The Portland daily press., 1869-10-08

The approach of the holidays begins to be
heralded by the appearance of books for youth
ful readers Lee & Shepard Of Boston are in
the field early with the Lake Shore Series,'
by Oliver Optic,a splendid set OF four volumes,
handsomely bonn1, illustrated in very takirg
style, and enclosed in tasteful box The til
ties of the several stores-wh locality and
principal characters are nearly the same-sre
Lightning Express, Through By Daylight, On
Time, and S,citch OF,and they relate the adven-
turesof a boy eng neer, fine specimen Of the
class of dashing, generous and wide awake
young heroes which this antbor loves to de-
scribe. All the boys believe in Oliver Optic,
and we don't wonder at it, for he knows just
what they like, and has the happy faculty of
making his books interesting and even excit-
,ng, without calling in the aid Of the darker
passions aud crimes. His boy heroes certain
ly do some astonishing things, but nothing
which boy might not do if be were smart
enough; and the moral tone Of his books is un-
excepionable. He has cau1h 1ht the spirit Of
"Young America which with all its precoci-
ty and self confidence is an admirable spirit,
aud a splendid promise of what full grown
America will be one of these days. Long life
TO Oliver Optic. May he write hundreds more
of books, and have millions of readers for
them. (Received by Loring, Short & Har-
mon, and Bailey s. Noyes)
Lee & Shepard have also published Hester
Strong's Life Work "a story by Mrs. s. A. South
worth, who is not the Mrs. Southworth OF sem
sational fame, but a writer whose style seems
much more pure and her purpose more ele-
vaied. Hester Strongs story is a simple one Of
patient continuance in well ll-doing, showing
the lasting peace and satisfaction which noble
unselfsh lite cannot fail to bring and not want
ing in the merit of a conclusion that is happy
even in the common worldly sense. (Received
by Bailey & Noyes.)
Everybody who has read land who has not?)
the "Piccola" OF X. b. Saintine, will welcome
with pleasure a small volume translated from
the French of the same author, and just
issued from the Riverside Press of Messrs.
Hurd & Houghton. 1t is called Dame Nature
and her Three Daughters lie Mere Gigogne ct
Ses Trois Filles) and consists of the talks and
stories of a grandpapa to his little grand
daughters, concerning natural history, and
other things of daily observation and use.
The children being unwilling to undertake
study which seems to them so dry and labo-
rious as natural history, the old gentle-
tleman proposes to address a course of lectures
on the subject to their dolls. The fun Of this
project procures it instant favor; and he pro-
ceeds to give them, under the disguise Of . Sc
ries of fairy tales a great deal of useful in
formation. The humor, the sprightlness aud
graceful simplicity of style which mark the
writings of M. Saintine are we'll known, and
they are well preserved in this translation.
The book will be a favorite among the ''juve-
miles, of the season. (Received by Bailey g.
Noyes) fH ...
From the same publishers we have Among
the Trees; A Journal of Walks in the Woods
and Flower Hunting through Field and by
Brook. BY Mary Lorimer. 1t is thin octave
of 153 broad-margined pages, printed in the
best style OF the Riverside Press and illustrate
ed by numerous beautiful and accurate designs.
1t contains summers experience in explor-
ing the woods and fields, narrated In pleas
ing, lady-like style, by person of refined
tas te, keen observation and accurate botanical
knowledge. The whole is in the form OF
journal, the dates extending from February to
November. There is a monthly calendar OF
flowers for April, May, June, July, Anenst
and September, and the entire book will be
found not only interesting but useful to those
Interested in the charming study OF botany.
(Received by Bailey and Noyes.) aa...
The Too Baronesses; Romanse,sby Hans
Christian Andersen, being the second volume
of Hurd g. Houghton's very handsome
edition of Andersen's complete works IS
received. 1t is not so intensely wrought
and powerful story as "The Improvisatore,"
but on the other hand it is less painful; the i'm
preston it leaves on the mind is not SO sad.
The scenery and characters are wholly Danish,
which is another advantage, as the author
seems more truly at home than in the Italian
pictures of The Improvisatore.' The de-
scriptions Of scenery have all that wonderful
brightness aud vividness for which Andersen
IS so distinguished, and the quaint, tender, iu-
definable charm which his genius lends to
every homely thing it touches Is felt on every
page. The translation is good and the ruo-
sher have issued the book in handsome style.
(Received by Bailey s. Noyes) DIN
| WE learn that jamestown OF fe"sau'a'
| poem by Mrs Mlria A. HacRr"oi' "'' soo's
| 10 he issued under the auspices oi INC s'"e
| Historical Society, from tne hNers'oe T"sS,
n'S'o'Io, ,'V.'.,,. Mass. 1t is said by those who
haa,d il read at the late reception OF the com
.'.o. n@'"a ot the Historical Society at Fort Fred
| Bristol, 10 De u pOeu vi hupeTioT "eIib
| and great beauty. Il is prefaced by bistori-
| "a, introduct on by Edward Ballard, d d.,
| Secretary of the Historical Society, containing
| all that is known of the once famous aud pros
| porous settlement called in former times the
"City of jamestown" 1t embraces also a foil
| account of recent investigations there, and OF
the lately discovered paved streets, &c. Or
| doris sent early to Bailey g Noyes will receive
prompt attention. . ..-..u..s ...4..
We hope our readers will purchase one new
hook lust as soon as the agent for this place
shall put in an appearance. We refer 10 marx
Twain's new book entitled the New Pilgrim
Progress We read the proof-sheets, ana We
have Just completed the published BOOK anu
sometime hence we expect TO reau s y Co. home
| tits a work permanently adapte,n cam nm
reading aloud, aud will invar'aoHS md con-
ara,,nI the fireside a spirit OF mlrtn snu !,hon.
cen;al;tv. No one can read l's pakh; pksh;rs in tbe
s;ag there is still beauty and sunshine =" '"e
world. ;romen.a sale Tor this
! III, ~ we we shall be greatly disappo,ntSe tSe Amer
.'nd povad nv that enterprisng nou.1, n.sord Conn
: nsneup upubisbing Company, har''o'''
ican .d sold only by subscriptioh'