The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-01
Recent Publications.

Roberts Brothers, Boston--a house famed
| for beautiful books-ssue two attractive vol
umes for the holidays. The first OF these con-
tains the Rural Poems of William Barnes, the
English writer whose poems in the Dorset di-
alect have attracted so much attention in his
own country. Mr.. Barnes is an elderly cer-
gyman, whose life has been mainly devoted to
the severer studies of his profession, and who
makes poetry his recreation His ballads have
certain quaint mannerism which is pleasing,
though at times little rough; but he knows
the springs of hnman feeling, and is skilled in
drawing forth their music. He needs to be
studied somewhat before he can be cordially
liked, but when one has fairly mastered his
peculiarites of expression, a vein of true po.
etry will be found below. He has a keen eye
| for whatever is beautiful in nature, and in
humble human hearts, and he describes what
he finds there with q tenderness of feeling
and simplicity Of expression which carry their
own charm.-The other volume before us is
The Little Gypsy, already referred to at some
length, by an esteemed correspondent, in our
columns. 1t is a pretty story of the Tyrol,
translated by Miss 1. NJ. Luyster, from the
French of Ellie Salvage, and illustrated by
Lorenz Frolich. 1t is a delightful book for
children-otd and young. (Received by Bailey
& Noyes.)
Nichols & Noyes, Boston, have published a
collection of Sermons by the late Professor
George Shepard, of the Bangor Theological
Seminary. A brief memorial of the life of
Professor Shepard, written by Professor d. s.
Ealcott, prefaces this collection, and fine por-
trait forms the frontispiece of the volume
which will doubtless have an extensive sale in
| this State, where the author had many friends
and admirers. (Received by Loriug, Short &
Harmony
Gleanings among the Sheaues is the title of q
small collection of choice extracts culled from
the sermons of the Rev. c. H. Spurgeon, and
published in beautiful little pocket volume,
by Sheldon & Co., New York The numer-
Gus admirers of Mr.. Spurgeon will find 1t full
of his marked characteristics of thought aud
expression. (Received by Bailey & Noyes.)
The same publishers have issued Spectacles
for Young Eyes, by s. w. Lander, collection
of lively sketches, or rather photographs of
some of the remarkable sights and things in
| and around New York. 1t is one of a series
of books of travel for young folks, and is very
| neatly printed and illustrated. (Received by
Bailey & Noyes.)
| From Sheldon & Co., we have also in a duo
| decimo volume OF four hundred pages, The
Child Wife, novel by Captain Mayne Reid,
| which he calls "a tale of the two worlds" 1t
is written in the jerky, explosive style affected
| by this writer, rather feeble copy of the man
ner of NJ. Dumas fills. The author calls it
| tale of two worlds, but what two they can be
| it is not possible for us to determine. II is
quite certain that the set of characters and the
state of society it describes have no existence
in this one. 1t abounds, however, IN "ha'
some people call adventure, lis fuii OF oueh'
| political revolutions, murders, attempted Diga-
| nv, and ali sorts of swindliDg, and the chances
| are that II will find readers. Captain Reid an
| no,nooa &, his preface that he has become q
,,ro,zed citizen OF this country, and that
IL works will hereafter be protected by Amer
ican copyright (Received by Bailey &
| Noyes.)
Woolworth, Ainsworth & Co., Boston, pub
lish Little frankie and his Mother, by Mrs
Madeline Leslie, author OF number of popu-
| lar books and stories for children. 1t is print
ed in large primer type for the benefit OF little
readers, and illustrated (Recoived by Loring,
Short 8 Harmony
| PLANoHErTE's DIARY; Edited by Kate Field
| New York: j. s. Redheld, 1868.
| All the world knows of course, what sem
| sation Planchetts has produced within the
last wear 1t is perhaps no more than was
| due to her making her appearance as q young
| lady from Paris with very handy pet name.
l her diary, Just made public, is edited by her