Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-09-10
Bellows falls Zines,
The History of our Country.

ence. Embracing An Account of its
Discovery, Narratives of the Struggles
of its Early Settlers, Sketches of its
Heroes, the History of the War for
independence, and the War for Ma
tionality, its Industrial Victories, and
Record of It's whole Progress as a
Nation. BY Abby Sage Richardson.
Illustrated by over two hundred and
forty engravings on wood of portraits
of distinguished discoveries, states
men, generals, and heroes pictures of
public buildings, maps, and plans, and
large engravings from original designs
by Granville Perkins, G. G. Bush and
+. 0. c. barley.
There has been wanted good, read
able history of the United States, long
enough to contain all the interesting
facts, short enough to be read through
without WEAKNESS and without leaving
in the mind confused medley of de-
tails. This book is found in Mrs. Rich
ardson's History, just published. 1t is
not book made to order and merely
made to sell. The skillful author has
been to work ON it for years. She has
read it to her own family and to others,
has ransacked libraries, and above all,
out of her experience as writer and
public reader, she has been enabled to
write bright animated narrative which
does not flag from first to last.
The book is divided into two parts.
Part |. is "The Story of the Colonies /;
from Infancy to Independence" She
begins at the beginning with the Discov-
cry of America tells how the North
men came to want, leaving no trace be-
hind the wonderful story, ever fresh,
ever new, of Christopher Columbus; and
then in quick, clear succession, all the
chief voyages of discovery and the dar-
ing adventures. She describes the alight-
ing on our shore of those birds of pas
age, the early colonists, and little by lit
tie we see the dotted line of plantations
all along the coast. All this is illustrat-
ed by quaint maps, portraits of discov-
erers, costumes, buildings and ships.
Then she stops moment to give some
chapters to the Indians, describes their
manners and customs, and shows just
what sort of people were living in Am
erica when il was discovered by Europe
ans. She tells the wars that the colonists
had with them, and so brings the reader
down by degrees to the revolutionary
war.
But just before entering on an account
of that war she imagines herself and
the reader taking tour in America
and in a striking chapter she lifts the
curtain and shows successfully Boston
New York, Albany, Philadelphia, Wiz.
ginia, how the people live, what they
wear, and what they eat, gives peep
into their houses, in fact +; and this part
is beautifully illustrated by pictures Of
the John Hancock House in Boston, a
spinning-wheel, such as our great-grand.
mothers used, large picture of Dutch
Household, and other excellent engrav.
ings.
Then comes the Revolutionary War
The author tells the story Of this wal
briefly and eloquently, sets before us the
characters and deeds of the generals and
statesmen, follows the varying course Of
the country's struggle, and lets us know
what it cost our fathers to give us ma
ton. This portion is profusely illustrat
ed with portraits, celebrated buildings
like Faneuil Hall and Independence
Hall, plans Of backgrounds, naval en-
gagements. This closes the first part.
Part ii. is entitled "The Story of the
Nation: its Birth, Conflicts and Tri
umphs." Mrs. Richardson remembers
that history is something else than 8
record of battles and political contests
She repeats the history of the Constitu
ton, then she tells us of the wonderful
discoveries and inventions which gave us
the steamboat, the steam railway, and
the magnetic telegraph; she reminds US
too, of the half-forgotten horrors of the
Algerine pirates, and she gives the de
feats and the brilliant naval victories Of
the war of 1S12-1815. She continues
the peaceful record to the time of the
war with Mexico, but hints now and then
to the conflict going on politically and
morally over slavery. She tells the bril-
liant story of California that followed
hard on the Mexican war.
Then she gives careful chapter OIL
Slavery in the United States; we heal
the rumble of the cannon in the distance
she paints the bitter conflict in Kansas
the John Brown raid, and at length
comes full upon the great war through
which we have just passed. The story
of this she tells in clear, picturesqu,
language, impartially, but with strong
feeling, and the pages are filled with pic
lures representing prominent men and
scenes. A final chapter gives an epito
me of the past ten years, and so tn,
book closes. In another column will b,