New-York tribune., 1891-12-17
CHILDREN'S BOOKS.
FAIRY TALES AND STORIES OF ADVENTURE.

FAIRY TALES AND STORIES OF ADVENTURE.
bit OF real literature Mary p. wells Smiths Jolly
Good Times at Hackmatack' (Roberts Brothers). 1t
Is story of the child life of sixty years ago in New
England and II has all the vividness of actual e1pe-
rience. There is surely no small reader boy or girl.
who can withstand the charm of this recital of the
country fun of grandpa's childhood, and no grandpa
who taking surrepttious peep at the book, will put
1t down until he has turned the last leaf. Every
Christmas new swarm of books for children, no'
many Of which deserve TO live, but this little volum9
ought to be preserved permanent addition to the
chronicles of NewEngland life.
Little Marjorie's Love-story" "a. C. McCurs d
Coz, by Marguerite Bouvet, Is not, as It's title might
Indicate n sentimental book for grown ups. seAti-
mental IL is. however 60 degree which shonld MAKO
II dstastcful TO a healthy minded child Most chh-
den are OF course hard hearted little sinners, ana
storybook which shall teach them sympathy is very
good in its way. This book however, is scky In It's
mourfness and when the heroine dies one feels but
small regret Another Elsie" book presents pleasant
details OF that young lady's "VacatiOn and After
Events Dodd Mead & Coz 1t continues the re
cital OF the domestic happenings OF the family OF pro-
digionsly. vrtuous children TO whom Miss Finley mas
SO long devoted her pen the holes and corners being
filled with more less interesting historical anecdotes
The volume has, moreover picture of its authors
kindly face crowned with white curls and Lighted by
a pair of dark eyes. HoratiO Alger, tr.. remains II
favorite with all small boys who have natural desire
TO sec the bad rich boy of fiction punished and the
good little poor boy rewarded. In The Five-Hun-
dred Dollar Check" UNITED States Book Company this
Is done in the good. Old-fashoned manner
"The Little Ladies" G. B. Lippincott Company, by
Helen Mman. is not to our taste. 1t is story OF
English life written by who apparently knows little
or nothing about it. and while il is not in any
plaarzed. cannot help feeling that Little Lord
Fauntleroy" in way suggested the tale 1t must
be said also that chlds book is not adapted to the
development of romance Of love.
"Hidegarde's Holiday Estes & Lauriat) is a sequel
to that pretty story, "Queen iIildegarde.' 1t is
wnsome book full Of sympathy and humor and refine
ment. Mrs. Richards has made her heroine more de-
lightful than on her first appearance. Perhaps she
has more unsefshness and "sweet serviceablencSs"
than we accustomed TO find in the young girl Of
to-day; but the beauty Of the idealized ildegardcs
character strike the young reader with good effect
In "a Pair of Originals" (Macmilanj f. Ward re-
lstes the adventures funny and doeful Of pair of
little English brothers. The two heroes not par
tcuarly original. in spite of the title-nOt nearly
much so. for example, Bulge and Toddie, Of whom
they strongly remind us. They very goody" in
spots-almost too much so, in fact, for reasonable
human boy" Miss f. Nesbit has hit upon the quaint
idea of bringing The Story of Columbus raphael
Tuck Sons) home to childish minds by starting with
the hypothesis that Columbus lived in fairy times
and by telling the rest in tho same playful vein.
VIII and Frances Iirundage and J. Pauline sumter
nave Illustrated inc amusing rhymes With amusing
designs, and the thin folio cannot fail to raise shouts
of delight in the nursery. The same publishers bring
out another good picturebook fer children Jacks
and Js," by f. VI. Chettlc. In "The Knghting of
the Twins" (Robert Brothers. Clyde Fitch tells eleven
pretty little stories They little literary and
selfconscious. but they full of good morals This
pictures in Peter Cat o. one Tail" (. p. Putnam's
sons charming and many of the animals ad
ventures Mr.. Charles Morey has related with much
is a of
when his biographer has bee content to leave his
tale unadorned, it is uncomn only entertaining.
Courage" IF. A. Stokes Company, by Ruth Ogden
takes its name from its heroine, who is brave and
always lovabe yOungter OF course she goes through
tribulationS which end in HI ppiness-whlch is what
oil reasonable young readers would naturally expect
Kirk MonrOe's Prince Dusty (G P. Putnam's Sons)
is an exciting tale of a mode boy who suffers much
injustice and many hardsh ps with the effect of
becoming more and more ch. yarous and tender
hearted His adventures will go far TO teach presence
Of mind and promptitude TO small readers In sold
Rough the Miser" (Roberts Brothers., Lily F. Vessel
hoeft tells stirring tale OF cruel and wicked old
water. rat and Of his long tyranny the other
creatures of the wood and field. The fable will
teach many a useful lesson. "The Boy settlers"
Cscrlbner) by Noah Brooks is Just the kind of book
TO Gn with bliss the heart of the average young
American. II is story OF early days in Kansas. and
oil manner Of entertaining episodes are narrated in
Il. There hunting adventures. and Indian scares
and FreeState' troubles, and above all there Is
great deal OF "roughng it, Julie VI. Lippmann's
Jock o. Dreams" (Roberts Brothers., Is collection
Of stories rather poetic and mystical in matter and
manner. Nurse Heatherdsles Story" Niacmillan
f., like all Mrs. MOlesworths books. graceful and
wholesome 1t is simple little domestic story, with
a lively chapter describing the finding OF hidden
treasure.
in Z" Witch Winnies Mystery" DOdd Mead & CO..
Mrs. L. W. Champney continues the tale of the clever
girl introduced in switch Winnie, the Story Of
Kings Daughter II is tale OF school girls and
college boys and the "mystery" concerns old oak
cabinet and robbery. The story is perhaps no; very
true to life. but 1t is sufficiently interesting.
Dr. Edward f. Hales " Four and Five (Roberts
Brothers. belongs to the Ten Times one Series,' and
is another example of that wise mans ability 10 blend
the noblest moral lessons with the most animated
fiction.
W. o. stoddard's "Little Smoke" ID. Appleton d
Coz is one Of the most beguilng bits Of story telling
the season has brought to The hero is little
Indian whose experiences with kind Of sub-hero.
small Caucasian. really thrilling. There is not
dry paragraph in the whole volume. \ very dainty
book is Fairy Lore ID. LOtOp C0.l collection Of
fairy tales translated and adapted from the German
by Carrie y. IIorwitz. 1t is book Of books for
winter afternoons in the nursery.