The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-30 00:00:00

LITERATURE.
THE 11E..1.0 OF THE FAMILY. A Novel. By
the AaEhor. of "Olive" and "The Ogiivies."
Vu's Cliapniag and Edl.
Tne promise of her former works has been more
than fail ill: by the authoress of " Olive" and " The
02,-ilvies." Free from the imperfections which marred
those productions, " The Head of the Family" is one
of the most charming domestic novels which we have
perused for a considerable time. The characters and
the incidents are all most natural, and they are de-
scribed in the most natural manner possible. The
unaffected simplicity of the narration is one of the
great charms of the book, more especially when be-
neath that simplicity of style is revealed a power
and vigour of no mean order. The tale relates
the fortunes of the orphan family of an Endinburgh
" Professor," the scene is for the most part in Scot-
land, and the quaint peculiarities of the dialect which
are casually introduced give to the narrative a
natural and genuine air, and moreover possess for
English readers the charm of freshness and originality.
The simple truthfulness of its style and the quaint-
ness of its 'language obtained for " Margaret
Maitland" a large popularity. In addition to these
attractions " The Head of the Family" contains a
story of enthralling interest, the more enthralling,
perhaps, because the passions it deals with
are so forcibly delineated and the incidents
_ _

so naturally developed, that they come home to the
reader's heart like a chapter from its own history.
However different are the temperaments,. and how-
ever widely dissimilar the fortunes of men, there are
feeli❑gs and sentiments common to all. Few are they
who are not called upon some time or other to obey
the motto on the title-page of this novel, " Non ti
lagnar,ma soffri e tuci !' • Like Ninian Grmme, it
beennies us all to "suffer" and "be silent ;" and
nobly does he fulfil that arduous duty. The "head"
of the orphan " family," Niniau Greene, enacts
a father's part to his young brothers and
sisters, and in the fulfilment of this duty he is
compelled to trample under foot the dearer hopes of
his own heart. Not for him, the head of a family
whom his hard toil can barely sustain, can there be
any thought of wife and children until his hair is grey
with years, and his heart weary with hope deferred.
Knowing this Ninian suffers the young companion of
his sisters, the gentle maiden of his choice, to mingle
with the household group all unconscious of his deep
affection, but his silence is not preserved without a
struggle. The young girl is summoned to England
by her father, and before Ninian's parting
with her occurs one of the most beautiful

little scenes in the book—short and simple though it
be, it is so exquisitely natural and lifelike. With a
mingled feeling of hope and fear, Ninian suspects that
it may be possible that his untold love is returned. If
so he feels that silence is no longer a duty. He could
not seek to win the maiden's affection, precious
though it would be to him ; but if she loves him he
cannot let her suffer in silence—he will tell her all,
and leave her free. "He knew by his own heart,
wherewith he judged hers, that did she love

him, ten, fifteen, or twenty years of patient,
trustful betrothal would be as nothing, so
that he might at last take his wife to
his bosom and thank Heaven for his life's late. won
but most perfect crown." Then follows the little
scene in which Hope Ansted speaks of her sorrow at
1391.614 with the G:aiimes, and her affection for all of
them and for Ninian too—an affection which
had often made her long (she tells him)
to join his sisters in calling. him " Brother."
" Do so, then,' said Ninian.' His voice was
very low, solemn, and cold. His joys and his fears
were alike gone from him. There was no need for
any struggle now." The character of Ninian
G;wine may be seen from these remarks, but it
cannot be fully appreciated -without a perusal of
the whole work, in which it is most beautifully,
and naturally delineated. Hope Ansted at first ap-
pears unworthy of him, but ab her nature becomes
developed its charming and truly womanly attrac-
tions become revealed. Another character worthy of
mention, and one evidently fron the same hand which
portrayed the passionate Kitherine Ogilvy, is
Rachel Armstrong, the loving, devoted girl, and the
wronged and revengeful woman. The concluding
portion of her wild and wayward career, when her
anger has given place to anguish, and her intellects
have become disordered, as sheloeks upon the dead body
of him whom she has loved and hated with a like
intensity, is described with a pathos that is singularly
affecting. Ali the sorrows and wrongs of years are
obliterated from her mind, and in fancy she is restored
to the days of her early and happy
love :
" How soon will' my husbani wake, do you think,
Jane?' again asked Rachel. 'ft's hard to go without
one hiss—and Set the farm is such a weary distance.'
thinks herself nurairg 110 at nay cottage, as
she used to do. Oh, my ppor girl!' oriel Jane
Scdley. It was a scene more touching than any
mad scow) the renowned actress had ever played.
Speak to her—persuade her to leave him,' whispered
Ninian, as be drew back out of sight. The old woman
conquering her tears, obeyed."

