The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-12-07
Recent Publications.

Recent Publications..
WHAT KATY DID. By Susan Coolidge: Au-
thor OF The New Years Bargain
And now the great question that has per-
picked the coleopterous understanding for
ages is decided, ana Miss Coolidge has brave
ly volunteered full explanation of what the
celebrated Katy did. And what Katy did
was so sweet, so unaffected and 90 true that
we don't wonder that the little insects have
sung her praises continually. ''Katy'' is no
mythical heroine-but very real and love-
able little girl, who played with, petted and
teased her little brothers and sisters, and
grew to be the dependence and comfort of
the household, without subsiding into goody-
ism or losing her original spciness. The lit
tie brothers and sisters-Clover, Elsie, Phil,
Joanna and comical little Dorry, with his
journal and its pathetic entry ''Wish was
better boy. Nothing partikeler for tea''-
aunt Lizzie, cousin Helen, and DIR. Carr, the
father of the merry troop of children, all
are natural and delightful people, and we
close the book hoping that Katy will do more,
and that Miss Coolidge will tell us all about
it, in her charming, refined and lively style.
published by Roberts Brothers. For sale by
Loring, Short 6 Harmony
SHAwL-STRAPs. By Louisa NJ. Alcott.
The always fresh, irrepressible and delight
full Miss Alcott has become, as she says in
her characteristic preface, ''the victim of
mysterious DOOM" and has yielded to the
universal necessity Of writing book of trav-
els: "The undersigned BORE" she says-an
epthet to which, as applied to herself. we
take unqualified exception"-has abstained
from giving the dimensions of any church,
the population of any city, or description of
famous places, as far as in her lay, but con-
fined herself to the personal haps and mis-
haps, the adventures and experiences of her
wanderers" And in consequence we have
one of the most delightful books of travel
natural, graphic and charming; telling us
exactly those little things that make up so
largely the sum Of the delight of journeying,
and all seen through the medium of Miss
Alcott's happy, witty, wise and cheerful
mind. Published by Roberts Brothers, For
sale by Loring, Short & Harmony
THE D. CToR's DILEMMA. BY Hesba Street
ton.
An uncommonly good novel and one that
well repays reading. The action takes place
in the Channel Islands and their singularly
beautiful scenery is wildly described. The
tone of the book is uniformly good, and the
plot, without being too highly wrought or
improbable, is original, full of interest and
well managed. Olivia, the heroine, is very
lovely, and the brave fisherman, Tardiff, is a
vigorous and natural sketch. The illustra-
tions, of which there are several, by no
means correspond with the general excel
lence of the novel. published by d. Ap-
pleton & Co. For sale by Bailey & Noyes.)
Dick TRAvERs ABROAD. BY Miss Ade-
laide f. Samuels.
This is series of four small volumes
''Palm Lands, 'The Lost Tar, son the
Wave" and s'Little Cricket''-very nicely
gotten up, with good Illustrations. They are
pleasantly written and interesting while the
descriptions of life in the Cape Verde Islands,
and in Africa will be found instructive rs well
as amusing
Published by Lee and Shepard. For sale
by Loring, Short and Harmon.
THE LITTLE CANARY SERIES. By Mrs. NJ.
A. Osgood.
This series consists of four little volumes
''Little Canary's Daisy, 'Little Canary,
''Cousin Eugene, and s'Black Cato"-very
neatly bound and printed, with remarkably
pretty illustrations. The box containing
them IS particularly ingenious and charming.
being in imitation of bird-cage, between
whose bars peep out the merry faces of the
heroes and heroines of the stories. Our little
readers will be delighted to read all about
Daisy and Cora and sweet baby Canary, and
older people will appreciate how true to ma
ture are these scenes of ehild-life. We notice
occasional carelessness and want of refine
ment which we think an author SO well cal
culated to amuse and interest the little ones,
might avoid in future books.
Published by Lee and Shepard. 'or sale
by Loring, Short and Harmon.
SoNGs OF NATURE.
This is the fourth volume of series of
'sFolk-songs' published by Scribner, Arm
stiUhS ~ Co., NeW LOrk. Although COll-
nected with the three previous volumes by
similarity of plan and execution, the ''Songs
of Nature is book complete by itself. Iii
made up of tasteful selections from many of
the best poets of the English language, an
cient and modern; is profisely illustrated by
engravings from designs by I. Moran, Miss
Hallock, Church, Fenn,, Ross, Kensett, etc. !;
and is further enriched by facsimile auto
graphs of r. W. Emerson, Bret Harte, and
others. The mechanical execution of the
volume is exceedingly beautiful, and alto
gether it is very choice and attractive gift
book for the approaching holidays.
For sale by Hoyt, Fogg au6 Breed.
TREASURE TRovE.-This volume is a boi-
day reprint of the mock-heroic poem publish
ed in the atlantic Monthly about a dozen
years ago. 1t is the story of the siege of
Cbalus by Richard the Lionhearted, and OF
his death while storming that obscure
fortress. The versification. flowing and
musical, is all that could be expected irom an
acknowledged master of the art, While the
wit is keen and the humor genuine. Rich
ards generous, imperious, uncultiyated ma