SUMMERFIELD, or Life on a Farm.
Kellog Lee.
Pp. 246.

By Day
Auburn Derby & Miller. 1852.

This is a remarkable book. We have read it through, and in our opinion it is a remarkable book-remarkable for the effectual bringing to the very senses of the reader the sweet scented fields and the cool air of the hill-top and shady woods. It is not the talk of a professed writer or actor, but of a real lover, admirer-we had almost said adorer-of the fair and bright things of Nature, the true life of rural industry and hope. We cannot but think that our author would have a remarkable success in describing the Natural History of New York State, as Gilbert White in the "Natural History of Selborne," or William Miller in his Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Books, where scenes and characters are but the places and persons to introduce the attractive things that catch the poet's eye and only find description from the poet's pictorial faculty. We cannot conceive of any person, except a completely unimaginative soul, taking up and reading this book without having some of the finest pictures of successful Farm Life coming before him with all that poetical bewitchingness that makes the citizen who is crazed with the intense life of the city sigh for the orderly life of the well cultivated acres, and the well observed and well enjoyed phenomena of rural boundaries. The Bear Hunt, and the Lost Lamb, are fine specimens of graphic description, and the seventh chapter, "The Captive," is one of the most perfect prose poems we have ever met. Any painter of Genius could make one of the finest pictures out of the description there given of a morning in June.

We commend this book unreservedly to our readers. It is elegantly printed, and is worth its price.

THE CORNER STONE. By Jacob Abbott. Very greatly improved and enlarged.-With numerous engravings. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1852. Boston B. B. Mussey & Co., Cornhill.

This is the second of Abbott's Young Christian series, elegantly printed and illustrated. It is an earnest and plain spoken treatise for those who accept the severest forms of Christianity, and yet it abounds with passages which we read with pleasure and profit. It astonishes us that one so

sensible as Mr. Abbott, dealing so perpetually in matters of every day common sense, should be satisfied with the expressions he employs in regard to the hopelessness of the future for a large portion of our race. This is his language: "Destruction! it is a word in regard to which all comment is useless, and all argument vain. Perverted ingenuity might modify and restrain such expression as eternal, and everlasting, but DESTRUCTION,-it bids defiance to caviling it extinguishes hope." And yet, we read in the Scriptures the following: "O Israel thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help." Hosea xiii. 9. The only hope of any sinner's redemption he makes to be "creating anew." "Sin once admitted, the soul is ruined. It lies dead in trespasses and sins; going farther and farther away from God, and sinking continually in guilt and misery. Sin thus does more than entail miseryit perpetuates itself. The worst of all its consequences, is, its own inevitable and eternal continuance." This is plain talk, and we like the plainness,-the slightest sin gives the momentum to the soul downward, and only the direct interposition of God can arrest it!

When shall we see books for Universalists written with similar high aims and published in as attractive a style as these works of Abbott ?

THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN: A Magazine for Universalist Sunday Schools and Families. Edited by G. L. Demarest. New York 1851.

The December issue of this neat little monthly has been received, and we perceive by it that the first year of its existence is closed. We renewedly commend it to public notice and favor. We paid it the best compliment we could pay it by ordering 125 copies for the school of the First Universalist Society in Providence. It is published at 25 cents a year, and is hereafter to be published by the "Universalist Paper and Book Establishment," New York-the establishment which owns and publishes the Christian Ambassador, Rev. B. B. Hallock, agent, 333 Broadway, New York. A. Tompkins, is the Boston publisher.

posed, by the advertisement, that the story was some recital of strugglings and moral successes, but find we were mistaken. The story makes an interesting juvenile book, but we question the propriety of making an object of curiosity of one who only dreams what reminds us of "Pippa Passes" by Browning.

DEVOTIONAL SONGS: A Collection of Anthems, Chants, and Hymn Tunes, designed for Public and Private Worship. By Geo. J. Corrie. Philadelphia Published for the author by A. Andre & Co., No. 229 Chestnut Street.

:

This work is proposed to be issued in numbers at 25 cents each, engraved and printed in a neat style. We feel interested in the success of the author's enterprise, because the music is good, and he is the organist of the Church of the Messiah where we minister. The number before usthe first-contains three pieces,-a Trio, "How beauteous are their feet;""Dubosq," adapted to the 7's metre eight line hymn, " Holy, holy, holy Lord;" and "Jubilate Deo," a double chant. The first is Mr. Corrie's arrangement, the others are his compositions; and having listened to the music thereof, we commend this work to the attention and patronage of our friends.

OLIVER DITSON'S MUSIC. 115 Washington Street, Boston. 1852.

