DRAWING-ROOM STORIES.
The stories under this head are chosen for their unusual excellence, but they deal in general with a way of life, with pursuits, allusions, and temptations, so much out of the line of the ordinary clients of the parish library that we do not recommend them for that purpose, although they would do no harm but decidedly good, so far as they were understood, and, where readers of a superior degree are included, would be excellent.
176. The Langdales of Langdale End. By Eleanor Lloyd. (Marcus Ward) 3s. 6d.
A lively, clever set of children, slightly over-independent of their parents. They get into a scrape by secretiveness about their pleasures, and their discussions of their clergyman might not be edifying to some readers.
177. Hermy, the Story of a Little Girl. By Mrs. Molesworth. (Routledge) 2s. 6d.
A pleasant nursery tale.
178. Miss Fenwick’s Failures. By Esmé Stuart. (Blackie) 2s. 6d.
A governess’s troubles with naughty children.
179. A York and a Lancaster Rose. By Annie Keary. (Macmillan) 6s.
One Rose is a professor’s daughter, the other is a carpenter’s. They come into connection at the soup kitchen of a Sisterhood, much to their mutual benefit. The trials of the professor’s daughter are those of a large intellectual family in a London house, where inclination often has to be silently sacrificed.
180. Laneton Parsonage. By Elizabeth Sewell. (Longmans) 1s.
The catechism illustrated practically by three periods of the lives of a clergyman’s daughters—at home, at school, and after the return from school.
181. Sweet William. By Mrs. Erskine. (S.P.C.K.) 1s. 6d.
An engaging little girl, devoted to her butterfly-hunting brothers, but waking to high and deep aspirations, which find their first fulfilment in the discovery of an old cottage woman’s lost son.
182. Grumble. By Mrs. Erskine. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
The pinch of agricultural depression felt but not understood in the nursery drives a little damsel to try to mend matters by wishing in a fairy ring.
183. The Birthday. By Lady Harriet Howard. (Masters) 3s. 6d.
A charming set of children in high life, simple, natural, and wholesome, a favourite of many years’ standing.
184. The White Gipsy. By Annette Lyster. (S.P.C.K.) 3s.
A child picked up by gipsies after a railway accident, and bred up among them till recovered by his mother.
185. Decima’s Promise. By Agnes Giberne. (Nisbet) 3s. 6d.
This is made to a servant girl not to reveal an accident to a young child of which both alike are guilty. It results in the poor child’s idiocy, and thus would be a wholesome warning to nurses, but Decima’s other troubles are rather out of their beat.
186. In the Marsh. By Bessie Curteis. (S.P.C.K.) 2s.
A very clever portrait of life on the Sussex coast, as seen by some young folks quartered in a farmhouse.
187. Rosamond Ferrars. By M. Bramston. (S.P.C.K.) 2s. 6d.
A girl hardened by want of home life introduced into a good and happy home where the key of life is given to her.
188. The Little Brown Girl. By Esmé Stuart. (S.P.C.K.) 2s. 6d.
An orphan unkindly treated by children who are prejudiced against her, and nearly frighten her to death.
189. The Runaway. (Macmillan) 2s. 6d.
Exceedingly droll mishaps befall the little maid who hides the runaway from school in her cupboard.
190. When I was a Little Girl. (Macmillan) 2s. 6d.
191. Nine Years Old. (Macmillan) 2s. 6d.
Great favourites with children; without much plot, but flowing on naturally.
192. Little Alice and her Sister. (Masters) 2s.
A charmingly told cure of a spoilt and passionate little girl caused by an elder sister returned from India.
193. P’s and Q’s. By C. M. Yonge. (Macmillan) 4s. 6d.
Turns on the difficulty of submitting to a fresh government.
194. Henrietta’s Wish. By C. M. Yonge. (Masters) 4s. 6d.
On vehemently carrying out a personal wish.
195. The Two Guardians. By C. M. Yonge. (Masters) 6s.
A religiously brought-up girl transplanted into a worldly family.
196. The Wynnes. (Masters) 5s.
A sensible, thoughtful picture of the trials of a large family.
197. One of a Covey. (Wells Gardner, Darton & Co.) 3s. 6d.
A little girl taken away from a home full of brothers and sisters to find solitary luxury very wearisome.
198. Regent Rosalind. (S. Tinsley) 7s. 6d.
The difficulties of a young girl brought home from school to become head of a motherless household.
199. Phil’s Mother. (S. Tinsley) 5s.
Several short and good stories, of which ‘Georgie’s Christmas Holidays’ is the best.
200. Elly’s Choice. (S.P.C.K.) 1s. 6d.
201. Boys and Girls. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
The best thing in these is a remarkable fable or allegory, quite fit to be read separately, where each person is represented as chained for life to some animal symbolising character, and the question in each case is, Will the animal subdue the human being to the ruin of both, or will the human creature make the animal his obedient servant to the salvation of both?
202. Ella’s Mistake. By Laura Lane. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
The damsel takes to sensational religion and despises her mother, but learns her error.
203. Courage and Cowards. By Selina Gaye. (Nisbet) 2s. 6d.
The contrast between physical daring and moral courage well brought out.
204. The Autocrat of the Nursery. By L. T. Meade. (Hodder) 5s.
This is delightfully illustrated and is a charming story, but it has the fault—a serious one if reverence is desired—of giving holy Names misspelt for baby utterance. A touch of the pen will alter this.
