New-York tribune., 1868-03-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
REFCUER's NORWOOD.

Somewhere in the course OF JhlS NOIuIhc MI
Beecher refers it record OF history rather than
a work of Imagination. This Is the point oil view
from which il must be regarded, if we would do JUS
tce TO its true character plot has scarcely the
semblauce: none of the intrcacies evolutions, and
surprises, with which the practieed novelist plays
upon the curiosity of his readers and tempts theH
interest through the mazes of complicated nara
tive The invention of fictitious scenes "nlch
alternately pique and soothe the fancy IS NOT
in accordance with the genius OF the author' his
power of reflection is too vigorous to allow the eA
oursive flights of imagination without restraint
HIS book, accordingly, has in 1t TOO much pun anu
substance to allure the general herd OF
esneoially those whose taste has been pampereu ana
cloyed by the hgh-spiced sensational stories OF the
dav. II is mainly addressed TO MINDS OF a dlhereAt
order which will find in it source oil rare lnteuec
nal excitement and qualification. Instead OF pre-
senting a series of piquant dramatic situations
which display the skill of the artist in extri-
eating the tangled thread of events it is the natural
expression of a rich and fruitful life, of singular
powers of perception and observation of an enthu-
sastic love of nature, and profoundsympathy with
the manifold phases of human passion and experience
The staple of the work descriptive; the characters
are revealed by porratre rather than by speech OF
act and the conversation, TO great extent taxes
the form of speculative discussion instead OF Hee
and familiar dialogue Not that the story is desh-
tute of scenes of powerful interest which though IN
artificial in their construction, show rare mastery
of the deepest of feeling and touch the heart
no less etlectually than similar scenes III real he
No work founded the peculiar character and seen
cry of New England claim such admirable hdel'
iy to the original or has given representations free
fom distortion and carcature, and breathing heNery
life of the mountains and valleys whose inhabitants
in
flower every green hillside every sunny slope
every fragrant wood seems familiar TO the
writer and is reproduced in graphic, often
exquisite terms Of description His love OF all Vare
ties of animal life give keen zest to his sketches OF
nature and afford q grateful relief TO the long
stretches of discussion with which he elucidates the
mysteries of religion, art, philosophy education so
ciety In his dellnCations OF the men and women OF
Hew-England. Mr.. echerhaS been spgularly happy
Without any dainty prudishness of selection, he mas
traversed the various walks of life for the subjects
of his pencil and presented with rich cabinet OF
pictures of which we have either actually met with
the prototypes or whose strong resemblance to per-
SONS that we have known mparts the most vivid
sense of reality His use Of the veTnaCular of the
common New-Engand people is, almost with
ont exception, derived from the current phrases
of Connecticut river life He has not vitiated the
"wells of lNewl English undefled with any West
ern Innovations or mixed up the ephemeral city
slang of the day with the racy dialect OF the
Yankee yeOmanry. His own style, as everybody
knows is eminently terse, pointed, incisiye glow
ing with healthy nerve and stalwart muscle, but
whose sinewy strength is often disguised beneath
q soft vail of poetry This gives a constant charm
to the pages of his novel, where tbe interest
of the impatient reader might be apt to flag under
the pressure of protracted disqusition Mr. Beechers
4Ixr pl,raan fpuice of
profound rel gous import. He is keenly alive 10
the apparent conflict between faith and science
which has been produced amid the intellec
tual fermentation of the age. His conclusions,
of which the serene philosopher, DR.. Wentworth,
Is usually made the mOuthpiece, are of mild and
reconclng tendency, but warmly insisting on the
divine presence and agency in universal nature, as
well as in specific revelations, though certainly not
excluding the idea of the latter in any way call
ing them in question. One of the authors favorte
characters is a whimsical old sailor, named Tommy
Taft, who stumps about on a wooden leg with re-
markable devil-may-care freedom of manner and
whose conversations religion with his reverend and
revered pastor DR.. Buell. have certain savory salt
ness that will perhaps be considered more piquant
than edifying by the stricter sort of straitlaced
readers Here is the portrait Of Tommy, which we
heartily admire quaint specimen of Dutchpaint-
ing.
Tommy Taft was about years old. big head he
chat pont for some reason the hair refused TO retreat
and sprang up with such vigOr that IL looked like an
determined 10 make stand and fight for its rights;
HIS eyes We're & small hs cray SneS nIrant cSr
ing over, and standing out, In immense pr0fsOn big
nose. that hung his face like an old fashioned door
knocker and wide mouth, completed his portrait which
was framed In by bushy Whskers carried under MS chn
leaving the chin and both lips shorn smooth His voice
was rough and deep and his manner Of all sorts that
ever were found in man. except, always, refined man
bTongt I.t inland into this quiet Village all
the odd and .outlaDdish ways which sea
farng life, I'm Olden times was wont TO breed.
Who In the village did not Ike Tommy Not chld
nnder fifteen, certainly His poor old shop and house
the fascination OF all the young folks OF the village
and OF the country round The ground floor was cooper
shop and general tinkeng establishments upstairs
two rooms, plain rudeness and rough in furnishing
they had been bewed out and fitted by sailors
desoate island after shipwreck and Of as ilsored
materials as q slpwreck would be apt up. Yet,
there indescrbabe air Of comfort aud peace in
when Uncle Tommy was goodnatured, he seemed
always 10 be cOmcaly IN sympathy with his wife,
When he was sober. lie was sober nearly
nine-tenths Of his tire When these nfrequen moods
foul He aernated, during such excuses, be-
tween scodg his wife, and religious exercises Of various
"It's as good as play" said Hiram, "to hear Uncle
But as soon as ne recovered from his alteration,
Tommy came down from his hight Of morality and reic-
ion, and became gracious and helpful, with rough
dIsinercstedness which was quite touching. All
the children repaired to him to have their
TOYS menGeO, WHICH touIu pfIhuducN 10
take penny Bows knives with broken taeks or blades
OF handles went into hospital with him; their skates and
sleds in Winter and their kites and traps and gunOcks
IN Summer his peculiar charge and his inyariabe
answer was "Oh must Mt charge children anything"
The cheery old fellow full OF quips aud prdnks,
Of stories Of adventure, drawn from his former
faring life, from the full volume OF sailors yarns,
which had ACCUMULATED in his long years Of cruising.
While he was willing to take compensation from grown
people he was TO reject any attempt the pa
rents part TO requite him by Oyerpayment for his
vices 10 their children
He was known, too, TO perform services for those
poorer than himself who also more helpless. Ar
Old black woman who lived by washing" had fallen