BOOK NOTICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8554, 24 July 1889, Page 3

BOOK NOTICE.

The Mystfy of the Forecastle; or a Sestlesa Heart. By R. V. Macfhebson. — Tablet Printing aDd Publishing Company. From the preface to this little work of 160 odd pages the reader gathers that the authoress, Rachel V. Macphersoh, is telling the atoryof her own life, or, at any rate, that she has selected incidents from what she terms " kaleidoscopio experience,'' on •which to found her story. . ■ The story has been written in Oamaru, where Mrs Macptierson resides, and in the Waitaramoa of the book it is not difficult at once to recognise the "little seaport town" of which the inhabitants are so proud, and which they term the " grey stone city." Many of the characters are residents of Waitaramoa, although they are probably not intended to represent our Oamaru neighbours. On the whole the characters in the story are well drawn and natural, and their conversations eminently sensible and interesting to the reader. But it is tfefbaps in her exposition of the inward searchihgs of the heart; and of the hopes and fears engendered by the varying changes of fortune, that Mrs Macpherson displays undoubted literary capacity. Such, for example, is the soliloquy of Ruth Lancaster, an unfortunate wife, with spirit broken by the drinking and gambling habits of a profligate husband.

"Her strength was dwindling pitifully—she knew she would soon be unable to earn money, and then !—she shuddered and turued from the prospect. Hard mental and physical work all day, sleepless disturbed nights, were fast wearing her out. Sho recognised, with a thrill of despair, that her once loved husband was drifting, drifting, drifting out towards the great black ocean of crime.

"'I shall leave him,' she cried desperately; 'no words of mine can arrest bis career. God knows, if love could have held him back, I would have given my heart's blood for him. Why should I remain to sink with him into lower slums than poverty ? I shall leave him. When he finds >me gone to the other side of the world he may rouse himself from this awful lethargy, and then—who knows ?—we may be happy yet.' Hope dies lingeringly in a loving woman's heart." . . . , Thn book is not without its bright side, however. There are a number of pleasant characters with interesting pictures of peaceful home life and domestic felicity skilfully interwoven with a fait proportion of lovetriaking, with its usiial billings and cooings and misunderstandings and reconciliations. As the title difclofes, the plot centres in a mystery whose hidilen depths we are in no way concerned to fathom. Suffice it that tho little work is one of the best of its class'that we have had the pleasure of reading. It can be confidently recommended to those who have an hour or two's leisure which they wish to pleasantly fill up. '

tiuncheon provided. 23jy

OTAGO DAILY TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 188l>.