It is ;impossible with a few fragmentary extracts to
do justice to a work the charm of which can better
be felt than told, and which it is necessary to read in
order to appreciate. Only by becoming familiar with
the family circle by the fire-side of " The Gowans"
can we justly estimate the genuine home affection
which pervades their life and history, and fully enter
into the so.naturally described joys and
griefs which fall to the lot of the chief indi-
viduals of "the family," nut the least at-
tractive of whom is the youngest sister, Tinie,
the sprightly, playful, mischievo*s girl, but withal a
true and tender-hearted woman. Many beautiful
thoughts, beautifully expressed, we might also cull
from these pages, as where speaking of a heart as yet
untouched by love, it is said :—" Thither the one
angel of life had never descended to trouble the waters
and depart, but even in departing to leave behind a
healing power." Or again, won alluding to the
salutary effect which great grief occasionally pro-
duces upon a character, it is said:—" Whatever sor-
row had swept over her, it had left no bitterness, no
heartlessness, scarcely even grief. It was probably
that one—the most sanctifying woe of all—when the
angel of death, re-ascending, opens heaven, and
suffers a portion of heaven' s light to fall on those look-
ing sorrowfully upwards, whose MCes, like that of
Moses, bear some trace of this brightness evermore."
But instead of attempting by such quotations to do
imperfect
.justice to a very delightful and admirable
work, let us rather advise our readers to read it for
themselves. It is a book truly
appropriate for
Christmasitime, for it breathes throughout a spirit of
genial kindness and home affection. It appeals to
th 4 hest sympathies of our hearts, ,and as such it is
certain to be priz'ed wherever it is appreciated.

JACOB .BENDIXEN, the JEEP; adapted into
English
.from the Danish of Goldschinidt. By
Mary Howitt. Colburn.
This w ark is intended to diffuse a more accurate
knowledge of the life and feelings of the Jews. Not-
withstanding prejudice and misapprehension curiosity,
must be a roused and interest excited at the announce-
[neut of such a production concerning
a people that
have ever been remarkable in all ages and in all
countries. The book is written by ohe of themselves,
and there: Pore no doubt can be entertained about the
validity of its assertions and the authenticity of its
descriptio as. Several anecdotes and traditions are
related at the commencement, which are striking and
original. The adventures of the hero are astonishing
and rem& tlable, but improbability does not attach to
them wile n his peculiar state and proscribed race are
taken int o consideration. The epitome of his life
was corn' erised in the immortal aphorism—" For suf-
fering is the badge of all our tribe." In childhood
without ; )loyfellows, in youth shunned and scorned
by the co liege students, in manhood disowned and
suspiciour:ly regarded by those who called them-
selves frie ne,s, and, finally, his promised bride showed
herself to the world ashamed of her engagement,
betrayed Ftsnd deceived him. He became a soldier,
joined a friend, and embraced the cause
of his un appy country, end fought with despe-
rate ever; g: )7 in one of, the most lamentable con.
fliets the viorld ever beheld. Tne ever unsuccessful
outcast re t urned from despair, defeat, aad destruction
the scei i es of his early years to die in the prime of
life—his dirit crushed, his hopes blighted, and his
heart brot •n. Nor could even death itself annihilate

the courser of persecution, or still the voice of enmity.
The prog; MSS of his funeral was interrupted by his
enemies, k rid by the hands of Christians,,,stones were
flung on I xis coffin as it was lowered into the grave.
His ill st; &wed career and m sad destiny were declared
in the words of his only Mourner, a friend of his own
people, as ho looked over the hills at the woodland
country where he had beheld the deceased in the
joyous s nimation of youth—" He then believed in
eternal p iketry and in eternal life."

BOTH) V_ELL; or, the Days of Afar!' Queen of
Scots. ,By James Grant, Esq. 3 Vols. Parry
and Co. _ _

Mr. Gr t kt, the author of " The Romance of War,"
" The Se att i<h Cavalier," and other works, has, in
again opi les ring before the public, chosen a most in-
teresting svihject, and one which, from its peculi.q.
and strik. naiure, is likely to inspire the genius
of an auti 1%4.. The history of the unfortunate Mary
Stewart is too well known to permit an historical
novelis, to wander far from the truth, and in this
point Mr. Grant may defy the closest scrutiny.
There is every reason to bclieve that the Earl of
Bithwell t,vas early in life married to a Norwegian
lady narnt ed Anne Throndson, prior to his marriage
with Lakt r Jane Gordon, from whom he was divorced
in order tc I be united with Mary Stewart. History
records th. it the unfortunate Earl, after his downfall,
was justly, 1 nit most rigorously, confined by order of
Frederick of Denmark in the Castle of Malmo until

his death, fo r piracy on the Danish seas ; and we see,
from a tra) lation of an order for his imprisonment
now before' i us, that more than the merest necessaries