Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-15

lantern. and any fool could telft her arms was full O pa'eels by the way she carried the lantern"
 To this old Mrs. Bascom, with bombas- ity, replied:
 "Anybodyd think you was born yester- day to hear you talk. Diademy." retorted her mother-in-law. "When you've set in one spot as long as l hev p'raps you'll hev the use O your faculties" (Just thirty years had Mrs. Baseom occupied the seat in the Watch Tower.)
 "Old Mrs. Bascom wet her finger, smoothed the parting of her false front and looked iDscrutable.S
 The next story Is the choice one of the collection, if one could be selected as better than the others, for every one in the little book is a gem. I think Mrs. Wiggin as she is known to the reading public, gives the Glue to the quality that characterizes all these stories-that of human sympathy-when she says in the introduction, where she dedicates the little work to the Dear Old Apple-Tree." :" and it's fragrant blossoms are seen strewn over the page: And do you remember the day when the gentle showers came? We just eurled the closer. and you and and the sky all cried together while we wrote The Fore-Room Rug.
 Yes, this story is good, and wish that every reader who perused Pembroke" could read it, for we of the south could not understand or appreciate the New Englander as depicted in Miss Wilkins successful work, but with the homely, tender-hearted Diadema we are ready to share our tears and our sympathies. too. But 'tis Tom O. the Blueb'ry Plains" that is so strongly characterized by this pathetic quality, and when poor, Sinl- ple-hearted Tom exclaims to unwelcome visitors from his rude home in the plains, Tom ain't ter hum; Toms gone to Bon ny Eagle; Tom don't want to go to the "a in it's plaintive vail to melt the hardest heart. Only two other writers occur to me just at present as possessing the same spontaneity, nearness and entire unity with the big. warm, throbbing heart of the world-Will Allen Dromgoole, for one (and in her stories how she does en- ter the very heart of me, compelling sym pathy) the other is Ian Maclaren in ms pure, honest, homely stories of the sim- pie country folk.
 But I wonder what the new woman would say to the following ejaculation of wisdom from Diadema in "The Fore Room Rug"
 He's got such pleasant ways, Jot has! The other afternoon he didn't get home early enough to milk, and after l done the two cows I split the kindling and brought in the wood, for I knew he'd want to go to the tavern and tell the boys bout the robbery up to Boylston. There ain't anybody but Jot in this Vii- lage that has wit enough to find out what's going on and tell 1t in an int resting way round the tavern fire. And he can do 1t without being full of cider, too: he don't need any apple juice to Timber his tongue. We'll when he come in he can see the pails of milk and full wood box, and the supper laid out under the screen cloth on the kitchen table, and he come up to me at the sink and says he, 'Diademy. you're the best wife in this county and the brightest jewel in any crown-that's what you are! Now I'd like to know whether that ain't pleas anter than 'tis to have a man do all the shed and barn work up smart, and then set around the stove looking as doleful as last years birds nest? Take my ad- vice, Miss Hollis. get husband that will keep on courting a little now and then, when he ain't too busy; it smooths things consid' able round the house."
 Good danes of B., what do you think of the logic?-(H (Houghton, Mifflin & Co.)
 Somewhat like books of travel, we may feel that we possess "cook books galore, and yet there is always a place and a re- ception ready for the worthy work. And such book I deem the Practical Cook cry" It is presumably compiled by ''an epicure,' but I know at least one person who is ready to affirm that it was compiled also by one of the most charm ing women in the social circles of New Orleans, and we all know the reputa- tion of that city for delicious and thor oughly prepared viands. In the preface the author says: ''In writing each recipe I have tried to be- very explicit in my explanations, so when one attempts a recipe they may meet with success. This volume is, as 1t is entitled, Practical Cookery In my work l received valua- ble aid from the experience of an old cook who stood at the range of an epi- cure for over twenty-five years, and knew how to cook food for the palate and digestive organs"
 There are numbers of valuable receipts from "Soup9 on through the list of sal ads, breads, sweets, etc., and it comes in neat binding for everyday practical use.
 To put into the hands of a boy or girl the two handsome bound volumes of St. Nicholas which contain the numbers for the past year is equal to a gift of half a dozen story books. In fact, some of the most popular books of the year for chil- dren have first seen the light in these pages. Here one will find Palmer Coxs irrepressible Brownies" on their tour through the union Howard Pyle's brave Jack Ballister," who got the best of Blackbeard's piratical crew; Albert Stearns' Chris and the Wonderful
 
 bridge S. Brooks "A Boy of the First Empire;" "The Quadrupeds of North America" of all sorts and conditions, described by w. T. Hornaday; and number of famous horses, historic and legendary. that are very lovingly writ ten about by James Baldwin. There are a series of sketches in a simple and sym pathetic vein of Famous American Au- thors,' by Brander Matthews, and The odore Roosevelt's inspiring "Hero-Tales From American History" Aside from these serial features the volumes are crowded with stories, sketches and verses that will help as well as amuse childish readers.
 The fiftieth volume of The Century, containing the numbers of the magazine for the past six months, has appeared. History, biography art and science have adequate treatment, as well as fiction and the lighter things. Perhaps the most notable feature of this volume is Prof. William M. Sloanes Life of Ma poleon," which reaches the most exciting portion of-the great conqueror's career. There Is a profusion of illustrations. in- cluding not only reproductions of famous masterpieces of painting. but also many drawings made for the work by French English and American artists. A sug- peStiya contrast in the character of the