
heiress, and will take you home to live with me
immediately. You understand that. Now, then,
I should like to pay back to this schoolmistress,
who has taken care of you since your infancy, all
the money which she has spent on your account.
I should like her to be paid double the usual
price for pupils. Sit down, and Calculate how
much that will be." Arbell felt the blood mount
into her cheeks. She was indignant and deeply
pained. " What is the matter ?" asked her grand-
father. "Can you not calculate a simple sum of
that kind, my dear ?" " No, Sir," she replied,
losing all fear in the strength of her indignation,
and then finding the words come easily enough,
so that she was astonished afterwards ; "
cannot calculate the sum of what I owe to the
lady who has been mother, father, and all relations
to me. You can't do it. No one can do it ; and
if you could calculate it, I should deserve never to
have a friend any more, if I insulted her by offer-
ing to pay it in money. You cannot pay for her
love and kindness to me, but I will pay her in gra-
titude. I would rather go back to her, and work
for her when she is old, than I would- be your
heiress, and send her the money she has willingly
spent for me since I was taken in charity into her
house." The astonishment of Generall Dudley at
etcahirsceslp;ebcehdfersoemribead.littAleitegrent oving girl, can
looking at her for
rage.a
few moments, he burst into an ungovernable

•
Reveries of a Bachelor; or, a Book of the Heart.
By Ik. Marvel. Bogue. •
Whether or not the first title of this book be cor-
rect we cannot say; but, a„ssuredly, the second is
rightly bestowed. It is a book of the heart, full
to overflowing with genial sympathy and home-
affection. The playful fancy of the style only, en-
hances the deep feeling that lies beneath. The
bachelor, by his lonely fireside, indulges in solemn
reveries, and allegories, and castle-building. First
musing over a wood-fire, the " smoke' suggests a
vision of " doubt," the succeedin " 14taze" inspires
" cheer," and then follows "ashes" and " desola-.
tion;" the visionary home is despoiled of its tre,a-
sures, the ideal wife and .children are in the grave;
and so naturally, so pathetically is the loss imagined,_.s
that we can readily understand him rousing fronl.hiy.
dream, thanking God the sad picture is not atrheal!t _
Yet more charming is the comparison of
sea-
coal,
yet
and the steadfast glowing Anthraci
hearts symbolised by the sparkling,
more delightful is deceptive.tan.

• THE BACHELOR'S VISIONARY HOW-
" From my soul I pity him whose soul does
not it isea p at
the
the mere utterance of that name. A 17- -shome
its highest on
bright, blessed, adorable phantom,
awoiwthbyeourto oywoo
glittering day-
' to
reached ? When shall it cease be eTrhen shall it be
the sunny horizon that gircleth Lifyoelr!his r .
dream, and become fully and fairly
in.
Y
have its charms
" It is not the house, thoughthat
northe plc
footpaths ; nor the trees,. though nor the fields carefully
;carp land ,nor yet is -theu
it
likethatof a great rock in a • t
sweet blaze-Play tires which
fireside, with its
the cherished book ; but
tell of loved ones ; nor the ______,E. , p more far
,ahnathstereiraksehad
than all those—it is the ±?,,,".` The -1-Ares of your
tilled, and ;
there ; the altar of your confideuee there
p are
dl faith is there and ere; the
end of your worl
ty.
passionateflow adorning it all, and
ding your blood in , i 53 the ecstasy of the
• tion that there, at least, you are belovedcon •
yo are understood ; that there your e,, that there
1 rots
with gentlest forgiveness ; that the your will meet ever
re troubles •
smilod away ; that there you I,will be
f„riese of harsh, nnsympathisinauublirden 3"43ur
s°lll
may be entirely and joyfun g ears; and that there ou
y yourself 1." y
In the Third Reverie,
“ with a wisp of
paper, a,, cigar ' ' lighted with a coal"
and cc • ,
gests appropriate reflections wits a mannersgaffec Lion ; and the on different of
Fourth .
in the form of a Reverie, the longest, is
throughout,
but
especially the concluding portion.
complete history—very charming
throughout, ali
b naNes of domestic •
life in its happiest phase,
and the tenderly-touching.
allusion to the death of
the
little child, is sufficent to entitle its author to
Call his " A Book of the Heart." As such, we
cordially commend it. It will give pleasure to all
who appreciate genuine feeling.