Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-02-16
THE CHILDREN AND THE NOVEL.
BY MRS. CAROLINE A. sOULE.


BY MRS. CAROLINE A. soULE.
"Well there" muttered Mrs. Lee, in some
what petuent tone as she laid down her babe,
thank fortune, as the last one is abed and
asleep. Now for little comfort"
Carefully drawing the blankets around the tiny
form, she rested one hand for few moments
upon the gently heaving breast, stirred the era
die with the other, singing the while low lul-
laby.
Assured from its soft breathing and quiet
limbs that it was indeed asleep, she turned from
it quickly, drew her low rocker to the stand,
picked up the light, and took from underneath a
miscellaneous pile in her workbasket, an uncut
novel.
"What beautiful title" said she, all traces
of WEAKNESS vanishing with electric rapidity
from hef countenance AS her eyes glanced
over its pages, the dull look they had worn all
day disappeared, and the light of anticipated JOY
flashed in its stead
81 know that | shall be pleased with it; feel
that it will be interesting" continued she.-
"What charming names the author has chosen.
None of your Johns and Hannahs, your Roberts
and Margarets-oh no! Here is noble Rodrigo
poetic Clarence, sweet Florilla, sanity Therese
why, there is not an ordinary name in the
taste 70
Having hastily cut the leaves she shaded her
brow with one hand grasped the charming book
with the other, as though it were polished gold
and she mser, and commenced, in the phrase
Of enthusiastic novel readers, to devour the pa.
ges.
Rapidly did her eyes run over the first chap
ter. But then she turned her head with quick
in the cradle? Yes, a little hand was lifted from
beneath the cover.
TOO bad, too bad he'll be awake all tht
evening now;" and she glded with q noiscles
step to the chids side.
But the eyeids were still closed-the meas
ured breath of slumber stole gently from th
half-parted lips, and the offending hand reste,
in quiet beauty upon the soft cheek.
had throbbed but one short summer AS it la
there, the spell of snless sleep upon his brow,
seemed the type Of all things pure and blest.-
Eden, with all its loveiness never charmed tn
gaze of Eve with such picture. The hole
feelings Of the mothers breast were touched, a
If by a hand from heaven. The angel began t.
trouble the deep waters of her soul as she stoo
beside that cradle bed and when, after a vig
of several moments, the child still sleeping, sh
bent her head and imprinted upon its lips tn
kiss of love, the healing wave flowed for an in
stant-then ebbed, for the novel was not We
read.
Resuming her seat, Mrs. Lee again took he
book. But the fiction seemed to have lost som
of its fascination. For some time her glass vac
ilated between its finely printed pages and he
heaped up basket She even put on her thin
bic and threaded her needle. But moonligl
scene, where in honeysuckle bower, the nobl
lover draws trembling girl to his bosom, an
pours into her ears the wild words of courtshiI
acted like magic on the readers mind, and sh
became absorbed in the glowing picture.
The second and third chapters were soon pc
rused, and she was entering with interest upo
the fourth, when sweet voice from the trundlt
bed called out mother, mother, mother"
Her ear caught the sound but it made no in
preston upon her mind till it had several time
been repeated; then turning quickly, in no yer
gentle voice she exclaimed, What do you wan
Lizzie?" | thought you were asleep an hot
ago."
al have been asleep, MOTHER" answered ii
daughter in timid tone. 81 walked up b.
cause"
Because you were a naughty girl and wan
ed to plague me- Strange that ! can't have