Equal to the Occasion. By Edward Garrett. (Oliphant, Anderson, and
Ferrier, Edinburgh.) —This is an excellent example of Mr. Garrett's style and ethiccereligions purpose. ()Missy Miller, the daughter of a good man who has been led by an unscrupulous neighbour and acquaintance into a fieanoial venture which brings rain upon him and hastens his death, is just the sort of heroine that he delights to portray,—self.saorificing yet not self-conscious, modest, helpful to others, yet helping them rather by the influence of her character than by good deeds either in the material or in the religions sense of the phrase. Hans Krinken, the German bookseller's boy, is quite as good as Chrisay, and all lovers of poetical justice will be pleased with Mr. Garrett for bringing the two together at the end of his book. Mr. Bentley, the worthy clergyman, whose sermon at the beginning of the story has such an influence on several of the characters in it, but who cannot prevent his own son from going astray, and Esther Gray, an unfortunate woman who is under a cloud for a time, are also admirably and delicately drawn. In short, the author's execution in Equal to the Occasion is as good as his purpose is high.
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