New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS

barren coast, the raclness OF secluded auu h'V"'a
man.
Quaint. humorous and acute rs study OF char'
acter and surrounding the work has no merit what
ever as a novel. Miss Mclean has quick ana
poetic vision sharp appreciation OF moral oddities,
and a graphic fashion of describing tbeln but hef
Imagination is yet unframed, and the thin VEN OF
romance that wanders through her clever book Is
little more than interruption. Her pictures of
the Cape region and its homey and singe-hearted
people are a warranty of genuine talent and need
no witchery OF story TO make them delightful. Her
plot il indeed there be plot, is vague, after the
fashion OF the average New. England novel-as thin
and high-ptched the ay w-England
voice. But her men aud women are real, and with
few exceptions wholesome sunshine and air.
That the types true the candid Cape Colder
has already acknowledged. The author has even
used actual names, and thereby made not little
disturbance among the hardy inhabitants OF CedaI-
swamp
The story is told by handsome young woman
who from the outer world of refinement and cult
walton comes to teach the upIoarous youngsters of
The Cedarswamp district school. Miss Hungerford
boards with charming old couple who are
sketched with much humor. Not the leas' amusing
scene is that in which excellent Grandma Fisher
prepares her long-suferng husband for Sunday
school
When the ancient couple made their appearance,
remarked silently. in regard to Grandma Fishers
Ii was couGned in six infuitesimal braids which
appeared to he spronting out perpendiculary IN all
directions from her head.
The effect of redundancy and expansiveness thus
heightened aud increased on Grandmas features
was striking in the extreme
While we were eating breakfast that good soul
observed to GRANDPA Fisher; Well pa, suppose
you'll be all ready when the time comes to take
teacher and me over to West Scussit 10 Sunday
Crandpa conghed and coughed again. and raised
heIDlFSSiV window.
Looks like showers said he. "A-hem
a-hem! Looks nightly to me like showers, over
:" Thar. rally husband l must say feel mort
fed for ye SAID Grandma. Seem rs you're
perfeSs9r, too, and thar amt been single sunday
mornin' since I've lived with We pa, summer or
winter, hut what you've seen showers, aud it rally
seems TO it's dreadful inconsistent when thar
amt no cloud in the sky, and don look no more
like RAIN than do" And GrandInas face in spite
of her repToachlul tones, was, above ALL blandy
sunlike and expressive of anything rather than
deluge and watery disaster
Grandpa was silent a little while then conghed
again. had never seen Grandpa in worse straits.
A-heml a-hem! Fanny seems to be little
lame, this morning, said he. : shoudn't wonder.
She been go!n pretty Study this week"
-" lt does beat ALL, pa" continued Grandma
Fisher, how 7 all the horses you've ever had since
I've known ye have always been took lame Sunday
nornin', Thar was Happy Jack he could 90 any
nobody could see. and Sunday mo1nin'. he was al
ways took lanlel And thar was 'Tantrum ="
"Tanrum" was the horse that had away
with Grandma when she was thrown from the
wagon. and generally smashed to pieces And
how, Grandma branched OH into the thrilling
"reminiscences connected with this incident of her
life, which was the third time during the week
that the horrible tale had been repeated for my
When she had finished Grandpa shook his head
with painful earnestness, revertng to the former
subject OF discussion.
1t s a long jaant!' said he, long iauntw
-" Thars long hill to climb, before we reach
ZioD's mount" said Grandma Fisher impressively.
road to West sensst burst out the old sea cSpan
say nothn about the devIsh stnuesw
hk %s9 fur on
one day ;;we'ye broke the Sabbath. and took the
name Of the Lord IN, VAN, and that ought to be
Grandpa replied at length in greatly slbdued
wall, if you and the teacher want to go over to
Sunday school to-day, suppose we can 90 If we
get ready" long submissive sigh" suppose we
"Thcy have preachin' service in the mornin', I
suppose" said Grandma. But don't generally
git a,Ong to that. 1t makes such an early start.
We generally try TO get around. when we CO. in time
for Sundayschool. They have siugin' and all. 1t s
inst about nterestin', 1 think, as preachin"
breads the gttin' started
When bebeld the ordeal through which GRANDPA
FISHER was called TO pass, at the hands of his faith
ial consort before he considered IN fit condi-
j marvelled not at the old mans reluctance, nor
that he had indeed seen clouds and tempest frnGing
immediately after breakfast he set out for the
barn, ostensihly to see to the chores" really. |
~
worse evil should come upon him.
Pretty soon Grandma at the back door call
Ing in firm though persuasive tones:
husband! Husband! Come in, now, and get
ready"
No answer. Then it was in another key. weighty,
vet expressive of no weak irritation, that Grandma
called: Come, pal pa-a! pa-a-aw Still nc answer
Then that voice OF Grandmas suug out like a
trumpet terrible with meaning "Staunton
Fisher"
But Grandpa appeared not. Next, I saw Grandma
slowly but surely gravitatng in the direction of the
barn. and soon she returned bringing with her that
ancient delinquent. who looked like a lost sheep
Indeed, and a trulT unreconclled one
Now the first thing" said Grandma looking her
lororn captive over, Is boots Go and get yer
meetin CATERS. pa"
The old gentleman having invested himself with
those sacred relics. came pahetcally lImpng into
the room.
Il declare. ma" said he. "somehow these things
phew! Somehow they pinch my feet dreadiuly. |
don't know what 1t Is,-phew They're dreadful
things somehow"
- Since We known ye, pa" solemnly calculated !
Grandma Fisher, you've never had pair ~ |
meetin' boots that set easy on yer feet You'd !
ought to ret boots big enough for ye pa, she con
tinued, looking down dlsapprovingly the old |
TWO small scows at anchor in black cloth encase-
mems and not be proud to go TO pinchIn YER
feet into CATERS number o. sizes too small for ye"
They're number tens, tell we !" roared GRANDPA. |
nettled outrageousy by this cutting taunt
. - all, thar, now pm" said Grandma soothingly. |
" IL had sech feet as that, | wouldn't 90 TO |
time we stopped bickerin', now, husband and got |
ready for meetin'; so set down and let me wash |
yer head"
I've washed once this mornin' It's clean |
enough Grandpa protested, but in vain He was !
planted in chair and Grandma Fisher with rag
and soap and basin of water. attacked the old |
gentleman vigorously much as | have seen crnei
mothers wash the faces of their earth begrimed in
rants; lie only lave expression to such grOans as:
ma You've cot NV ewes SO mi ~ sen Uolne'
that | can't see nothin. Phcw! Lordy! amt We !