The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-05 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Ladies of Bever Hollow. By the Author of
" Mary Powell," tte. 2 vols. Bentley.

This work is strictly what it professes to be on
the title page, a tale of English country life, it is
simple and unpretending in its style and hewer,
but it charms by its very simplicity, and engages
attention from its quaint and primitive character.
The ladies referred to are two sisters in the de-
cline of life, deprived of their earlier advantages of
a weathy horns and good position, no less than
bereft of their youthful bloom and beauty, by the
inexorable decrees of fate. However, many a maiden,
favoured by the smiles of nature, and the charms
of art, might have envied them their cheerfulness
and content. Mrs. Althea, especially, is a delight-
ful character; no one can fail to take an interest in
the suffering invalid, compelled to one place, posi-
tion, and an unchanging, wearying lot. Her dis-
position is not represented as perfect ; she is no
imaginary delineation of fictitious excellence, as
such persons are often described, but a real,
genuine humane nature, sometimes complaining,
sometimes impatient, now feeling the burden
heavier than she can bear, anon dis-
mayed at her own repinings and shortcomings,
but always at last finding hope revived, and faith
restored ; always seeking her own happiness in the
enjoyment of others ; and ever stedfastly behold-
ing, as her only promise of rest, the kingdom where
pain and weariness are unknown. Her sister, Mrs.
Kitty, as she is called, is by no means so attractive
as the gentle and gracious Althea. She was, as the
author declares, " a rough dianiond ;" but she pos-
sesses the merit of straightforwardness. Some of
the friends who flit in and out, of the simple abode
in which the sisters reside are very pleasing and
profitable subjects for study. The gentle Rhoda,
the intelligent Pamela, each in her way amuses and
informs. The picture drawn of the curate's family
is a beautiful image of home, in its highest sense
and holiest attributes. It seems to niche, father as
Lauucelot Bohuu that the imagery of the Psalmist
applies, " Thy sons shall grow up as the young
plants, and thy daughters shall be as the polished
corners of the temple." elany a noble and wealthy
ons.llol d might have envied the peace that reigned
' 1..3 walL, of tirt humble habitation.
Pamela, the eldest, is a most
portraiture, and it is not to be wondered at
that she was such a universal favourite.
The latter portion of the story is chiefly occupied
by the details of the strife, and confusion, that
entered the sisters' home with the person of Eliza
Brand. She was a regular mischief-maker, one of
those insidious individuals who never openly
suggest anything, or make any decided complaint,
but are continually hinting at this arrangement,
and ceaselessly inferring the necessity of such and
such a remedy. Well might the harassed and dis-
tracted Mrs. Althea have exclaimed, during the
infliction of her presence
" Oh ! of all plagues, good Heaven, thy wrath can send,
Save me, oh sava me, from the candid friend."
The greatest trouble was that Kitty was inveigled
into the snare of this deceitful woman ; by her
specious contrivances, and her matchless plausibility
she gained an ascendancy over the honest mind,
and took a base advantage of the generous confi-
dence of the younger Miss Hall. Iu this passage
the author has given a forcible and correct sketch
of the misery arising from the introduction of such
a character as Mrs. Brand into the home circle.
It is satisfactory to find her at last routed, and
vanquished, by the energy and spirit of
George Mildmay,lwhile Pamela Bohun, once having
entered the house, soon converted discord into har-
mony, by her decision and kindness. After the
dark cloud that had obscured their horizon, we re-
joice to leave the sisters once more reunited, and to
hear of the departure of their false friend, to carry
out new schemes of deceit, and ensnare new victims
by her subtle adroitness, in a land beyond " earth's
central line," The charm of this work consists in
its successful sketches of home life, and in its
true descriptions of the small things, that are great
in their consequences, and weighty in their p ,wer
for good or evil, as they influence aright, or lead
astray. Humble as their position was, simple their
tastes, and obscure their lives, the ladies of Bever
Hollow seem to claim that homage which is ex-
clusive to no rank, but is the heritage of all who
respect themselves. There is something touching
in their affection for each other, something truthful
in their upright actions, and beyond all, something
holy in the life of Althea.

