Review.

Otago Witness, Issue 1417, 18 January 1879, Page 19

Review.

» Waiting por the Mail and Other Sketchwk* and Poems : By. Mbs Nugent Wqoo Ammi H. Lapham. Published by George RoberU. son, Melbourne. This little book is a collection of short stories and poems, chiefly descriptive of life on the diggings, written by Mrs" Nugent Wood and her brother, who both reside in the Provincial District of Otago. Mrs Wood is already wellknown as the authoress of " Bush Flowers from. Australia." We have perused this little volume* with considerable pleasure, &a the stories are - written in an easy style, without any attempt at fine writing. It would be difficult to Fay which, is the most interesting, but the one entitled. "Behind the Billy" has the additional charm, to Otajro readers of giving a lew incidents nsfe generally known about the mysterious murdecof " Yorkie " in his store at Miller's Flat, ia March, 1863. It will be remembered that aa innocent man of the name of Job Johnson wastried for the murder, and curious to sayhia innocence was proved by the aorouer of Queenstown producing in Court tho- original inquisition, held on an Italian who was killed by the fall of: his hut, and which took place on the same day as the murder, and was signed by Job Johnson,. ' who happened to be one of the jurymen. The judge, in a solemn and' impressive addresswhich brought the tears to-inauy in Court, then discharged the prisoner, and. told him that he left the Court without one breathy of suspicion: on the name which he hiped.he might long Ihwj to bear. Strange to sa},, tha real murderer was never found. There is also a. very interesting sketch entitled "An Erring Womau." The incidents are happily strung together, and foefainately they are too common in Colonial life^ Perhaps tin* best story of the serie3 is the oneentitled " The Weaker Vessel." Mrs Wood is evidently not an out and out supporter of Woman's Rights, but takes- a very philosophic view of the true position of her sex. As & specimen of her style «nd» her views on tbis subject we cannot do better than quote the following : — " Faith, hope, endurance, and gentleness " should be the blossoms planted ia a woman's 1 "breast; and. love — boundless, measureless" " love ; love beyond all other earthly feeling y " love which can endure through «*wry vic.isai*- - " tude, overcome every obstacle, sacrifice every " selfiah wish ; love which blesses equally tbs> " giver and the receiver ;. love which can beaar " the assaults or' time,, changa, sickness— ays,. " death itself,— yet never alter or decay j should " bo the pure, bright sun whose beams shall. " warm tie buds which droop beneath, the cold " world's frown, and. whose brilliancy, ineieas- " ing more and more as lesser lights die out, " fchall be merged at la«fc in ike glorioca and " ererlasting beauty of the perfect day !* We " must make oar adornments of thought* truth* " and wisdom ;. ever learning, ever r«vdy to- " teach ; none too hi^h for our hcAy woman- " hood to reach to ; none so low tbat, a brave " little lwnd cannot t-uccour 9n<& uphold* " We raui.t clothe ourselves wrtli modesty* " charity, and industry, and bear a'oaujk with ur " ever tho magic lily of boly inrownce, which. " no gate of brass oan withstand, tdtiug aa ou? " one cliief oruiino.it tlie preciwjs gem oi a " meek and quiet spirit— the be Aaliisul token 0&> " an eavuest and si less heart."* Theso sketches taken as •» whole possesspeculiar interest for New Ziyabud readers, as the see- cry of well kuowr. plices ia graphically described, and the »uthox-a •»>? them having for so many years lived iv the. ttokmy, an additionatzesfc is given to the readuig of them. We have every confi'ionce in recommending this little volume to ttu\ favourable notioe of owe readers, as we feel srae the porusal of itwiH. help to pass the time avoiy most pleasantly.

Banker Oorevau of Washington hag coo* tinued. to dif.p^nsa his fortune during his life time by rht> eiffc of 50,000d01a to fchet Southern FiJßtorical Society. Men Vfloao business is looking up. — As6*oaa~ mers. An ex-detective 4s.abauk.tQisiae,» rolmaeof. hig-ketches*

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