True to Life : a Simple Story. By a Sketcher
from Nature. (Mac- millan and Co.)—The motive of this refined, unpretending, and tran- quilly interesting book is to be found in its preface. "Such is the variety of taste," says the writer, "that what will be dull to some may be interesting to others. Moreover, there are so many unpleasant pictures of human life published in these days, that I am not sorry to add to the minority of stories which try to bring out the better side of every- thing." nue to Life is one of those rare stories which one feels happier for having read. It is not funny or jubilant, there is no conventional optimism or manufactured gladness in it ; on the contrary, the solo touch of adventure in it turns upon a family migration in anticipation of a -death, which afterwards takes place; but it is full ef the cheerful- ness of duty, piety without the least suspicion of cant, and a reasonable, well-disciplined view of life and estimate of its responsibilities. We know no finer picture in modern fiction than that of Mr. Eversley and his daughters, nor a prettier simple love-story than that of Alice Evorsley and Alice Sherborne. We cannot too highly commend young people who talk good sense in good English.
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