The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-01-18
New Publications.

Dios. 1olnO. PIP. 20. FROM A. II. BAN
croft & Co.
This book, consisting of letters of foreign
travel, was originally published in serial
form in the Christian Union, and now ap.
pears in Volume II of Aunt JOS Scrap.
Bag" The aim and scope of the book can
not be better given than in the authors own
words. She says in her preface There is
a sort of fate about writing books of travel
which it is impossible to escape. 1t is vain
to declare that no inducement will bribe one
to do it; that there is nothing new to tell,
and that nobody wants to read the worn-out
story: sooner or later the deed is done, and
not till the book is fairly shelved does peace
descend upon the victim of this mysterious
doom.
"The only way in which this affliction
may be lightened to long suffering public
is to make the work as cheerful and as short
as possible. With this hope, the under
signed bore 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 confined herself to the
personal haps and mishaps, adventures and
experiences of her wanderings."
Miss Alcott has succeeded in making a
very attractive volume for her young friends,
and, indeed, those of an older growth can
not fail to be charmed by the bright, vivaci-
GUS style which characterizes it from begin
ming to end. Every one who has read
" Little Women" the most natural, original,
and in every way remarkable American story
which has appeared for many year, will
hail with delight each new production as
it comes from her gifted pen. We give
one extract from this, the latest of Miss
Alcott's works:
Matilda ,could glue herself to every Jew
eler's window, and remain fascinated by the
richness there displayed, till led away by
force. On this occasion, however, her ma
MIA led to good results for, at the ninth
window, as her keepers were about to drag
her away, ring of peculiar antiquity caught
eyes simultaneously, and, to Mats amaze
ment, both plunged into the little shop,
clamoring to see it. A pale emerald, sur
rounded by diamond clippings set in silver,
with wide gold band cut in leafy pattern,
composed this gem of price,
"A Francis First ring, sold by noble
but impoverished family, and only hundred
francs, Madame" said the man, politely
anxious to cheat the fair foreigners out Of
four times its value.
Cant afford it," and Lavinia retired.
But the shrewd Amanda, with inimitable
shrugs and pensive sighs, regretted that it
was SO costly. "A sweet ring but, alas !
forty francs is all have to give"
The man was desolated to think that
eighty francs was the lowest he was permit
ted to receive. Would Madame call again,
and perhaps it might be arranged?
All, no! Madame is forced to depart early,
to return no more.
Mon Dieu! how affecting In that case,
sixty would be possible for such relic.
Madame is dbin,e, but it is not to be.
Forty is the utmost; therefore, Merci,"
and Bonyou-."
Hold Where shall it be sent?" cries
the man, giving in, but not confessing it.,
with awkward frankness.
A thousand thanks! Madame will pay
for it at once and laying down the money,
she sweetly bows herself away, with the ring
upon her finger.
What peoplel" calculated Lavinia,
who always felt like fly in a cobweb when
she attempted to deal with the French, in
her blunt, confding way.
WHAT KATY DID. A Story. By Susan
Coolidge, Author of The New Years
Bargain" With illustrations by Addie
Ledyard. Boston: Roberts Brothers.
l6mo. PIP. 274. From A. L. Bancroft
& Co.
This is very entertaining story for girls,
and one which can not fail to become pop
ular with them. Katy" is very careless
child, who is constantly getting herself and
her brothers and sisters into scrapes, and
who finally receives a serious injury by fall
from the swing, and is obliged to lie in bed
for long time, and afterward to remain in
her room two years, wheeling herself about
in large easy chair. Katy's mother was
dead, and the six children had been placed
under the care of Aunt Izzie," kind
hearted but not very attractive woman, who
died of typhoid fever shortly after Katy
was able to leave her bed. Thenceforward,
Katy, though very young, looked out for the
household interests, directed the servants,
and though otter making mistakes, sue
ceeded in making the family very happy.
From being selfish, thoughtless, urtidy
child, she became in time very Thoughtful for
others, generous and lovable. She had re-
ceived an impulse in the right direction
from Cousin Helen," whose beautiful
character shines through the book. This
cousin had been injured in her early days.
as Katy was, only with her there was no
chance tor recovery, whereas Katy, at the
time the book closes, is able to walk.
Here is an account of one of the tricks
the children used to play on passers-by:
A little knot Of the schoolgirls were walk :
ing home together one afternoon in july.
As they neared DR.. Cars gate, Maria
Fiske exclaimed, at the sight of pretty
bunch Of flowers lying in the middle of the
sidewalk:
oh my J" she cried, see what some
body's dropped! I'm going to have it,"
She stopped to pick it up. But, just as her
fingers touched the stems, the nosegay. as
if bewitched, began to move. Maria made
bewildered clutch. The nosegay moved
faster, and at last vanished under the gate,