"SENTIMENTAL TOMMY."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5654, 27 August 1896, Page 1

"SENTIMENTAL TOMMY."

There can be no doubt at all that Same's "Sentimental Tommy" will be one of the most popular if not the most popular of his books. The section of the story in SaribneSs for June is altogether delightful. Still, like many others, Ido hope that when tho chronicles of Tommy's boyhood are complete, Mr Barrie will give Thrums a rest. Many seem to think his

It's a fact, said a -well-knoivn Christchurch divine the other day to a friend, that Congh Mixture, called Wood's Great •Peppermint Cure, is the very best tiling for throat Irritation and Cough I havo ever taken. I notice all the Grocers and Chemists keep it — a never failing 1 remedy. Wholesale Agents, N.Z . Drug Co. — A dvt."

genius cannot soar beyond that small township. " Barrie is Thrums et praeteria nihil,"& clever reviewer remarked the other day. And to some extent he was right. As I said years ago, Barrie ought to travel and see something of the world. He has made good use of all materials to hand, but the materials are getting stale. Nobody should, however, • on any account, miss reading "Sentimental Tommy." Here is, just to whet your appetite, a description of Tommy and his boy friends, with Elspeth and Grizel, playing their great game of " Jacobites " at a resort in the wood dignified by the name of " The lair." Tommy, needless to say, is "the unfortunate Stuart" in disguise. Tho lair (says our author) was on the right bank of the burn, near the waterfall and you climbed to it by ropes, unless you preferred an easier way. It is now a dripping hollow, down -which -water dribbles from beneath a sluice, but at that time it was hidden on all sides by tr6es, and the huge clods of sward they had torn from the earth as they fell. Two of-these clods were the only walls of the lair, which had at times a ceiling not unlike Aaron Latta's bed coverlets, and the chief furniture was two barrels marked " Usquebach " and " Powder." When the darkness of Stroke's fortunes sat like a pall upon his brow, as ' happened sometimes, he sought to drive it away by playing cards on one of these barrels with Sir Joseph, but the approach of the widow made him pocket them quickly with a warning sigh to his trusty knight who did not understand, and asked what had become of them, whereupon Elspeth cried in horror. " Cards ! Oh, Tommy, you promised ." . But Stroke rode her down with : " Cards ! wlia has been playing cards ? You, Muckle Kenny and you Sh\ Joseph, after I forbad it! Hie, there, Inverquharity, all of you seize those men." Then Corp blinked, came to his senses and marched himself off to the prison on the lonely promontory called the Queen's Bower, saying ferociously, " Jouk, Sir Joseph and I'll blaw you into posterity." It is sable night when Stroke and Sir Jdseph reach a point in the den whence the glimmering lights of the town are distinctly visible. Neither speaks. Presently the distant eight o'clock bell rings, arid then Sir Joseph looks anxiously- at his watch, for this is the signal to begin, and, as usual, he has forgotten the words. "Go on," says some one in a whisper. It cannot be Stroke, for his head is brooding on his breast. This mysterious voice haunted all the doings in the den, and had better be confined in brackets. ("Goon.") "Methinks," says Sir Joseph, "methinks the borers " (" Burghers.") " Methinks the burghers now cease from their labours," "Ay," replied. Stroke, "'tis so, would that they ceased from them forever ! " " Methinks the time is at hand." "Ha ! " exclaims Stroke, looking at his lieutenant curiously, "what makest thou say so ? For three weeks these fortifications have defied my cannon, there is scarce a breach yet in the walls of yonder town."

" Methinks thou will find a way." * "It /may be so, my good Sir Joseph, it may be so, and yet, even when I am most hopeful of success, my schemes go agley." " Methinks thy dark " ("Dinna say methinks so often.") ("Tommy, I maun. If I dinna get that to start me off I p-ae through other.") (" Go on.") " Methinks thy dark spirit lies on thee to-night." " Ay, 'tis true. But canst thou blame me if I grow sad? The town still in the enemy's hands, and so much brave blood already spilt in vain ? Knowest thou that the brave Kinnordy fell last night ? My noble Kinnordy I" Here Strokes covers his face with his hands, weeping silently and — and there is an awkward pause. (" Go on—' Still have me.' ") ("So it is.") "Weep not, my royal scone ." (" Scion.'') " Weep not, my royal scion, havest thou not still me ? " "Well said, Sir Joseph," cried Stroke, dashing the sign of .weakness from his face. "I still have many brave fellows, and with their help I shall be master of this proud town." "And then ghost we to fair Edinburgh ? " " Ay, 'tis, but, Sir Joseph, thinkest thou these burghers love the Stuart not ? " " Nay, methinks they are true to thee, but their starch commander (gie me my time, this is a lang ane), but their arch commander is thy bitterest foe. Vile spoon that he is ! (It's no spoon, its spawn.)" "Thou meanest the craven Cathro ? " "Methinks ay. (I like thae short anes.)" " 'Tis well ! " says Stroke, sternly. " That man hath ever slipped between me and my right. His time will come." ; "He floopeth thee — flouteth' thee from the battlements." "Ha, 'tis well!" (" You've said that already.") > ("I say it twice.") ("That's what nye puts me wrang.) Ghost thou to meet the proud Lady Grizel to-night?" "Ay." " Ghost thou alone ?" "Ay" (" What eesy anes you have !) I fear it is not chahcey for thee to go." " I must dree my deed." " These women is kittle cattle." "The Stuart hath ever a soft side for them. Ah, my trusty foster-brother, knowest thou not what it is to love ?" " Alas, I too have had my fling. Does Grizel kiss your hand yet ?") " (No, . she winna, the liinmer.") Sir Joseph, I go to her." " Methinks she is a haughty onion. I prithee go not to-night." " I have given my word." " Thy word is a bond." " Adieu, my friend." " Methinks thou ghost to thy dam. (Did we no promise Elspeth there should be no swearing ?)" The raft Viek lan Vohr is dragged to the shore and Stroke steps on board a proud solitary figure. " Farewell ! " he cries hoarsely as he seizes the oai\ " Farewell, my leech ! " answers Corp, and then helps him to disembark. Their hands chance to meet, and Stroke's is so hot that Corp quails. "Tommy," he says with a shudder, " do you — you dinna think it's a' true, do you ? " But the ill-fated prince only gives him a warning look, and plunges into the mazes of the forest.