The heroine of this story is a Virginia girl, who escapes to the North by joining a Union regiment as a _vivandiere_. This is one of the best of the distinguished author"s works. Few American novelists have shown such signal ability to compel the interest of readers.
Dora Darling and Little Sunshine. (Originally published under the t.i.tle of "Outpost.") By Mrs. JANE G. AUSTIN.
In this story a child, whose pet name was Sunshine, strayed from her friends, and during many years had many strange adventures. Dora Darling came as her good genius, and did all that a true heroine of romance should be expected to do. This is not, however, a child"s book, but appears to be written for youths in their teens. It is full of incident, and, like all Mrs. Austin"s books, is beautifully written.
The Border Boy, AND HOW HE BECAME THE GREAT PIONEER OF THE WEST. A life of Daniel Boone. By W. H. BOGART.
This is an authentic account of the career of the founder of the State of Kentucky, and is full of thrilling incidents of the conflicts of the early settlers with the Indian tribes.
The Printer Boy; OR, HOW BEN FRANKLIN MADE HIS MARK.
An account of the early life and training of the ill.u.s.trious man, who, from a printer"s case and press, went into the councils of the nation, and afterward was received with honor in foreign courts.
The Bobbin Boy; OR, HOW NAT GOT HIS LEARNING. An example for youth.
This book is the story of the early life of Nathaniel P. Banks, Member of Congress and Speaker, Governor of Ma.s.sachusetts, and Major-General of Volunteers in the Civil War. Well written, and of absorbing interest.
The Patriot Boy, AND HOW HE BECAME THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY. A life of George Washington for young folks.
In this volume the main facts of the life and services of this great man are set forth in a clear and fascinating narrative.
The General; OR, TWELVE NIGHTS IN A HUNTER"S CAMP. By Rev. WILLIAM BARROWS, D.D.
This is not in the least a romance, but a narrative of facts. "The General" was the author"s brother, born in Ma.s.sachusetts in 1806, and afterward one of the pioneer settlers of the West. It is a graphic picture of frontier life now gone by forever.
Yarns of an Old Mariner. By MARY COWDEN CLARKE.
This work was once published with the t.i.tle of "The Strange Adventures of Kit Bam, Mariner," and had great success among youthful readers. The spice of the marvellous, which was once the necessary flavor of sea stories, is not wanting here.
Planting the Wilderness; OR, THE PIONEER BOYS. A story of frontier life.
By JAMES D. MCCABE, Jr.
Although the characters in this book are fict.i.tious, the exciting incidents, as related, are based upon actual occurrences. The leading person is a Virginian, who in 1773 moved westward with his family, and settled in the Ohio valley.
The Young Pioneers of the North West. By Dr. C. H. PEARSON, author of "The Cabin on the Prairie."
As the t.i.tle suggests, this book is a story of frontier life, full of movement, and absorbing in interest. The works of this author have been extremely popular.
The Cabin on the Prairie. By Dr. C. H. PEARSON. A picture of an emigrant"s life in early days in Minnesota.
The author says, "In writing this work I have lived over the scenes and incidents of my frontier experience, have travelled once more amid the waving gra.s.ses and beckoning flowers, heard again the bark of the wolf and the voices of birds, worshipped anew in the log-cabin sanctuary."
Great Men and Gallant Deeds. By JOHN G. EDGAR.
This is a history of the CRUSADES and CRUSADERS by an able and accomplished writer, who (in his preface) says, "I have endeavored to narrate the events of the Holy War, from the time Peter the Hermit rode over Europe on his mule, rousing the religious zeal of the nations, to that dismal day when Acre, the last stronghold of the Christians in the East, fell before the arms of the successor of Saladin."
Golden Hair: A TALE OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS. By Sir LASCELLES WRAXHALL, Bart.
The scenes of this story are laid in the eastern part of Ma.s.sachusetts, in Rhode Island, and along Long Island Sound. The names of the fathers give to the narrative an air of truth, although there is no pretence of historical verity.
Battles at Home. By MARY G. DARLING.
The motto of this charming domestic story is, "He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city."
In the World. By MARY G. DARLING, author of "Battles at Home."
The story opens with Cla.s.s Day at Cambridge, and after some small delays the chief personage is launched "in the world." Others come on the scene: some as college students, and are full of their sufferings in being hazed by the cruel "sophs"; some as society people, to whom the waltz or german is the chief event of life; one as a sailor, who has a terrible adventure; one as a poet, who aspires much, but writes like other beginners. They are a natural and agreeable set of people, and the reader becomes interested in them, especially in the young women. The dialogue is uniformly bright, and the moral of the story good.
The Young Invincibles; OR, PATRIOTISM AT HOME.
This is a story of the time of the Civil War, and its purpose is to kindle and keep alive in the hearts of the young the sentiment of love of country.
Schoolboy Days; OR, ERNEST BRACEBRIDGE. By WILLIAM H. G. KINGSTON.
The popularity of this book in England has been remarkable, but not without just reason. It is a well-composed picture of an English school,--its buildings, grounds, teachers, cla.s.ses, studies, and amus.e.m.e.nts. The portrait, however, represents the great machine in motion, and shows the boys at work and at play, and gives sketches of the prominent pupils, with their quarrels and their friendly games and compet.i.tions. It is a story as well as a picture, and one of absorbing interest. The author is one of the most successful of writers for youth, and his work shows a skilled and practised hand.
Antony Waymouth; OR, THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS. By WILLIAM H. G.
KINGSTON.
A naval "adventurer" in the time of this story--which was the time of Queen Elizabeth and of Philip II. of Spain--might be an honest merchant, a pirate, or a commissioned officer, or a mixture of all three. In the hands of this able and experienced writer, even the history of this period becomes as fascinating as romance. This is purely a romance, but it is true to history in the usual sense.