New-York daily tribune., 1854-03-28
NEW PUBLINA TYONS.

TIlE LLNPLIGHTER l2nno pp. ~ 6oon Up Jswet' .Co
From the brief and abrupt title OF this book. 90 one
would form Just idea Of the character Of its content7
Many would no doubt be app 10 class it among the
works with which the press swArns in Illustration OF
the lower strata Of hyper civilized society and antci
pate burst oimpa.sOned appeals in behalf ofthe neg
lecied and down rodden classes Of city population Bot
tls view would fail justice TO the res merits ofthe
work The characters, i: is true, are partly taken
from the humbest life scenes of poverty aud social
degradation are described with vivid pen; the ine
rior OF household suffering is laid bare with renarka
bic fidelity and effect but the sOry not written to
serve purpose the author has evidently but slight
interest in any BOrriboOs.Gha al home OF abroad; I;
shows no tiste for the cant Of philanthropy and deals
with the materials at hand lees with the view OF IN
forcing moral than the legitimate subjects Of t
erary art She has aimed 70 produce an agreeable and
impressive work of fiction. 1t is high praise 10 say
that she has succeeded in the attempt But il is sill
higher praise to say that this has been done with re
naIkable absence Of all appearance Of effort, with
no strsinng after effect by improbable scenes or in
faed defcrptions,-the work is peryaded by severe
simplicity which betrays a consciousness OF reserved
pOwer-every situation bears the stamp of genuine
notwithstanding is O'erdrawn too intensely
colored even in the passage. OF deep patAOs
which win the sympathy OF The reader almost from the
commencement Of the story.
The opening chapter presents such an example Of
effective delineatiOn with no parade Of language that
we are tempted to quote it entire:
II was growing dark In the city Out in the open
try il would be light for half an hour more bu' within
the cloe streets where my story leads me II was already
dusk Uron the wooden door tep Of low rooted dark
hole looktr
gazing up the street with much earnestness The house
door which open behind her close TO The side
walk and the step which she sat so low ths her
little unshod feet rested the cold briss Ii chilly
evening in November and light fall OF which had
made everything look bright and clean in the pleasant
Open squares which the fine houses OF the city
built had only served 10 render the streets an
dark lanes cirer and more cherries than ever for,
mixed with the mud and filth which abound in those
neghbohoods where the poor are crowded together the
beautiful snow haC losi ali iis purity
4 great many people were passing 10 and no, beat on
their various errands Of duty or OF pleasure hut no one
noticed the little girl for there was no one in the world
who cared for her She scantily clad in garments
OF the poorest description Her hair was long and very
bck upcombed and unbecOming, II aoyihlng cocid os
ssid 10 be unbecOmng 10 set OF festures which %
casual observer had not single aiirat 0nbeiig tnn
AID sharp while her complexion saow and her whole
spVearanCe Unhe alt.iy.
TO be sure fine dark eve. but unnatursylarge
did they SEEM in contrast her thin pUny face ths; tney
Only increased the peculiarly u H. without enhancing is
beauty Had any felt any interest in her which NO
body did. had ere had mother which ala me had
no those ffioLd sad paria! eyes would perhaps nave
found something in her 10 praise As was however the
poor little thing told, dozen times DAY, that She
was the wort looking child in The world anu what was
more tie wort behaved No one loved hr, aad she
lived no one treated her kinIy no one tried to
make Ler happy cared whether che were so S1e was
but eight old and all alone in the world
There was one thing, and one only, which she found
pleasure in She loved TO watch for the comm, OF the
old man who Lit the street lamp in front OF tie house where
she lived the bright torch be carried Ticker in the
wind; and ther when be up his ladder liz tie lamp
60 Quick " and easily and made the whole place seem
chttrl one CLEAN of ioy was shed little desols,e
heart 10 which glsdress a stranger snd though lie
had never seemed 10 see Gnd certainly had spoken
10 her she almost fo she watched for le old lamp
lighter. 81 IL he were fIiend.
Gerry, exclaimed e hash voice within have You
been Tor the milk p.
Tie child made no answer bat gliding osths door step
rsn quickly round the OF The house snd hi ste
out Il sie ehi.
whom the voice proceeded ard who shoWed heDelf
al the door.
BOY who was passing. and hsd seen Gerty run,-a
boy who had caught the tone OF the whole neshborhOOd
ard looked upon her sor OF imp, spIri OF evil
laughed aloud pointed to the corner which concealed her
ar walking OF with his head his shoulder, 10
What would happen rexi exclaimed 10 himself 80 he went
She II catch il Nan Grant Il fI her
In moment more, Gerty was drasgediron her hidipg
place end with one blow for her ugDess and another
for her inpu6ence for she was making up faces at Nan
Grant with ell her might, she was dispatched down &
neiclboEipg slley with kettle for the mix
She ran fast for she feared helsmpghter woulj come
and in her absence and reOced on her return 20
etcf sight OF him a. che drew the house Gs going
40 his ladder She stationed herself al the foot OF H. aud
was 90 engaged in watching the bright Fame, that she
did not observe when the began 70 descend and as
the wGs directly In his way, he BIZ againt her. a. 20
HoIo my H'ile one - exclaimed he "Lov The -
he stcCpfd q III, her