The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-10-13
AN OLD NEW BOOK.
RY MRS. ;. VI SMITH

IRelubli,hed hy request.
We have almost finished the perusal Of a
new edition Of very old work, winch We
have read many times hetore-a many, IN
deed. as We are years od-but with new in
terest. pleasure and profit each time. The
present volume published by the author and
distributed free ~ e1st l. beautifully bound
ID green ami goll, and ma.uifcently illustra-
ted IN coiors. These illustrations indeed
form one ri the many wonderful features OF
the work. and have iuu- served, aud doubt
less will hong continue I" serve, as models fer
the artists 81 all chmes. For originality OF
cunceI ton, exquisite delicacy aud harmony
O.. coloriug. and ,killiul blending i light and
shade. they have never Leen eNeelled 10y the
work Of any painter. ancient ~ modern
Nor j. the other matter contained ID .ho
work ia any way interior To- these iilustra-
tons. either in IT'S variety, which Is almost
infinite, or Ia d, beauty, excellence and use
iuluess AMI still perhaps there are writings
that are absolutely new IN the present edi-
tion. as compared with former ones there Is
still as many changes and improvements m
arrangement that We seem to discover new
beauties upon every leaf that We turn, and
the whole work has the effect of a succession
of delightful surprises, notwithstanding hat
We have read it many times before.
Its sermons inspire nj, with the strongest
desire to begin new and better life, 70 turn
y.r ...,- I'M a. - ,,..t,. AMI tIay st ,tt r...
the doctrines Of the resurrection, that they
carry conviction to the hearts Of many an I'M
believe whom even the truths OF holy writ
l..,y. ff....ll,i to reach.
l.. love tales ~, not the mere creations OF
a romancer', brain, but the faithful record Of
a more than woman's coustancy and devotion,
though drawn from the everyday life Of a
class with whose habits, peculiarlties and
even language Ne are not as familiar We
might he
Its poems and songs are from the same
source, and a.e more beautiful and inspiring
than any other penned by mortal poet. Upon
the very first page we find the " robins
song, not, dear reader, one Of the five hun
uIcu with bidN tltit Nldt hbu nave otth
IN the various new. papers this spring, nor
indeed is it set to any written words, but the
real, live, ringing, inspiring notes of the real
live bird aud now, you will have guessed
that my wonderful book Is SPRING, and
ere this reaches you, will have read it
through, and taken up its succeeding volume,
"SrMMRR. That too. will be filled with
beautiful pictures. richer in hue, holder
of outline, and with far stronger contrasts Of
light and shade; but beautiful as they may
be, they lack the tender, spiritual grace that
the pencil OF spring alone can impart.
IL will have its sermons. but they will
breathe more of the practical ard prosaic than
the spiritual They will point rather to the
rewards that ii this life await upon industry
and perseverance, and the failures sure to
overtake Incidence, but will be less strong to
awaken in our hearts purer and higher aspir-
atoms Nor will they impress us so power
fully with beIiet IN the possibility Of
future life as do the miracles wrought by
spring, when vegetation, bursting from the
icy bonds in which death has held it through
the winter. springs to life at its touch and
the seemingly hfeess seed that we bury from
our sight in the ground, quickened by the
same magic power, leaves there its outward
and visible covering. and comes forth, each
after ITS kind, 70 put on the garments Of a
new and more glorious life.
1t will have it, songs and its love stories,
but the one, like the effort of the professional
singer, will inspire us rather with admiration
for the brilliant performer than with sympa-
thy for his theme while the other will, for
the most part, be but az urInteresting chron-
icle Of the cares and trials OF maturer mar
ried life. They will lack the delightful
charms that belongs Gully to the romance Of
youth And 50 We might continue the con-
trast with each succeeding volume Autumn,
even winter, will have its peculiar beauties
and excelencies, but none will compare with
this whose last page we have now reached,
and We see summer taking its place with
something Of the regretful feeling with which
we mark the years Of our children merging
into manhood and womanhood and as we
wished them 80 that we might keep them
always young SO now we say, would that
We might Keep tie year always young, and
continue for a twelyemonth to read only the
delightful pages of this charming, rejuvenat.
ing book ct spring.