Irish Pastorals. By Shan F. Bullock. (Grant Richards. 6s.) —These
" Irish pastorals " are conceived in a vein of blended poetry and realism that is extremely fascinating. Mr. Bullock evidently knows the Irish peasantry well, and loves them as well as he knows them. He gives no one-sided view of the Irish character, bnt does justice to both sides of it,—its impracticability as well as its natural loyalty, its swift passionateness not less than its ready tenderness, The gem of the book is the sketch called "The Turf-cutters," in which, with the quietest action in the world, a very simple motive is made dramatic. Old Rawbin's pathetic vindication of matrimony and the melting of Lizzie's teasing mood into reverence are pretty ; but the action accom- panying these developments—the stealthy removal of the mock ornaments with which the mischievous girl had made game of the old man while he slept—has a touch of something more than prettiness. It is exquisite, and Would make, with very little ingenuity of adaptation, a charming play. The humour of the haymakers making merry over the affectations of one of them- selves who assumes the airs of a lady of fashion is not less good in another kind. Other chapters, such as that in which the master's son runs away, and is brought back by the ingenuity of the servant and the patient tact of the father, touch the relations of people of a higher class. " Spotty," the tale of the heifer that died, is a most pathetic domestic tragedy. And the episode of Henry's wife is another,—though here the interest is all human. This is a book for everybody to read who cares for rustic life and human character.
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