New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-03
BOSTON LITERARY NOTES.

"a ROSE IN JUNE"-THE ROSE THAT ALL ARE, OR
OUGHT To BE- PRAIsING, AND WHICH EACH OF
TWO ARDENT LOVERS THOUGHT WAS THE
FLOWER FOR HIM.
Boston, Sept. Need "a Rose in June "
be less sweet because it has remained ungahered till
September7 j. r. Osgood & Co. are about TO publish
Mrs ELEPHANTS charming little story with this capti-
waiting title 1t is book which one loves to praise-as
fresh and fragrant delicate its There
tears but they only the dew through which the
flowers petals glow more brightly The style OF the
book is perfect in its way, aud the character
drawing Is unusually clear and faithful Mrs.
Oliphant does not introduce us to unusual
people like Mr. Mcawber or Becky Sharpe !;
but she shows and women such we meet them
every day in the world of good society Have we not
all seen the type Of person which Mr. Damerel. the
English clergyman father of the Rose in June, repre-
sents-a man fastidous, fond of refined pleasures cu
tured Of perfect taste. but above all seldsha man who
literally took thought for the morrow; but who to-
day. must have his lawn bright, his flowers fresh his
pictures choice, his women-knd welldressed, and all
that meets his eye agreeable And his wife-do we not
all know her, also 'payfuy called Martha" by her
husband, because she careful about many things
aud numbered with much serving though she, too had
been christened Rose, and was once Rose in June
The slow years, full of little fretting cares had
done their legitimate work her. They had
taught her TO tell smooth, postponing stories to
mportunate creditors. stories which in less proper
woman would have been called white lies. They had
hardened the lines about her mouth and made her look
older than her years. They had given her eight chill
dren and filed her with tOrturDg anxietes about their
fuure-anxietes which her husband gently waved
away with his white hands while they settled down all
the more heavily upon her. Yes. the years had made
her managing, and worldly and sometimes hard; and
had brought her where it seemed 10 her that almost the
greatest good in life was to have money enough and not
have TO spend ones days and nights IN coaxng two and
two to make eight.
Then the Rose in June-she is exquistely drawn too
You know her. as you read, If she had been your
sister, OF your hOuse-mate. She was beautiful with
lust the soft bright beauty Of the wild rose. She in
heted all fathers dainty tastes, and she had latent
in her that sense loyalty and selfdevoon winch had
made her mother spend her days and 10 doing the
duties that others neglected aud bearing the burdens
of all the rest But say, this power of lfdenal
and self sacrifice latent, while yet she was Rose
i'm June; aud her father chose TO Keep her by him
out on the shady lawn, part OF the land
scape as he said, while her mother toiled
indoors Already the horizon, two lovers appeared
One was Mr. Incledon-rich. handsome good, webred
manly everything il would SEEM thar the heart OF
woman could desre-but he thirty-nve. The other
wac good, honest, handsome Edward Wodehouse. a
young Lieutenant In the navy. and not much Of hero
In any way only he had managed. almost without try
Ing to win the heart OF the pretty June Rose And
father aud mother saw quietly set to work TO undo
this mischief contrved that the young sailor should
90 off TO the coast OF Africa without opportunity
much as to say goodby the poor little girl he left be-
hind him.
And then the father died He would have been small
loss with oil his refined sel1shness, cool observer
might say but his family mourned for him as few
saints are lamented. land his death was very real
loss TOO, than one; for, OF course, the
"nying, went with him aud he had made no provision
in bis selfish life he left to HIN. Then
came cruel poverty aud bitter care-and then Aud
Robin rev. in the shape Of Mr.. Incedon. agan-good,
rich handsome aud, as I said, IS. Why the Rose in
June did not love him. in the first place. one cannot
guess for he was In every way the superior OF
Edward wodehouse; but she had not loved
him then, and she less than ever likely
TO now. with her sailor lad far away, thinking
she had not even cared 10 bid him goodby. Then
the struggle. mother showing her what her fathers
selfish life had his children. telling her what pain
they ell had borne because that one luxurious nature
chose always what 1t "liked." and showing her how
she In would fail them II she refused TO marry this
man, who could aud would give her all the Kingdoms OF
the world and the glory OF them OF course the horde
OF petty maxms did their work. and Bose accepted her