Her Benny, by Silas K. Hocking, F.R.II.S. (F. Warne and
Co., London and New York), is a beautifully got-up edition of a most pathetic tale, first published more than ten years ago. "Her Benny" belongs to a dear little sister with whom he runs away from a wretched home, and the story tells their adventures, till little Nell reaches her heavenly home, and "Her Benny" is set to congenial work here below. There are many such tales nowadays, but not many better in both-matter and manner than this one. A great friend of these children is troubled with a doubt which is commoner even now than we are apt to think, and thus he speaks when little Nell is soon to leave him behind :--
"If I could only believe that there was the smallest hope o' my ever getting to heaven,' he muttered, it 'ud be easier to bear.'
Bless her little heart !' he murmured, she did not believe as how any wur excluded; she alders stuck to that word "whosoever," an' sometimes I wur inclined to think as how she wur right. I wonder, now, if she wur ? for sartinly it looks the reasonabler." Bless me !' he sail, after a long pause, 'I'm getting mortal shaky in my faith ; I used to be firm as a rock. I wonder if my heart are getting righter, or my head getting wrong.' "
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