The Sauk Centre herald., 1940-10-17
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IBy Bernice FinneS0n
BIRD IN THE TREE
By Elizabeth GOudge

BIRD IN THE TREE
BY Elizabeth Goudge
The thousands of readers of a
"City Of Bells" were charmed by
Miss Goudge's two delightful crea-
tions-the children, Henrietta and
Hugh Anthony; and they shared
the authors feeling for the beauty
of the old cathedral town. Such
readers will find full measure in
this new and heart-warming story,
the first full-length, modern novel
Miss Goudge has written since a
"City Of Bells"
1.-THE Bird in the Tree" has three
marvellous youngsters and two dogs
who romp through its pages and
bring color and life to Damerose-
hay, the ighteenth-century home
of the Eliots, tucked away between
the marshes and the sea on a for
gotten stretch of the Hampshire
coast. The action Of the novel all
takes place during the fall of 1888,
but it's sources are hidden in the
past. There is the obscure history
of Damerosehay, which gradually
unfolds, and the strange fascina-
ton the lovely old house possesses
for all who visit it. There is
grandmother Lucilla Eliot, whose
personality has merged so COM
pletely with that Of Damerosehay
during the passage Of the years;
and there is her maid Ellen, whose
sixty-odd years Of service have
made her as much an Eliot as
Grandmother herself.
Against this background, Miss
Goudge presents modern love
story which goes to the very heart
Of human emotion. Young David
Eliot and his Nadine love Damer-
osehay as they love each other, but
their lives are not entirely their
own. Damerosehay Lucille, the
children, and even the little village
on the shore have claims stronger
than they at first realize, and each
plays a part in showing David and
Nadine the way to happiness.
TO THE INDIES
BY Forester
Admirers Of c. s. Forester have
come to expect from him the un-
usual as well as the exciting. His
new novel is as original as 1.-THE
Gun" or "The African Queen" It's
central character, Don Narciso
Rich, is as remarkable in his CEN
tury as Captain Hornblower was
in his.
Why he decided to accompany
the aging Columbus on his third
voyage, Don Marciso never quite
understood himself. The King
wanted an active young lawyer to
investigate the New World activ-
tiles Of his high-handed Admiral.
To his own astonishment, Don
Narciso, almost middle aged, near
ly portly, asked to go himself.
In an age haunted by supersti-
ton and inquisition, Don Narciso
dared to think. He ventured to
suggest that rape and slaughter
were not the best methods Of be-
friending the Indians. He even
near-heresy doubted that Cuba
was an outpost Of the Great Khan!
But action was what counted in
that year Of 1897, and there was
gold to be found, and a westward
passage. Perforce, the plump Don
Narciso donned helmet and breast
plate. He learned to cover his
weakness and self-distrust by a
bold aid Of command.
He grew lean, and skilled in the
leading Of men. Before he return
ed to Spain he survived kidnap-
ping, hurricane, shipwreck.
Scene after scene stands out
the fight with a maddened alliga-
tor-the trip by long boat in the
teeming Orinoco jungle-the terrib-
lie auto-da-fe' at Espanola. BY
some miracle the shadowy Column
bus comes alive, half dreamer, half
splendid seaman. Here Is history,
not in terms of banner and cara
vel, but in living terms of greed,
ambition, thirst, jealousy. As Mr..
Forester tells it, the story Of Don
Narciso Rich, 18th century liberal
in New World, is high adventure
that stirs mind and imagination.