Dora's Dolls' House. By the Hon. Mrs. Greene. (Nelson.)—This is
an almost painfully close study of a little girl whom it takes a great deal of time and trouble to discipline into that negative unselfishness which means abstinence from complaining of others, and of circumstances which cannot be got rid of. Dora Fechter has, however, her Mephistopheles in the person of another girl, who is instrumental in leading her into her worst scrape ; but, in this case at all events, Faust makes a better portrait than Mephistopheles. Charley, Dora's brother, is, however, quite as carefully portrayed as Dora herself ; he is, indeed, a very good example of a naughty natural nursery boy. Sometimes one is sorely tempted to ask why Mr. and Mrs. Fechter are so patient with their tediously refractory daughter, and to say that, in par- ticular, Mr. Fechter is too much of a Marcus Aurelius. The success, however, which is, in the end, achieved by refined and, indeed, Christian stoicism, justifies Mrs. Greene in writing this book, which, regarded in the right way, will be found quite as useful by parents as by children.
Previous page
