The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-05

the fastnesses of Canada and for five years he does not open it. The cross he bears Is made heavier by his struggle with group of crooked financiers.
 When the letter is finally opened and the story is ended, the reader feels as though a portal had been riven in the wall or uncertainty through which all the characters pass into the sanctuary of complete and perfect understanding
 How well the grooming, laughing Kitty tended the exquisite flame of her love- how daringly she proved to the world that Shiel was no matrimonial deserter but something of hero how she dream ed wild dreams and kept her love even greater than her desire for Shiel-sueh is the story of You Never Know Your Luck"
 It's a great book; is Sir Gilbert Par ker's You Never Know Your Luck" and we take off our hat to the author lone of the most popular of all the present day writers), hoping that he'll soon give us another just as charming. MOTHER"
 By Kathleen Norris. The Macmillan
 Company, Publishers, New York.
 No sweeter, more wholesome story has been written in ages than Mother" by Kathleen Norris
 It is well worth reading, and brings home to every creature alive the. beauti- ful ennobling influence of the sweetest live ever given-a mothers.
 The "dedication' Is in itself a gem and practically tells the whole story:
 J. E. T. AND l. A, T. As years ago we carried to your knees The tales and treasures of eventful days, Knowing no deed too humble for your
 praise,
 Nor any gift too trivial to please. So still we bring. with older smiles and What gifts we may. to claim the old dear
 right;
 Your faith. beyond the silence and the
 night
 Your love still close and watching
 through the years.
 The story has to do with a poor and very large family, the oldest daughter. Margaret. being young school teacher, who is very much dissatisfied with her lot in life.
 Through an accident to one of the school children she meets a very wealthy woman-Mrs. Carr-Bolt of New York city who offers her position as secretary, and which she accepts.
 She leaves her family and goes to New York, where she is a great success, for she Is really very wonderful girl, and finally she falls in love and marries.
 Coming to her old home to tell her parents about her sweetheart her eyes are suddenly opened to the wonderful sort of mother she has had all her life and who she has never appreciated.
 Mrs. Paget is the type of real old fashioned beautiful mothers whom every body always loved-with a big family and a big heart.
 Quoting scene from the story, no pret- tier idea could be formed of it than Just the way the author has expressed it.
 She says:
 And what share of happiness Mar garet's mother had given the world. How she had planned and worked for them all, Margaret let her arm fall across tho sudden ache in her eyes as she thought of the Christmas mornings, and the stuffed stockings at the fireplace that proved every childish wish remembered, every little hidden hope guessed! Darling moth er-she hadn't had much money for those Christmas stockings. they must have been carefully planned, down to the last candy cane. And how her face would beam. as she sat at the breakfast table enjoying her belated coffee. after the cold walk to church, and responding warmly to the onslaught of kisses and hugs that added fresh color to her cold, rosy cheeks. What mother. she was,-Margaret re- membered her making them all help her clean up the Christmas disorder of tissue paper and ribbons; then came the inevi- table bed making, then time to get ready for long walk with Dad"
 MALE" By Armistead C.. Gordon With Frontis- l piece in Colors and Other Illustrations by Walter Biggs. Charles Scribner' l Sons, Publishers, New York In tiny little volume entitled 'Maje; Aove Story" Armistead c. Gordon has written romance of tender charms and appealing humor that is as fresh and original as it is exquisite. The coming back of the old major to the new world of since the war;" how Here" took care of him and thhe story of his love, is told beautifully. and with attractive sim- plicity. No sweeter or more poetic picture has evevr been drawn than that of the old major and his love for Mary. His tot tering years and feeble voice. the visits of his relatives who found him talking over the phone to his sweetheart-all this is beautiful in the extreme. and very well told by the author
 LOOKING WESTWARD, By Marion Harland. Charles 'Scribner's s Sons, Publishers. New York In dainty little volume entitled Looking Westward" Marion HarIand, the gifted and versatile writer. sends forth forth a message of sweet peace and | comfort to those who are growing old. [ She handles the subject 1 most deli.