We have before us copies of The Hungarian Battle Song, air by Coria, words, symphonies and accompaniment by J. H. Mack Naughton, with a bold frontispiece giving a portrait of Kossuth. Delia's Waltz, by W. C. Glynn; O what a world of beauty—words by Charles Swain, music by S. S. Wardwell; The Blue Bells of Scotland, as sung by the Berlin Choir, arranged for four voices; Un Premier Amour Redowa, by A. Wallerstein; Passing Away, by George Linley, arranged for the Guitar by Samuel Keene; Mary Ellen Polka, by Wm. C. Glynn; Pretty Little Changes for Pretty Little Fingers-popular airs arranged in the easiest manner for two performers on the piano forte, by J. R. Ling.-These are all elegant plate music, and Mr. Ditson's is the place to find whatever is wanted in this line.

dition and cost of the Boston Schools, we cannot understand why but one thousand copies of this | Report were ordered to be printed. Mr. Bishop. speaks of having received the utmost sympathy and co-operation in the outset of his labors, and that he has witnessed in his intercourse with the citizens of Boston a universal expression of strong interest in their public schools. "All unite in desiring their continued prosperity and their increasing usefulness," and in connection with this there seems to be as universal a feeling that some searching reforms in the Schools is needed. Out of the tax for 1850,-51, $1,266,030,40, $325,126,60, or more than 25 per cent, was expended for schools. The City now pays for salaries, fuel, and the care of school-houses, at the rate of about nine dollars for each girl and twelve dollars for each boy, per annum in the large schools, and in the smaller schools 12 and 15. The average expense for the last ten years, for each scholar in all the schools, was $10,59. In the ! High and Grammar Schools the cost has been $15, 26; in the Primary Schools $6, 28, per an

num.

An excellent portion of this Report is that which is devoted to the "Qualifications of Teachers." This topic is discussed with great care and sufficient delicacy. The plain fact is enforced, that higher considerations than regard to personal feeling should determine the continuance of a teacher in his office. Three hundred female teachers are employed in the schools, who have the care of over eighteen thousand of the twenty-two thousand scholars. The Report proposes the establishment of "a Normal School for the purpose of preparing the daughters of the citizens of Boston to become better teachers than can now, as a general thing, be found to fill vacancies which are frequently occurring." A brief | outline of what they need to be instructed in is given, which outline closes with the following sensible paragraph: "Teachers need to understand both the nature and tendency of all the passions manifested among children, and also how to restrain these passions within their proper limits. They should also understand the nature and offices of the moral sentiments, and should learn how these can be so cultivated as to hold the passions in subjection to the decisions of Conscience. Perhaps on this point, more than on any other, both parents and teachers are liable to make the most ruinous mistakes in the moral training of children. Some persons seem to regard the existence of the lower propensities, common to us all, as evils, and address themselves to the task of eradicating them from the hearts of

children, rather than to the cultivation of the higher moral elements of our nature, evidently designed to confine the lower passions within their proper spheres of action, and thus make them minister to our happiness."

We have a large number of school teachers among our readers, but we are sure they have no need of this caution, as their religion impels them to the method here recommended. Their office

is a noble one; and the successful discharge of its duties gives them, to the eye of the Great Judge, a place among the most honorable of the earth.

SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF WM. LLOYD GARRISON. With an Appendix. Boston: B. F. Wallcut, 21 Cornhill. 1852.

This is a handsome volume of plain spoken things, fairly representing the gifts and methods of Mr. Garrison by between sixty and seventy selections from what he has said and written.

is not for him. That is an impossibility; for every man's deed to be his own, must have a distinct, an original and unborrowed character."

Let the spirit of these sentiments be felt, and there would not be the perpetual talk about motives where all that a fair mind has to deal with is the argument. We trust that more and more this spirit will be diffused among our Ministry and the Denomination; and certainly the Members of the Church of the Paternity could not have a handsomer compliment paid to them, than they have rendered to themselves by requesting the publication of this discourse of our excellent brother. Its tone is as clear and sweet as silver bells at sea.

REPORT OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 1851. By the City Marshal.

This is one of those documents that set a Christian reader to thinking what evil there is in the world to be overcome by good. First of all, we give thanks for the appointment of "An officer for the schools," who looks after cases of truan

This sermon was preached in the Church of the Paternity (a beautiful name !) last November, and was requested for publication. It has a good and timely theme, which is well discussed and in an excellent spirit. When we wish to enter at once into the spirit of a preacher, we always turn first to the last pasagraph in his sermon, and in this case we were not disappointed. There we read this fine sentiment: "We do not know the ultimate of our powers; we do not know our entire being. Let us be serene and joyous, however, because we can learn what we are designed to do, by doing what we have the might to do." The sermon is a plea for comprehensiveness in judging Men and Methods; and the preacher goes earnestly against that great vice of the Pulpit, Imitation. He says: "The subject which has thus far occupied onr thoughts, is full of instruction. The most obvious lesson which it teaches is, first to find our work, and then to do it in our own way,-to be no copyist, and not to quarrel with ourselves because we cannot do the work and speak the words of another; and not to quarrel with other people because they do not adopt our methods and speak our words.". -" In any department of moral effort, each must work in his own way, use his own gifts, reap his own reward. He may incorporate the qualities of other persons, imitate the example of larger souls, labor in their spirit, but to do precisely their work

