The Young Marooners. By F. R. Goulding. With a Preface
by Joel Chandler Harris. (Routledge and Sons.)—It is about thirty- seven years since Dr. Goulding published this story. It had an immediate success in America (Dr. Goulding was a native of one of the Southern States), and has often been reprinted in this country. " Dr. Goulding's work," says Mr. Harris, no mean judge, it will be allowed, " possesses all the elements of enduring popularity. It has the strength and vigour of simplicity; its narrative flows continuously forward ; its incidents are strange and thrilling ; and underneath all is a moral purpose sanely put." It is curious to know that this admirable story had a by no means encouraging reception from the publishers. The New York houses would have none of it. The reader of a Philadelphia firm, taking it up by accident, after it had lain unnoticed for several months, did not lay it down till long after midnight, and strongly insisted upon its being immediately accepted. Readers who want, as all doubtless will want, to hear more about the young heroes of this story, may find a sequel in Marooner's Island ; or, Dr. Gordon in Search of his Children (same publishers).
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