The Chaplain's Narrative of the Siege of Delhi.
By T. E. Rotten, M.A. Smith, Elder, and Co.
The siege of Dalhi, from the terrible circum-
stances of its commencement, and the anxiety
which it excited in every English home, is a sub-
ject well calculated to attract the attention of a
large number of readers. The recital of the prin-
cipal events of the siege, - and of the last terrible
assault, by an e 3 e-w itness of those fearful struggles,
carries with it an authenticity and value which a
more elaborate or eloquent narrative might want.
The mingled pictures of the military manoeuvre=,
and the chaplain's visits to the soldiers' deathbed ;
the plain account of the difficulties and dangers
with which our gallant army had to contend ; the
horrors of cholera in the camp, joined to the enemy
they were opposing, combine to give a vivid idea
of the severity of the siege, and the merit of those
who sustained their arduous parts with such un-
flinching valour. The style of the work is in no
way remarkable, but the writer exhibits a tolerance
and charitable spirit, in speaking of those of ano-
ther faith, not always to be met with in ministers
of religion, however pure or elevated their doc-
trine. The sufferings endured by the author, in
common with the rest of the army, from the
want of comforts, the pestilential vapours, the
swarms of flies, and the other miseries that attend
a prolonged warfare in such a climate, appear to
have been great. He speaks in the highest terms
of the general conduct of the officers and men, and
of the ready and willing spirit in which they per
formed their duties. The perusal of this volume
will in no degree lessen the admiration felt for
General Wilson's noble army, while rendering
more clearly apparent the obstacles which they
had to surmount, and the sufferings they had to
undergo.

The Boy's Book of Industrial Information. By
Elisha Noyce. Ward and Locke, Fleet-street.
A more acceptable book of general enlighten-
ment, adapted to the average juvenile capacity,
has rarely come under our notice. Most works
of this class are either too weak or too strong, too
light or too heavy, but Mr. Noyce has hit upon the
happy medium, and pleasantly, yet soundly, in-
structs the inquiring and expanding mind on the
subjects of Earths, Metals, Machinery, Manufac-
tures, Arts and Trade, Skilled Labour, and vari-
ens other matters which constiiuto the vital ele-
ments of useful knowledge. Three hundred and
sixty-five illustrations by the Brothers Daloial add
materially to the worth and excellence of the book,
being equally apt and lucid in mental design, and
correct in manipulative execution. Although
denominated as the " Boy's Book," we should
quite as earnestly recommend it for the study of
girls, for it treats entirely of subjects which are,
more or less perfectly fit to be acquired by
feminine minds, as well as masculine ones.
There is nothing more injurious in a woman's
knowing something of the natural formation of coal
and salt, than of a series of polka steps. The pro-
cesses of printing and weaving may claim a degree
of attention as legitimately as the arrangement of
ribbons for a fete costume; and even a notion or
two of the construction of railways, electric tele-
graphs, ships, and such common, though " ab-
struse" things, may be quite as effective tonics for
the " seam" brain, as fitful doses of Berlin work,
or a persistent course of " Trovatore" music. In-
deed, this volume is one we should sedulously re-
commend to every school and family ; venturing to
hint, at the same time, that many who have
"finished their education" may probably increase
their stock of knowledge by dipping into its pages.

Wild Flowers : how to see and gather then. By

Spencer Thomson.
When a book has reached its fourth edition, it
needs little help from the critic's fair word, and
this charming little volume may very independently
now stand on its own merits. Dr. Thomson treats
ably and plersantly of an undying subject—" Wild
Flowers" a subject hallowed by our Great
Teacher's illustration of the "lilies of the field,"
glorified by the poet's tuneful lament over
the " wee modest crimson-tipped flower," t:nd
worshipped by every lisping toddler who is
big. enough to clutch a buttercup by its golden
crown, or seize the ruby7decked mallow with
destructive idolatry. SAnehow or other there
exists a natural lova fur the very sound of the
names of woodbine, dog-rose, cowslip, bluebell,
sweet-woodruff, anemone, meadow queen, and the
myriad galaxy of esrth's unnumbered gems; and
we think we can assert that a better book than
this of Dr. Thomson's cannot be consulted by those
who, like ourselves, are prone to bather a bouquet
of wild flowers, and then wish t I learn some-
:Lei:. I)ir h, plrPtitage, and education.

Education of the Human Race. Translated from
the German of G-otthold Ephraim Losing.
Smith, Elder, and Co. .

Here we find a short treatise which, in our opinion,
is better adapted for private perusal than public
criticism. The question of Theology is a delicate
if not dangerous one to discuss in a light tone and
limited space, and though the ratiocinations of a