New-York tribune., 1879-03-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

uo,rrI T s,s THE LADY OF THE ARO0STOOK.
THE LADY OF THE ARooST0Ok. by W a., INV
ELS. l2mO. PIP. 326. Houghtoh' OsEoou' w.
The hand of the true artist is betrayed in the
simplicity of treatment with which the materials
orcommon life are made use of for an effective de-
Gneation of character IN this singularly attractive
story Mr. Howells does not seek for the sources
of fiction in the mysteries of deep passion; nor does
no Dlunpe into the dark rccesses of crime to give
color TO the composition his narrative reads IKE
the unyarnished recital of events that but yeS'er
dav took place within the circle OF our own OK
pcriencc rather than the invention OF an auuaclo"s
imagination; but he turns to adInlrapie aocouh.
the passing humors of the day, ana the haiN'u
original features of peculiar personality "hi0"
border ON the eccentric without losing their nat
uralness,
The scene opens in rural village OF Nor'herh
Massachusetts, some fifty miles from Boston oy 'no
Fltchburg Railroad, and within an easy distance
from Kecne in Hampshire on one side,an from
Greenfield and Springfield on the other with no
more precise indications of the exact locality In
the best room Of a neat farmhouse, we are lhVro-
duced TO the Lady Of the AToostook," who Win
her aged grandfather and prim maiden aunt, Is
awaiting the old-fashiOned stage coach, in when
she ,s TO start on a memorable journey. The young
damsel had been summoned by near female reia-
tive who had married an Englishman ana selded
In Venice, to make her visit III the far-oH EuIV-
xoon citv which seemed as remote from Massachu-
setts as Paradise was from Adam when seeking nus
fortune after the fall. The misgvinGs OF the od
man and his ancient daughter on parting Win tniS
net lamb are well described. They can scarcely
make up their minds after all to ntrust the Fc"el
of their household to the pcIils of the ocean
md the unknown terrors of foreign land l.
don't like this part Of it, father" said the elderly
xoman.-"Ly Lyddys seeming to feel about 1t the way
she does right at the last moment. as you may say
The old grandfather made a noise III ms throat aS
II he might speak but his lips puckered to whistle
and gaze no sound while the other continued.
don't want her TO GO now no more than ever ul'.'
o,d snccestcd that even if they could not get the
money back from the captain of the ship II WouIu
cost no more 70 have her stay than to have her CO.
She at length finds some comfort IN the idea that
ait amt like gOn' among strangers, II II Is III
strange land" They are her fathers own kln' ana
she quessos they'll do what's right by Lyddy when
she gets there And l try to look at it tins way:
that long before that maple by the gate Is
red. she'll be with her fathers own sister; and
for one don't mean TO let 1t worry me-"
With that she made search for her hand
k.rcbief and wiped away the tears that fell down
her cheeks At last the question was settled
bv the appearance of the g stage " which was 10
take tho young girl to the station Watching It's
approach, she announced Its arrival with tumult
In her voice and manner. and choking SOD. AS she
stood upright, she showed the slender and elegant
shame of American gIIlhood clothed with certain
natural stylishness that could not be suppressed
even in the homely little town among the Massa-
chnsets hills She carried her dress with spirit ana
effect The yellow and rattling Concord coach drew
up at the gate, while good Aunt Maria went down
With her father and niece, who were TO take the
u I.C,r la, iup nf LATTER n
n merchant vessel for Trieste. "Take the back
scat. fatherw she said. as the old man offered to
take the middle place. Let them that come LATER
have what's left. You'll be home tonight. father;
III set I'D for you-g0od-by again, Lyddy" She did
not kiss the girl again, nor touch her hand. Their
Quiet adieus had been made in the house On re-
turning within doors she kindied fire III the
kitchen stove, and made herself cup of Japan tea
"a variety Of the herb which, the author quantity
remarks, "our country people prefer, apparently
because it affords the same stimulus with none OF
the pleasure given by the Chinese leaf"
The tribulation of the old man on arriving III BoS-
ton with his tender charge, unused to the sights
and sounds of the seething city, and bcwlldered
with the fuitess search for the Aroostook the YES
sci i'm which the girl was to sail, is at last happily
relieved by the sight of the captain, who at once
took possession of the strangers, ana smoothed out
their parpexed IDEAS by showing them the beauties
of his ship The scene at the wharf Is described
with inimtabe spirit and the portrait OF the bluif
CAPTAIN .Jcnness affords an excellent specimen OF
the vigorous personal sketches with winch the vol
ulnc abOunds. 4 man turned the corner OF the
warehouse from the street above, aud came brsky
down toward them, with his lat of. and rubbing
his head and face with crcuarapp!jcati0n Of ared
silk handkerchief. lie was dressed III suit of blue
flannel very neat and shapcly, and across his ample
waistcoat stretched gold watch-chain; in his left
hand lac carried white Panama hat. He was short
and stont: his round hOrld face was full of sort
of prompt kindness; his small, blue eyes twinkled
under shaggy brows, whose sandy color bad not
vet taken the gri2zlcd tone OF his close-cllpped
lair and beard. From his clean wristbands bis
hands came out plump and large; stiff, WHY hairs
stood up on their backs. and under these, various
designs IN tattOoiug showed their purple"
The final parting OF the old man with his grand
daughter as he left the ship TO he put on shore IN
boat i described with several natural touches OF
almost autidue simplicity. "'Al ready! shouted
Captain Jenness, from the gap in the bulwark,
where ne stood waiting TO descend into the small
boat. The old man ran towards him in his senle
haste and stopped to get the side into the boat
below. Why grandfather cried the girl In a
breaking voice, full of keen, yet tender reproach..
Il declare fort > he said scramblmg back to the
deck 'Pmost forgot ben 50 put about lie took
Jyd.a's hand loosely into his own and bent forward
10 kiss her. she threw her arms around him. and
while he remained looking over her shoulder, with
a face of grotcsque pcrplexity, and saying Don't
CRY, Lyddy don't cry She pressed her face tighter
into his withered neck and tried to mulle her
homesck sobs. Don't you, don't you, Lyddy' re-
peated the old man. 'You mustn't. The captains
waiting and tine cars-wcll. every minute l lose
makes it r,skior and riskier; and your Aunt Mara,
she's always so uneasy YOU EnOw!" She quietly
lifted her head and kissed him, forcing her lips into