New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

A YEAR WORTH LIVING. BY WILLIAM NJ. BAKER. l2mo.
PIP 825 Lee shepard
The author of tins story exhibits hlgheI
E In deneaton of character than in the oonstruc
ton Of a plot His arrangement OF incidents is not so
sky laid out as to keep the curiosity of the reader
In suspense but moderate degree Of foresight VIII an
tiepate the SEQUEL fom the beginning TIE events TO
which the tastes Of the author habuay incline as the
subjects for his pen those which permit the exercise
Of graphic description and in this difficult art he eX-
hbits a marked superiority TO many popular mover
writers OF the day. He is not content however as
rue with mere pictorial representation. He rather
makes use of incidents material for the portrait
ure Of character The action Of ms stoly
serves mainly as framework for the IL
lustration Of individual traits Though not With-
out frequent exaggerated touches, ne presents
cabinet OF choice keneses that have evidently been
drawn from the life, and give ample scope to the comic
or eccentric or noble OF the originals The por
traits indeed are so strongly marked with natural eX
precision so full Of the genuine spirit OF humanity espe
caly its quaint and pecur FORMS that they would
afford an attractive study themselves even II there
were no attempt to combine them scenes Of artistic
unity The plot which is simple in the extreme puT-
ports TO be founded the experience of young resby
terrain minister who on the completion OF MS education
I'm Northern seminary, became the pastor OF church
in a Southwestern city, where he devOtes hinlset 10
the cure Of souls 10 winning the heart OF lamp OF
his flock and to gathering the suggestions of this lively
story are intensely Southern. but its hints Of human
nature are universal in their character and proceed
from clear insight rather than from ingenious Iancles
As a specimen OF the authors descriptive power we
take little sketch of the return Of health to an ahced
CITY after visitation of the direful pestilence;
december was at last rolling away, and the scattered
population Of ST. jerome began to return. The fresh
ness Of the Grape upon the hats OF the men, ana the
mourning apparel Of the women as the city slowly hed
up told always everywhere Of tHe dead; the alb
sence OF It itself the mark in any one OF the AMEN
and the stranger. Old neighbOrs stopped each other
along the streets and shook hands sOrrowfuy together
at front gates comparing experiences. Yet IL seemed
with no one when death has stricken ITS victim sinGy
There was the sublimy Of great catastrophe IN the
loss OF each aictOn weighed less upon the survivors,
because its general load borne upon the shoulders
Of so many, individual grief being soohed in the air OF
universal sympathy There was no cutlery of anguish
no violent weeping seeing that the whole atmosphere
was mist Of tears and that also would lift and pass
away due time personal grief hiding itself more every
day in silent homes, then drawing itself deeper SIN INTO
the hearts of bereavement As the days fed the world
came rolling back. There vessels at the wharNes
vehicles along the streets faces in shop and store
IN the market and countngroom and warehouse Every
body was coming back and going to work again with
double energy to make up for lost time. Very soon the
schools and churches would fill up; the cottoneom-
presses and brokers Offices the theatres ana billiard
saloons, the auctou-rOOms, drinking establishments,
clgarsbOps, gambling heS, ana paces worse stl MOlu
be in fuller operation than before the pcstilence
Bows quarreed and turned somersaults alone the side
walKs negroes shouted each other and argued with
obstinate mules upon the wharyes If refreshed after
rest The tide Of life coming in more bOuntiul and
brilliant and salt with all variety than ever before;
and speedily the last traces OF its awful eDb the long
wrinkles it had left the ridges in the sand which were
the graves Of the dead would be covered by the
ocean, IL little while the fever would be talked about
as a something which beiel long ago The houses and
paings would be repainted the grounds restored the
exuberant overgrowth OF vegetation pruued down. and
everybody come to cheerful face possible.
Before long, no man would be dslOyal TO hint
even believe that the fever had disastrous
had been represented; and many would be ready to
swear that never could would come again, world
without end. forever and eYeLmore ameu.n