205. Countess Kate and the Stokesley Secret. By C. M. Yonge. (Walter Smith) 5s.
One is a plunge into high life and the other a merry scrambling family.
206. The Six Cushions. By C. M. Yonge. (Walter Smith) 2s.
The varying fates of six cushions for the chancel step, dealt out to be worked by as many young ladies.
207. Trixy; or, Those who Live in Glass Houses should not Throw Stones. By Margery Symington. (Cassell) 1s. 6d.
Pleasant scenes of life in a small Swiss young ladies’ school.
208. Studies for Stories. By Jean Ingelow. (Wells Gardner, Darton, & Co.) 3s. 6d.
A collection of really powerful short tales, not half sufficiently known, chiefly of girls’ school life.
209. The Old House in the Square. By Alice Weber. (Routledge) 3s. 6d.
A well-drawn family, who are too exclusive to be hospitable to their father’s pupil, and need to be brought to a better mind.
210. North Wind and Sunshine. By Annette Lyster. (S.P.C.K.) 2s. 6d.
The contrast between piety and charity at home, and anywhere except at home.
211. Five Pounds Reward. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
Very droll.
212. Heart Service. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
Useful warning against selfish neglect.
213. Snowball Society. By M. Bramston. (S.P.C.K.) 2s. 6d.
214. Home and School. By M. Bramston. (S.P.C.K.) 2s. 6d.
These tell of the same family—the first of a scheme for providing poor children with a playground; the second is of high school adventures.
215. Lob Lie by the Fire. By J. H. Ewing. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
216. Story of a Short Life. By J. H. Ewing. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
217. Jan of the Mill. By J. H. Ewing. (Bell) 1s.
218. Daddy Darwin’s Dovecote. By J. H. Ewing. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
These exquisite pieces of Mrs. Ewing’s are too delicately worked for the ordinary style of children or the poor, though they may be appreciated by those who have time to dream over them and, as it were, imbibe them.
219. Story of a Happy Home. By Mary Howitt. (Nelson) 2s.
Real childish incidents of a year; hardly story, but told with the charm of Mrs. Howitt.
220. Sue and I. By Mrs. O’Reilly. (Wells Gardner, Darton, & Co.) 3s. 6d.
Delightful reminiscences of childhood.
221. Aunt Judy’s Tales. By Mrs. Gatty. (Bell) 3s. 6d.
222. Aunt Judy’s Letters. By Mrs. Gatty. (Bell) 3s. 6d.
223. Aunt Sally’s History. By Mrs. Gatty. (Bell) 2s. 6d.
Needing no words of recommendation.
224. Castle Blair. By Flora Shaw. (Kegan Paul) 3s. 6d.
A wild Irish story, very attractive and exciting.
225. Edgeworth’s Early Lessons.
” Frank.
” Rosamond.
” Parent’s Assistant.
” Harry and Lucy.
These are real classics, and ought to be well read by every child. There are many points of good sense, refinement, and honour better given in them than in most modern books. They have been so often republished that they may be had at almost any price.
226. Tip Cat. (Smith) 3s. 6d.
Has much grace and tenderness.
227. May Cunningham’s Trial. (Cassell) 2s.
Interesting and spirited.
228. Pat. By Stella Austin. (Masters) 3s. 6d.
By far the best of Stella Austin’s stories, which are popular, but have for the most part the fault of admiring the children’s simplicity too palpably, and might foster affectation or self-consciousness.
229. Sidney Grey. By Annie Keary. (Warne) 3s. 6d.
A story of much excellence and reality.
230. The School-boy Baronet. By the Hon. Mrs. Greene. (Warne) 3s. 6d.
A young tyrant cured of his overbearing ways by seeing their exaggeration in lower life.
231. Cushions and Corners. By the Hon. Mrs. Greene. (Warne) 2s. 6d.
A clever story on angular and gentle tempers.
232. Blind Man’s Holiday. By Annie Keary. (Warne) 2s.
233. Father Phim. By Annie Keary. (Warne) 1s.
In the first we have touches from the author’s own childhood. The second is very beautiful, and perhaps the most perfect of the author’s works.
234. New Honours. By Mrs. Selby Lowndes. (Warne) 2s.
Children whose first experiences of their father’s peerage are not pleasant.
235. Mistress Mary. By Mrs. Sitwell. (S.P.C.K.) 1s. 6d.
A charming story of a quaint little girl and her noble-minded parents.
236. Dora and Nora. By Annette Lyster. (S.P.C.K.) 2s.
Two girls who endure in a very different manner the trial of living with a cross old aunt.
237. Carry’s Rose. By Mrs. Cupples. (Nelson) 9d.
Against teasing.
238. The Launch of the ‘Victory.’ (Nelson) 6d.
Of a wholesome friendship made over a toy ship.
239. The Phantom Picture. By the Hon. Mrs. Greene. (Nelson) 2s.
Disobedience detected by the culprit unconsciously photographing himself.
240. Silverthorns. By Mrs. Molesworth. (Hatchard) 6s.
A harsh judgment and incipient jealousy confuted. Very sweet characters.
241. The Linen Room Window. By C. Birley. (Wells Gardner, Darton, & Co.) 1s. 6d.
The effect of sunshine through a convex bit of glass.
242. A Story for the Schoolroom. (S.P.C.K.) 2s.
Excitement at going to stay with a girl of higher rank ending in wholesome discipline and mortification of self-importance.
