The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-05
SOME new BOOKS RECEIVED
Mr.. ". l.. Sheppard Contributes 10
Harpers.
SKETCH my FIFTH IN NANNY"
New and Beautiful Edition Of TenDyson's
"In illustrations by
Harry Fenn--"Current Liter
ature--The Cosmopolitan

| Harper's Monthly Magazine: December.
1897. Harper and Brothers. New York.
London. For sale by George NJ. West.
The December Harpers comes TO us in
special cover and with special editorial
effort manifest in its contents. appropri-
| ate to the Christmas season. The periodi-
! cal has long since taken first rank among
! the magazines Of to-day. and holds IL by
continued excellence. This number con-
tains much that Is interesting. but has
a special claim upon local interest for the
reason that Mr.. William i. Sheppard. of
Richmond, Is a contributor. That gentle
/, mans distinction as an artist has led
even his intimate friends TO forget that
he is master OF charming literary style,
although from time to time sketches from
his pen usually Of traveD have appeared
in leading periodicals. In these he has
used his broad culture with a graceful
pen, but in the contribution to the De-
cember "Harper's." which bears the de-
lightfully incomprehensibe title. my
Fifth in Nanny" he has used his pen
to more entertaining purpose than ever
before. The story, beneath whose appar-
ent and naive humor there is a distinctly
pathetic minor-is ostensibly a retrospect
The Nanny" who moves through II
as its leading figure. was the special
Nanny who in the domestic history
OF the authors childhood and youth. held
the conspicuous place which was that of
her prototype In every Southern house
mold. Beneath. Der broad bosom beat
loyal heart, and that is the fact which
makes MT Sheppard's certainly charming
story.
Il never" says he. knew a time in
which / did not know NANNY. She was
simply part Of my Consciousness: il
seems 70 me now more vivid one in my
earliest years than that OF the existence
Of my parents. We five. although instruct
ed by an elder sister I'm the rlidlments OF
learning. spent many more Of our waking
hours with Nanny: and whilst we drew
knowledge from one source we derived
the greater part of our pleasure from
the other-that IT, outside OF our play
mates The picture which he draws Of
her is an amusing one. and most fellci-
tously drawn Many will recognize the
type. "Hammy's code Of laws for our
moral government" saws he: was one
Of threats Of being repeated to ole NAH
ster,' tempered by tea OF her own making
dulcihed by brown sugar OF fascinating
sweetness, anecdOte and autobiography.
'Dulcifed by brown sugar Of fascinating
sweetness" is triumphant stroke,
As the sketch proceeds we read the
story OF family reverses. which bring us
straight TO our title. we were happy
in being able to retain good many Of
our household gods. and they are the
lares and penates Of our several homes
TO this day. We had long since ceased
10 think Of Nanny Becky-she was never
Rebecca-as property. In fact we young
er ones never thought of her as such
BY law we were each entitled TO a fifth
in Nanny" ...
The story OF her fidelity 10 the author
told with n light. easy. humorous touch.
that does not conceal the minor chord.
will be appreciated by those familiar with
the war era as true and telling one.
The sketch derives its point from the
portion which deals with the authors life
subsequent TO the war. and preceding his
marriage. There Is n touch of romance
supplied in the Elaine" introduced near
the conclusion. hut Nanny" is the CEN
tire figure throughout Mr.. Sheppard is
TO be congratulated upon his charming
recital OF piquant fact, and 1t may be
said without exaggeration that my Fifth
In Nanny. is one Of the most interest
ing contributions 60 the admirable Christ
mas HarpeF's.
II.