of the Grammar Schools. He keeps a record of idle and vagrant children, and in many instances successfully aids the efforts of their parents to keep them regularly at school. The Massachusetts Legislature for 1849 and 50, passed a law giving the power to cities and towns to make by-laws in reference to the evils of truancy, and that is certainly a power that should be most faithfully exercised. Among the items of crime under the head of Complaints and Arrests, we find Gambling on the Lord's Day, 144; Violations of License law, 718; Common Drunkards, 311; Drunkenness, 1,565. The whole number of Complaints and Arrests, was 5,449, of which number 1,110 were minors-over one-fifth of the whole. In obedience to an order of the Mayor and Aldermen, the following facts were ascertained; that the number of places where intoxicating drinks were sold, (Nov. 1851) was 1500; by Americans, 490, by German, English and Swedes, 110, by Irish, 900 ; in cellars, 300, above ground, 1,190; by males, 1,374, by females, 162. These drinks are sold at 65 oyster and ice cream saloons, and in 90 bowling alleys; 947 places for the sale of these drinks, are open on the sabbath; 1,031 places keep only these drinks; 469 groceries keep them. And all except four of the "first class hotels" have open bars for the sale of intoxicating drinks.

Here is an item that may serve to point a moral: "The ascertained average expenses of a boy at the State Reform School at Westborough is about $34 per annum; while the average costs

of the inmates of eleven State Prisons, is $67 per annum." The costliest thing for any community is the support of criminals. The cost to the city of Boston for its day and night police, is $150,000 per annum! Fifty thousand dollars appropriated for the support of the day police.

THE LIFE AND WORKS OF ROBERT BURNS. Edited by Robert Chambers. In four volumes. Vol. I. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1852. On sale at B. B. Mussey & Co.'s, Cornhill, Bos

ton.

Mr. Chambers says rightly when he speaks of the idea that Burns was 66 only a wonderful peasant" as giving way to the fact that "he was one of the greatest poetical spirits, without any regard to the accidental circumstances of birth and education-circumstances which may enhance his merits, but ought not to take from them." The works of Lockhart and of Allan Cunningham on Burns, we have always highly prized, and Carlyle's Essay is a fine thing, but we find in Chambers' first volume a spirit of larger comprehensiveness and deeper insight than in what either of the other writers have given. Mr. Chambers has wrought his work upon the plan of presenting the poems of Burns in strict chronological order in connection with the Memoir, thus making the Poems open the Life and the Life give significance to the Poems. We learn that the youngest sister of Burns is still alive, Mrs. Beggs, and her memory has aided this new effort; and by the labors bestowed by the new editor, there is given not only a larger amount of biographical detail, but "a new sense, efficacy and feeling" has been imparted to the Poet's writings. Mr. Chambers finely speaks of those writings as giving an "Undying Voice for the finest sympathies" of mankind. This work must be popular.

CRIMORA or Love's Cross. By G. Leighton Ditson. Boston: Published by the Author. 1852. This volume is by the author of the work on Circassia, or "A Tour to the Caucasus," which we favorably noticed when it appeared, and which has been flatteringly received throughout the country. Here we meet our author in a new field, with powers for bold description and passion-painting which will make him to be read with deep interest. "Crimora" signifles man of a great soul," (page 11) and we have the development in the story of the fitness of the name for the character around whom the interest is woven, till the coronation of victory comes,"This is indeed a woman of great soul !" said the king, deeply affected by the scene before him. She is worthy the name CRIMORA! She has

"a wo

borne Love's Cross nobly, and now receives her most sweet reward."

NORTON'S LITERARY ALMANAC, for 1852. New York.

This is designed as an Almanac for the Bookseller, Librarian, and Reading Man, fashioned according to the new idea of almanac making of summing up statistics and information in the most concise manner. The little annual before us has quite a collection of matter touching literary projects, books, libraries, and the dead of the past year among authors and writers. It is edited by the conductor of "Norton's Literary Gazette"a valuable periodical for those interested in books and literary pursuits.

ARVINE'S CYCLOPEDIA OF ANECDOTES. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1852.

This serial maintains its character for interest and value, and we renew our commendation of it as worthy the attention of our readers.

THE LOST HEART.

"SAY, have you found the heart I lost
As you and I last night
The fragrant, new-mown meadow crossed,
Beneath the sweet starlight?”

"I have a heart; but ere I show it,
'Tis fair thou shouldst define
The private marks by which thoul't know it;
No doubt the heart is thine."

"Well, 'twas not hard, nor very strong,
A loving, little heart,

Filled with sweet raptures and wild song,
But all unskilled in art.

"'Twas like, in its free, joyous youth,
A bird upon the wing,-

A worshiper of love and truth,

And every blessed thing."

"Well, here's the heart, so fond and true, I never could forsake it;

Yet rightfully belongs to you

The priceless gem-then take it.”

"I thank you, sir. But hold, look here!
I said my heart was small;
This great, warm, throbbing heart, 'tis clear,
Is not my heart at all!

"Aha, a roguish plunderer thou!

So this nice heart is thine! No matter though, I'll keep it now, 'Tis most as good as mine."

[From Grace Greenwood's Poems.