The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-10

SNll Ouperlnteuuehce OF ArmOrleS, are emil
nently statesmanlike in treatment, and abound
in instructive suggestions.
WoLFsDEN. An Authentic Accom-, of Things there and
thereunio pertaining, they and have been BY
J. b. Boston: Phillips, Sampson, & Co. 1856.
A single chapter, inserted in some of the
public journals, previous to the issuing of this
volume led US to look for it with not little
interest. The specimen was perhaps one of the
best that could have been selected. The story
of little Amy-the child lost and found-is told
with true pathos, and the whole scene so SIM
ply and yet so truthfully described, that every
one reading it must have felt desire to learn
more of her history, as depicted in these pages.
We have read the work, and while in many
fess to disappointment in certain particulars.
We should Judge the writer to be essaying his
or her strength in first effort, for we hardly
know how to class the author. In reading
parts of the book, we feel that a woman's hand
must have held the pen most of the other
portions, however, as well as the inscription,
seem to bear the stamp of more masculine
traits of character. In the stories told by sew
eral others, the style is his own, all alike, and
not suited to the diverse characters relating
them. There is an air of carelessness, at times,
which lessons the praise we are ready to bestow
as we turn over page after page of some prece-
ding chapter. The descriptions occasionally
err in redundancy. The characters, in num-
Der of cases, have no doubt been drawn from
life, and could be recognised by those familiar
with the scenes and incidents. Slightly exag-
gerated probably, others, of more marked pc
cularity in their relation to the story may like
wise be accepted, as in the main, correctly
given. We were sorry, however, to find the
author falling into too common practice, by
modern writer's of fiction, of making all the
persons set forth as claiming religious char
acter more or less disagreeable, unlovely in
temper, or extreme and inconsistent in opin-
ion. Because there are such, who profess the
religion of Christ engaged also, apparently, in
the advancement of religion and missionary
enterprise, are all to be so considered? and
should volume, depicting New England men
and women in any of the country villages, only
present such phases of religious character?
The author, not to lose a touch of comic effect,
or to give foil to some favorite parsonage, we
fear, has yielded to an unworthy temptation to
caricature the religious institutions and feel
ings of the present day. How many fling or
sidehit at piety, in imperfect human nature,
| seemingly of no Importance, will yet be held
to dread responsibility to Him to whom we
of mir for dlo he
author of this book knows of the ten thousand
happy influences, reaching far out from those
little circles, which cluster around the homes and
fresides of the people where the scene is earli-
est laid, and whence the hero goes forth into the
world of temptation and sin. Why not, then,
bestow at least hearty, though passing tribute,
on that strong religious feeling, that reverence
for the word of God, and those holy and deeper
emotions from which spring the hallowed re-
membranes that watch, as it were, and rescue
the clear minded youth when in other scenes?
In certain of his descriptions, also, the volume
resembles some of the less elevated fiction of
prurient imagination. A slight change in style
only was needed to remedy this.
1t is because the book has so much in it to
interest, and in so many respects commands
our admiration, and gives proofs how much
better still the same talents might be put forth,
that we have dwelt on these blemishes. A de-
lightful freshness overspreads the pictures of
rural life, the playful customs of youthful days,
and the adventurous and frolicsome incidents
are wrought into the story with happy effect.
| We have hearty laugh for the mishaps of the
sleigh-ride; we love to look at the quiet flow of
| the schoolmaster's affection, unbroken by any
misgiving; we sympathize with those two
less happy hearts that seemed so meant for
each other, mutually mistaken; we drop tear,
| too, as we read of the sorrows that crowd In
upon some other throbbing bosom, while we
rejoice to meet with the manly upholding of
the right, and watch to it's reward the selfsac-
rifcing spirit that returns to its home improved
| in culture, but unchanged in its nobleness.
| Such things may be, but the surest hope to
| produce them must be found in reliance on
a mightier than human power. May the au-
thor bear this fuller in mind and stamp it on
future pages s.
| ENdBIKMs EDEN. BY James Hamilton, d. D., T. l.
-.
| by Gray & Ballanyne, Washington d. c.
| Eden's flowers, its plants, sylvan shades, and
bowers Of innocence and love, have furnished
themes and imagery for inspired men, and for
the poetry and song, too, of one hardly less d.
vine. Who does not remember the gorgeous
description of Milton, where he brings "every
balmy sweet and pours over the whole the
rich hues of his magic coloring, till we seem as
if standing there, with all of Paradise breathing
around us2 Alb, how sad that 81 the trail of the
serpent" should ever have been seen there, and
that those gates thus were barred on mankind.
DR.. Hamilton, selecting some of the most prom.
inent of the trees, and such as are most frequent
of use in the symbolcal language of the Scrip,
lures, has sought, as it we're, to transplant them
to the garden of Christ's church, and tins let
them stand and flourish within the reach of al
his disciples. He excels in the kind of illus.
trations here given; and several small volumes
republished, and eagerly caught up, show that
he is popular writer among as well as in
Scotland. A charming spirit, for it is a heaven
ly one, breathes over his pages; faithful admo
nitions mingle With graphic delineations Of
characters and scenes. His pen is 3 ready one
snd his style we'll suited to his themes. Prao
teal GOOD sense and sound theology are united
with winning eaynestness of supplemented
piety. Volumes like these are well adapted for
the family end the Sabbath school, $.
THE AMERICAN ORDER" N INDIANA.