The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-08-08
New Books.

1t is Il simple, straightforward narrative,
without plot or startling incident, and might
be told of almost any family similarly situa-
ted Three orphan misses, left to the care Of
their grandmother at tender age, are placed,
when old enough to 60 to school, in charge
of govcrness She is easy, plant, indul'
gent and, though thoroughly loved by her
pupils, exercises less restraint over them than
COMFORTS with their more rigid grandmother's
ideas, who dlsmisscs the gentle govcrness and
EMPLOYS another. The interest of the story
lies in the skill manifested by the new gov
erness in bringing into loving obedience the
three hayward children, who had set out with
great determination TO be pcrversc, rebelllous
and disagrccable. The narrative is often
amusing occasionally pathetic, and full of
tender heart touches, well calculated to excite
in the young a thoughtful interest.
UNDER THE TREES. BY SAMUEL IRLN.Eu,
PRIME. Harper ~ Brothers, New York; Jan
sen, McClurg n Co., Chicago.
The readers of the New York Obscrccr have
been so long and constantly charmed with
the letters of "Ircneus" that whole book
full of delightful essays by 50 favorlte wri-
ter about gardens and trees, and fruits and
flowers, cannot fail to excite eager expccta-
ton. We fear, however the book will be
somewhat disappointing. Dr. Primes easy,
cosby style is very pleasant reading in brief
allotmens at judicious intervals, but in al
body they grow tircsomc. His trees grow
"a: Il .ta.n liza ola tn nd
cold; his grassy lawns into conventional
carpets Nevertheless, the book on the sit
ting room table or bookstand, to be taken up
hap-hazard, will be found an exceedingly
or two. What could be more entertaining
for instance, than the chapter on prophets d
Prophetesses?" 1t is quite light and airy,
you will say, yet it is earnest and revcrcnt, as
good as a sermon, though in its style and
composition so wholly unlike u sermon. It'll
is book TO lie on the center table by the side
Of the Spectator,
TRUTHS FOR TO-DAY, Spoken in the Past
Winter BY DAVID SWING, Pastor Fourth
Presbyterian Church, Chicago Jansen Nc. !
Clurg 4 Co., Chicago.
Of Professor Swing and lis sermons we
had occasion TO speak during the progress of
that remarkable trial for hercsy Of which he ,
was the subject and about which the ncwspa.
pers had 50 much to say II few months ago
The charge Of hercsy was of course absurd,
and his acquittal foregone conclusion
While DR.. Patton could charge easily enough
that what Swing preached was not prcsbytc.
rianism, it was a very different thing to show
that his preaching was inconsistent with or
opposed TO presbyterianism. Harsh, inflcX
bic and dogmatic rs prcsbyterlanism may be
name and loving aspects, and it was IN this
view alone that Swing had any knowledge of
IT, Swing, in his church Mt Chicago, and
Calvin AT Geneva, present two pictures rs op
posite as two pictures possibly can be- Cal
vim was stern, rigid, dogmatic; Swing sent
mental, poetic and imaginative In Calvin's
view humanity was totally depraved and ire
claImable except by miracle; Swing contem
plated only an improved humanity. His
preaching is of the sort to make people feel
good; It humbcs no pride convicts of no
sin makes much OF manhood but ignores
the tendency Of man to go TO the bad, and his
constant need of divine power to keep him
from falling. People who delight in such
religious tcachlng-and we confess it is al
mast the only religion of the day that is
thoroughly popular-will find in tins volume
Of Prof. swings sermons very delightful read.
.ng entirely after their own hearts How
pleasantly, for instance, this reads;
All around human life, around its material,
around It's friendship, its love- its learning, |
its beautiful and its life itself, there is a re-
mote horizon behind which is rcpoSing n bet
Ter friendship, a better education, IL better
beauty, better life, II circle of haze where
earth and sky meet. ! As the mag. !
net Will gather up only its own kind OF dust,
so gifted mind will, from the wide
universe Of truth, gather up only the children
Of its own heart; all else will be passed BY |
not IN contempt, but because there is some
thing dcareI beyond. Had Stuart Hill writ
ten review OF America, we can perceive
what facts he would have passed by, and
what other facts would have been deeply
looked into by that far.sceing soul * Like
the magnet, lie would have grasped all objects
W MS pNH USlHHs ne VONN NHCf
passed by reltgtoa.
One can easily understand, on pcrus:ng
his volume, why the author Of sermons that
are so fascinating IN print, must hold his au::
dience as if spelI.bound, and in his person
must almost be idolized. They are the only
sermons we ever met with that are downright
pleasant reading.
TAKEN AT THE FLOOD. Novel. By Miss
VI +. BgADDoN, author Of Aurora FLOYD
Birds Of Prey" &c. Harper IL Brothers, New
York; Jansen, McClurg X Co, Chicago.
1t is perhaps too late TO repeat the cry
against sensational novels, the product of a
school of writer's of which Miss Braddon
stands at the head As well might we de.
nounce the spectacular drama. The play
may be dull and imbecile 10 The verge of in.