Abby's Discoveries. By M. Bramston. (National Society.)—We have not seen
a better book about the feelings and experiences of childhood than this, since we read the "My Childhood" of Madame Michelet. Abigail Hall tells what she and her younger brother thought and believed during their earlier years. The severe nurse, the kindly cook, the first book (some of our elder readers will remember that square yellow volume with the "Seven Champions of Christendom," &c.), the lovely young neighbour, the dreaded step-mother, who turns out to be much better than their fears,—these and many other things and persons are here described. We cannot quote ; probably the fun—for there is, very properly, much more fun than pathos—would look poor out of the context ; but we can heartily recommend the book. Our praise, indeed, was exhausted in the first sentence of the notice.—From the same author and publishers we have also received A Village Genius, an interesting account of Rochus Dedler, of Ober-Ammergau. Dedler was a native of this village, and was born in 1779. He wrote the music which is still per- formed at the Passion-Play. George Lochner (who took the part of Judas in the play of 1880) remembers him, though but in- distinctly, for Dedler died in 1822, when Lechner could not have been more than five or six years old. But as Lechner's first wife was a daughter of the musician, his recollections, though very scanty, have been probably reinforced by what he afterwards heard. There have been other traditions in the village which were taken down some years ago. On these materials Miss Bramston has founded her book.
Previous page
