Reediford Holm. By Thomas Rowland Skemp. (Remington.)—This is a common-place
tale, which is not redeemed from the fault of inanity by the one or two sensational incidents which are introduced into it. Harold Hardman is nothing but a stupid farmer, though he does shoot his own daughter when he fancies that he is shooting a robber ; and Mr. George Burnton is not more interesting, though he turns out to bo the son and heir of the squire of the village in-which he has been employed as an organist. Stephen Henley, who starts a farm on co-operative principles, might have been something more, but we are not allowed to hear anything about the history of his experiment ; as a lover, he is nowise different from ordinary men, Still Reediford Holm is removed by at least one or two degrees from the lowest rank of the ephemeral novel.—As much praise may be given to Shamrock and Rose, by Ernto Ariel Wolfe (Remington). It would not be easy, indeed, to exceed the absurdity of the expression that in " her young nature wore wells of love and fidelity, which no demand could drain and no storm fathom," but this is not a favourable specimen of the style, which is unpretend- ing and commonly correct. Kathleen Beryl is loft an orphan ; is be- friended by a kind clergyman and his wife ; obliged to leave them, she takes service ; goes through the temporary trial, which seems necessary for all interesting heroines in is humble station, of being falsely accused of theft ; and at last happily marries a young soldier, as deserving as herself. If any one cares to follow this story, he will find it to be not without interest.
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