Worcester daily spy., 1871-11-11

greater part of his life, he was associated with
the grandest, but most unpopular side of great
question, and supported that side of it, without
ever appearing to suppose it possible for him to
change his position. He was poet engaged in
n great work, who never sought fame as IA poet
but sang sweet songs occasionally because he
could not help it. Mrs Burlegh says truly, in
her sketch Of his character, that his poems care
only ripplcs on tie surface OF strong, deep
life: such record as the laborcr strolling home
ward through summer woods, after his days
toll, might take to those who waited his coming,
wreath Of eyergreens hastily twincd, a hand
ful of wild flowers, bunch of leaves the record
of his leisure hour rather than of his work"
Nevertheless, their tone is manly and elevated,
and they are fall of sweetness, grace and beau
ty. These poems, we think, will be more gcner-
ally read and appreciated now, than heretofore
when they were floating in the newspapers.
This is the first collection of them which has
been published; and we think it ought to laye
wide circulation. In the preface, Mrs. Bur-
leigh gives a general account of his life and
work, with an admirably written estimate of
his character. This fills about forty pages OF
the book. The poems fill BOG pages They are
all short, the longest filing not more than seven
pages; and they are well arranged under appro-
pirate headings. For sale by Sanford & Co.
REWARD THE Fox, a Burlesque Poem, from
the Low-German original of the fifteenth cen
tury. Boston: Lee & Shepard, publishers
This is one OF the more important monuments
of literary development among the Germans, in
the ages previous to the establishment of the
High German speech (or German, as we call it)
as the literary language of Germany. 1t be-
longs to the period which followed that of the
Minnesingers or Troubadours. The version of
it which has been most current for nearly -four
centuries, was written in Low German or old
Frisian and first published at Lubbock in 149S.
This is the best version, but not the Oldest The
substance of the work had been current among
the Germans for several centuries previous to
this date. There was another version which
was translated into English, and published by
VIM. CaXtou in 1881; and still another, which
was translated into French and published in
147S. There seem to have been dramatic YER
Sions Of the story; for such version was used
at the famous festival given by Philip the Fair,
not long after the year 1890. In this drama
Reynard ended his career "by becoming pope,
and still, under the tiara continued to eat poul-
| try" The work. in the volume before us, seems
to be well translated; and the publishers have
brought it out in very fine style. The printing
and paper are excellent, the pages are enclosed
in rcd lines, there are thirteen full-page llustra-
tions, and the binding is appropriate For sale
at Bigelow's.
ENGLISH LESSONS FOR ENGLISH PEOPLE.
| BY Rev. Edwin A. Abbott and J. R. Seeley.
Boston: Roberts Brothers. Mr.. Abbott is head
master OF the City of London School, and Mr.
Seeley is a Cambridge Professor They are
both finely cultured and accomplished men.
This book is designed as an aid in teaching;
and its special aim is to aid in teaching English
speaking people to write the English language
with taste and eXactness. 1t would train the
student to understand words and use them with
| propriety. 1t is a work on the science of lam
guage, limited to special topics and aims. There
are not many persons, not one in a thousand
| perhaps, of those who think they can write
well, who would not learn to write much better,
| by studying it carefully. They might discover
that their vocabulary is deficient, that they do
not really understand the meaning of many
words, that they fail to see distinctly the differ
ence between many words that are somewhat
similar, that they are not very skillful in the
choice and arrangement Of words, and, in a
word, that they are not, in many respects,
masters of the art of writing. 1t is fact of
which more account should be taken in the
schools, that our educated men, too often, have
failed to study the English language This
book is adapted to make them conscious of this
deficiency. For sale at Bigelow's.
DIALOGUES FROM DICKENS. Second Series.
Arranged by W. Eliot Fitte. Boston: Lee &
Shepard publishers 1t is not difficult to ar
range much of Dickens in dialogues, provided
the work is undertaken by person qualified for
it. Mr.. Ftte has done it well, and seems to have
aptitude and enthusiasm for it. In this
volume, many of the dialogues are arranged in
dramas. Among the tales used for this pur-
pose are "Cricket on the Hearth" and "Pick-
wick" These dialogues are admirably ADAPTED
for use at school exhibitions and in parlor
amusements. For sale at Bigelow's.
A RUSSIAN JOURNEY. By Edna Dean Proc
tor. Boston: James R. 0sgood & Co. The au.
thor Of this tourney" can write well; and
what she has written indicates that she is not
destitute of a faculty for observation. This
book contains series Of papers which seem to
be the result of travel and observation in Rus
sa. Among the topics are st. Petersburg, Mos.
COW, the Fair and the Asiatics at Mini, the
Cossack Country, Sevastopol and Odessa, and
the Gar. The book is bright and entertaining
butwoud be more satisfactory TO us, if the au-
thor had given a regular narrative, and care
fully marked her progress by adding dates For
sale at Bigeow's
SIX LITTLE PRINCEssEs, and what they
turned into. By the Author of "Susie's Six
Birthdays" New York A. d. + Randolph.
This handsome book is intended for the juveniles
who can read; and it deserves their favor, for it
is good, bright, and entertaining. The ilIustra-
tions are appropriate, and the book is hand
somey bound. For sale by Sanford & Co.
WALT WHITMAN's POEM, recited at New
York, before the American Institute, has been
published by Roberts Brothers. 1t comes to us
in handsomely bound pamphlet of "a pages.
CUES FROM ALL QUARTERS; or, the Literary
Musings of Clerical Recluse. This book con-
tains a collection of essays, some of them clever
and all readable. They are on various themes;
several of them, "Cues from Shakespeare" The
author shows himself conversant with literary
people the world over, and embellishes his book
plentilully and not inaptly with quotations
Published by Roberts Brothers, Boston, aud for
sale here by L. H. Bigclow.
The POLITICAL WORKS OF ROBERT BURNS.
Edited by the Rev Robt Aris Willmott. New
Red Line Edition. Boston: Lee & Shepard.
This is handsome volume, bound in blue and
gold, with gilt-edged leaves, tinted paper and
with thirty-rwo illustrations 1t will make
| very acceptable holiday gift. L. II. Bigelow
has it for sale.
Poems BY CHARLES SwAIN.-The prer,cc or
this little volume gives short biographical
sketch of the author and description of his
home. The poems are short, on all sorts Of
subjects, some of them very pretty and musi.
cal. Published by Roberts Bros, Boston. For
sale by L. II. Bigelow
THE KATmE SroRIEs.-Lee & Sheppard
publish three more volumes of this series by
Miss A. N. Douglas, which many young read