The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-30

shadow of the great bereavement is indeed as it
must be, deep and dark, but it is preceded by
sweet aud sunny history of happy childhood, and
softened and limited by the consultations and hopes
of the Gospel Of Him who laid his hand of bless.
ing on the brows of little children, and proclaimed
that Of such is the kingdom of heavenn
JIG w.
HIsroKr OF MY PErs Boston: TicknOr Il Co. Pr. log
For sale by Taylor Maury, Pennsylvania avenue
Washington.
The juvenile public, and even those of us who
are children Of larger growth" can scarcely
fail to thank the writer of this unique and charm.
ing little volume. In connection with the history
of her biped and quadruped favorites Grace
Greenwood has given an exceedingly pleasant
and amusing autobiography of her childhood, and
has thus lent human interest to the story of the
lives and fortunes of her brute friends. The DOR.
traits of man and beast are sketched with 90 much
life and spirit, their peculsrities and good and
evil qualities and characteristics are 80 well de-
fined, that we question whether Landseer, or
Grandville, or the famous old Dutch painter who
was styled "the Raphael of Cats,n ever trans
ferred to their canvass more striking likenesses
They remind us of Cowper's description of his
pets, and Of Jane Porter's address to her kitten.
The style is admirable, simple, spirited and grace
full and in our judgment far preferable to that Of
her more ambitious and studied prose pieces "Tc-
by, the hawk" is the best of the humorous sketch
es. Hector, the Grey hound,n and Robin Red
breast" have touching pathos which will COM
mend them in an especial manner to young
readers whose sunny hearts, as yet undarkeped
by actual sorrow, find luxury in ideal sadness
and, to use the language of Wordsworth
Sad fsncies do affect,
In luxury Of disrespect
To their own prodigal excess
OF too familiar hsppinessn
The rapid sale and general popularity of this
little contribution to juvenile literature will
we trust, induce the writer to continue her labors
of love in this department. The author of such
stirring lyrics as "The Poet of To-Day" and
"Arnold Winkeried,n need not fear the charge
of puerility and childish weakness in following
where Hawthorne and Hans Christian Andersen
have led the way J. G.. w.
BARDs THE BIBLE. BY George Gilnllan. New York:
d. Appleton & Co For sal. by Taylor Maury Wash
ington, ID. e.
This volume, from its subject and its author
necessarily work of high order, is full almost to
repletion Of striking thoughts and splendid pas
sages. 1t is at least the result of true aspira.
ton to treat worthiy and appreciatingly charac-
tiers and powers transcending humanity in their
simple grandeur-an earnest endeavor to climb
to those heaven-piercing heights from which come
down to US the immortal strains of the solemn
Hebrew bards, the prophets and poets of the car
liest time, and of all time.
There is in this work much Of original and
suggestive thought-many passages of noble elo-
quence, highly wrought, and startlingly beauti.
full there is much of divine truth, even of sublime
conception the author sometimes rises with bis
subject as on wind of prophecy" but only for
q moment. On the whole, we do not think his
style wel-suited to the highest sacred topics. 1t
does not compare fvorably with that of the best
ligious writers II is succession of brief fash
ing flights from one brilliant point to another
not the long, steady sunward sketches Of broad
winged thought with which Milton assembled to
the most ancient heavens He does not. like
Jeremy Taylor, Get us to feeding on the luscious
fruits, battle us in the fragrant air of the very
Eden of poetry, but rather invites US to costly
banquet, curiously prepared, where one rich
course succeeds another, till we are cloycd, and
half stiles US with concentrated sweets, the dou-
bic extracts of poetical fancy. The style of Mr..
GILLIAN certainly lacks classical purity and sim
MI anLa q. Ia,
rather spasmodic than continuous. The simple
ornaments of Milton are cords of gold, which 60
to make up the very texture of his style; but in
our authors they are embroideres, stars, and
jewelled decorations The ornaments of Jeremy
Taylor's style hang upon it lightly-like dew
drops; you may shake them off, and the rose Of
yet more beautiful thought remains but on the
style of GilfIlan they glitter like icicles win
ter sprsy--strip them of, and what remains but
a bare, brown stalk. They are often too much Tor
the thought, which breaks like slight thread
crowded with heavy gems, or sinks like tired
camel overloaded with spices.
In nearly everything we have read from MI
Gifllans pen, we have been conscious OF ae-
gree Of artifciality, and Of an effort when ID
tigued US, as we might be fatigued at seeing men
fly with patent pinions, flew they ever so wen
We always take his books up with pleasant anu
cipations, and read them with great rest 'or
half hour or SO then lay it down with sV..
confused ringing of musical passages In OUT ...h
like flock of mocking birds trying TO sung eaS
other down. And many Of his thoughts 'O.
before us indistinctly as blurred with ornaments
like the faces of Polynesian beauties 'a''00e' INV
grotesqueness. sorne.
Amer all the darling, Intoxicating, and some
times eralting qualities of writers Of the | ~.
cauley and Gil6llan type, we fall BACK upSA .n.h
simpler, more natural, and sueduea s'y's v ~;,h
as Lamb, Irving, Hawthorne, ana h,,r'' -
a positive sense Of re lief and reposs we nD
longest beside the stream which hows que'v
nature, through woods and meadows rene0I '
sets and sunrises and sends out continual" -.
low, beguiling murmur. The fountain ~
mobiles garden leaps high, has moro A""
spsrkle, and makes rainbows In tho son'A"
while the sound Of its rushing and p'Asn'ns
farther heard, but who does not know .se,,
machinery II work beneath