7s. 6d. net.)—This is a pleasant, well-written, and entertaining contribution
to our vast and ever-increasing country literature. There is a touch of sadness in the first chapter, where the "old Dominie : a worn-out schoolmaster" describes the little country place, "the lodge in the wilderness," where he has chosen to retire and end his days. But soon the cheerfulness, contentment, and natural humour of the writer appear when he describes the building of his house, the comments of the villagers, the pleasures of garden-making in "A ready," a hill district less than ten miles from the sea, in a dry and thirsty land and a wild country. Mr. Knight is an amateur naturalist, and a man to enjoy leisure to the utmost. His wife is the " gardener-in-chief." We hear also some- thing of " Atalanta," the daughter, and Norah,' the dog. We are told also what birds frequent the garden ; what old pupils say when they come and pay a visit ; how the village blacksmith poaches pheasants ; what is the best way of taking wasps' nests ; and how the mica eat the crocus-bulbs. It is a great medley, and only describes simple country things, but with an unogotistic personal note and an attractive charm of style that are rare. Our readers will know the sort of book from what we have already. said. It is a good one of its kind, and will certainly be read with pleasure by those whose tastes incline in that direction. Portions of the chapters have already appeared in the Daily News.
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