The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-20
THE LITTLE HOUSE."


 By Helen S. Woodruff. George H. Doran
 O., Publishers, New York.
 The Little House. by Helen s. Wood ruff, with it's near 300 pages of spontan- ecus humor, child portraiture, engaging romance and domestic tragedies, finds it's keynote in old Nanny Caroine's phios- ophy that Loves de powerfulest curator on yearth," a statement justified by the working of it's charm to the end of re- stored reason of the "Sorryady." and the healing of the colonel's broken heart, the discovery of unreyealed affections of two middle-aged neighbors. and the bringing about of the mothering pity of all hearts for an abandoned pickaninny.
 Only one whose own childhood was con fronted by the loving ministrations of really truly mamma could so well por- tray the innermost workings of the dark womans heart and give such, photo graphic reproductions of the numerous ne- gro types that are still to be found on many large plantations in the interior of the southern states. None but a south- erner would so well know the true rela- tions between the races, intimate but not familiar, nor could so accurately report the antics and loyal efforts of the blacks to be faithful servitors.
 The proposition of the story of ."The Little House" is that love ocercometh hate, and that under its wings is the balm of healing
 Dorothy Douglas, called Cherub by her parents because she was "so round and pink and happy" is visualized by her creator as not only a rare bit of child beauty, but her acts show her courag eous, loyal, loving, little girl '1t was perfectly plain that she had come straight dowr from heaven" reads the story, that the sun had kissed her hair as she passed, and the kisses had clung like beams of gold; and that when she opened her eyes and smiled at its two bits of blue sky had stolen in and stayed" Mrs. Woodruff has written no story vet that does not contain an adorable black nanny, and Mammyline in "The Little House is as lovable as the others. Her tears of pity for the sorrows of her mis- tress are genuine. Her warm embraces of her Miss Roses orphan child are mother ly and even her tyranny over Uncle Ci- cero Caesar Alexander Nelson, her aged husband, whom she on occasion commands to take his remains from her presence may be forgiven because of her willing ness to offer up her perfectly good pigs for the habitation of Dorothy's seven devils.
 The sunny south, with it's romance and the fun of it's darkies is Mrs. Woodruffs best known province and it here glows in a charming story of q child who laughed and loved Not q juvenile" but tale for all to love AS the dulnOf or MS Beauty ''The Lady of the Lighthouse" and Really Truly Nature stories.' Mrs. Woodruff has firmly established a reputation for real sweetness-not the forced senti- mentality of hypocritical optimism. but the real kindliness of great nature with a sense of humor.
 OTHER BOOKS RECEIVED. REvIEWS LATER) AMAZING GRACE" By Kate Trim ble Sharber. Illustrated by R. M. Cros- by The Bobbs- Merrill Co.,. publishers. Indianapolis.
 THE RED MIRAGE" By I. A. R. Wylie. The Bobbs-Merrill Co., publish CTS, Indianapolis.
 PIERRE vINTON" By Edward (. venable. Charles Scribner's Sons, pun- fishers New York.
 "CRITIcIsM." By W. C. Brownell. Charles Scribners Sons. publishers, New York.