11 MAY 1878, Page 25

Hard to Win; or, a Yoke Broken. By Mrs. George

Cupples. (William Oliphant, Edinburgb.)—This is a story of a decidedly religions type, told with considerable power and pathos, of a young sailor who breaks off the habit of drinking, by the help of the motives which love supplies. The man seems to have been fortunate, we hope not ex- ceptionally fortunate, in the sympathising character of his shipmates. Mrs. Cupples knows the secret of heightening tho pathos of human life by introducing the element of the affection of the lower animals, and employs it skilfully. The joys and sorrows of "Clover," the donkey, contribute not a little to the effect of the whole. We only wish that sl3e bad the courage to defy probabilities, and send out the faithful and intelligent animal with the colony which, in her last chapter, she transports from Scotland to shores of promise in a New World.