Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-08
N E w b OOK 3.
Sibyl Huntington.

the fact that Mrs. Julia G. r. Dorr, of Rut
land, had written novel entitled, "Siby
Huntingdon" which was then about to bt
issued by Carleton, of New York. A copy
Of the book has been sent us, and we have
read it with much pleasure 1t makes vol
nme of something over $50 pages, and, al
lar as we are able to Judge Of novel writing
contains less matter foreign to the story, less
that Is no help to the narrative, than most OF
the novels which have q the under onr OBJ
servation. Vermont has not produced many
writer's of fiction, although it cannot be
called poor in authors The list is quite too
long for a place here, and the names arc,
many of them, familiar to all our readers
Latterly, however, we think MRs. Dom has
written more, perhaps, of poetry and fiction
than any other Vermonter, if we except SAKE
and her reputation has become a part of the
treasures of the State. This volume, we be-
lieve, is her most considerable venture in the
realm of fiction, and challenges the attention
and criticism which novel of such length
can hardly fail to receive
The scene of &" Sibyl Huntington y is laid
tied amid the swelling hills within sight of
the broad expanse of Lake Champlain, and
among the meadows through which the flash
ing Otter Creek winds &" like thread of sill
yer through emerald velvet" and many of
the readers of the story will be able, no
doubt, to locate the village which Mrs. DoRR
calls % Valleythorpe.' " Sibyl Huntington -
tells her own story, and her fortunes and
those of her older sister :" Ruth - make the
burden of the novel. The story opens many
years ago, introducing to us the sweet, hum
BILE, patient, unselfish, loving 90 Ruth" then
nineteen years old, who is just planning with
Sibyl" how the younger sisters love of
learning may be gratifed by year at 90 Oak
wood Seminary. Then follow the hopes
and the loves, the endurance and the trials.
the defeats and the victories, the joys and the
sorrows, of many years, such experiences as
have frightened and darkened many homes
besides those of - Valleythorpe," and that
of g Sibyl - and :. Ruth
The story is one of every day life among
that class of our people whose intellectual
wants and the cravings of whose immortal
natures are much beyond their opportunities
and means, and who only through work, pri
walton, struggle, and over severe obstacles,
achieve the success and reach the iruition of
their longing hopes and aspirations 1t is told
with simple earnestness, and a dramatic
power seldom found in novels and it's char
acters, from the unselfsh, large hearted noble
" Ruth" to g Miss Maxey > who used to say
she was only good g to take care of other
peoples sick folks, from the easy, indo-
lent, cultivated, fascinating :" Guy Tremaine,
to the wretch, - Lysander Moore" are
sketched,-or rather sketch themselves in
the dialogue--with an individuality that
gives the volume the interest of real life,
and the apparent truthfulness OF history.
Indeed, it is difficult in reading not to believe
that many of the author acquaintance aP-
pear in these pages, and that 81 Valley
tborpe and its people have had an actual
existence.
We have noticed few passages in the vol
ume which, perhaps, are open to criticism,-
some faults which the author will doubtless
he the first to notice-while some things
which appear to be faults in our eyes, may,
after all. be only the result of faithful
working out of the plot of the story But
we are not inclined to criticise where we see
so much to praise. \ volume which will
certainly take high rank among the better
class of novels of the present day, which is
free from the fippant treatment OF serious
things, and the dangerous sentimentalism in
the relation of the sexes, which disfgure
manv of the later works of fiction, deserves
a cordial welcome and we welcome it all
the more cordially that it is the work of
Vermonter.
We copy some passages from the volume
below:
It was nearly midnight when the stage
stopped at my fathers door The sky was
overcast: nor moon nor star was visible a
faint light stole out from the windows OF an
MINER chamber, but the rest of the house was
enyeIoped in darkness. No one came out to
meet me, and it was evident that my coming
that night was entirely unlocked for.
| paused a moment to consider the matter,
and then telling the driver there was sickness
in the house, | asked him to put my trunks
upon the doorstep with little noise as
possible He did my bidding very gently,
and then said
81 s'pose you don't want me TO knock 'em
up for you, if there's sick folks here, ma am :?
How be you a-goin' to get in p
/ thanked him, and said thought l could
manage the matter quietly, as | was ac-
quainted with the premises.
50 Then I'll 90 back to my team" he re-
ioined in kindly, cordial voice. '' Good
night, ma am
He mounted the box, gathered up the
reins, chirruped softly to his horses, and
drove off more quietly than ! could have be-
lieved was possible.
I stole round to the back door. 1t was
fastened, as 1 expected. But | remembered
that the little door opening into the wood
shed was seldom locked. 1t was scarcely
noticeable from the road, and my father had
an old-fashioned idea that it was best to
leave some mode of egress open, IN case ol
fire or sudden alarm
II was not even latched, and yielded easily
to NV hand. / slipped in. 1t was intensely
dark. but knew my ground, and moved to
one side mechanically and almost without a
thought to avoid the very pail that stood in
it's accustomed place. An ascent OF two
steps, and reached the kitchen door, lifted
the latch softly, and went in.
For a moment | stood motionless that my
ewes might become accustomed to the dim,
uncertain light. The windows were without
blinds, and one of the green paper curtains
was rolled up. After little | could dis
cover objects quite distinctly, and moved
noiselessly across the floor to the fireplace
There was dark spot on the white wall be-
side it, which / knew TO be the old match
box. and close at hand, on the corner of the
mantel-piece, candle was invariable left at
night.
/ lighted match. The blue flame eurled
and scattered, wayered, and went out But
it had burned long enough to enable me to
go the candle as / anticipated It looked