Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-12-22
Current Literature.
srw nooKsREcrivEp.

NulItul ihltTutuTt.
srv HOOKS RECEIVED
Lrrrlm ASp social ANS. BY RALPH waldo Emerson.
Bostoni j. r. osg3pi Go.
This volume, Of three hundred and fourteen
pages has been anxiuusly looked for, aud was pro-
nounced in advance the best book OF tho sea-
son" An eminent critic says Whenever one
thinks Of literature ia the United States, he finds
Emerson occupying there the same commanding
rank that Washington holds in our politics The
title Of the first and longest essay is Poetry and
Imagination Last winters lecture. on Flo
quonee, is also included, aud is worth the price Of
the book The book closes with that noble al
dress on Immortality. which all who have ever
heard it will rejoice to see in print At Phinneys
BALLADS OF HouE Edited by ueo NJ Baker Co
pou.ly illustrated. Boston lee 4 shepard. square
syn. loo pp Price $50
This elegant holiday volume il composed OF the
choicest poetic gems, culled from nearly fifty DIFF
ferent authors illustrative OF the loves and TRACE
dies, JOYS and sorroNs Of HoNE-and will prove
an ineNhaustihle source OF entertainment and in
structon a, every ircside which it shall reach
proving most conclusiyely the truth Of ts dedica-
tory motto
he it ever so humble,
There i no place like home"
The volume contains forty full-page Illustrations,
and is withal the most elegantly bound gift-hook
which has met our eye. Phnney has it,
" FAMILIAR LErrEHs or JuiN ApANs ANn HIS WIFE"
BY Charlie. Francis Adams. New York llurd
Hougilton.
These familiar letters Of John Adams and his
wife. Abigail Adams, during the Revolution, are
Of peculiar interest {. Our country people at this
time when the early history Of the nation is so
attentively scanned in connection with the Cen
tennia The memoir Of Mrs Adams by Charles
Francis Adams, adds much to the value Of the
work These letters cover space Of nearly ten
years, from May, 177l, To February, 1883, and will
well repay reading whether by Young or old. In
fact no volume that we know Of is better calcn-
lated 10 instruct the adult or imp owe the minds
OF the rising generation. Il is ombelshed by
fine portrait Of Mrs Adams at the age Of twenty
one. Kept by Phnney.
FAM LEerSps. by WIN Carlton. author of Farm Bal
lads" Illustrated New York Harper 4 Brlther.
Square syo. l1i pp.. Price ..
The public have already passed most aaiterug
verdict upon this young author in the purchase
Of over fifty thousand copies Of his " Ballads,
and the volume before MS is unquesionably des-
tined 10 meet equal favor These Legends are
purely domestic Dedicated " To the memory Of
70 nohleman my farmer father" they show
throughout how clearly he sees real worth beneath
q rough exterior, or real wiekedness beneath
polished surface Three Links Of Life" and
Rob. the Pauper" aic transcripts Of many m
actual experience, while The Key to Thomas
Heart, {, % tribute to the undying influence Of
mothers love The miscellaneous poeus in the
volume cover a vide range and show real merit
The Illustrations are 10y competent artists and
make a valuable addition to tho book The me
chanicSl appearance Of the volume is every way
excellent, and the book will have m increasing
value after the holiday demand shall have passed
away For sale at rhinneys,
" NEAErH Ny Con, ruEE." liy sarah Flower Adams.
Bostoni Lee * shepard.
Wherever the Bible Is read, aud the saviour Of
men is worsliipped, this beautiful hymn is known
as an inspiration and devotion In social worship
in family and private deyoton--n the chamber
Of suffering and sorrow-it stands next and is in
separately allied tn the words Of inspiration The
spirit Of humility which animates the verses the
entire reliance upon the Almighty, and willingness
to be nfted toward Inn even by cross, Is well
calculated to touch the hearts Of those who
are in trouble or distress. The adaptation Of this
poetic hymn for pictorial Illustration is strikiusly
seen in this volume, in which the designs by Miss
L. b. Humphrey, as engraved by John Andrew 4
son, give emphasis to the significance Of the stan
zls that they accompany. In them We see the
maiden kneeling by the bedside in prayer, while
the ray OF light that beams upon her suggests the
radiance Of religious truth that gohdes the scene
and then the weary pilgrim, resting on stone
at night is seen, with angelic forms appearing in
his pious dreams Next we behold him leaning
on his staff amid mountain Businesses The re
manning illustrations ARE equally significant and
beautiful. The volume is embellished with Wig
nette Of tine author, and the title page gives II
elicitous Illustration Of the cross outside the win
dows Of Gothic church At phinneys
LEE & SHEPARD have added To the " Forest
Glen Series, Brought to the Front OF the Young
Defenders" by Elijah Kellogg, the well known
author of numerous juvenile books. The story is