Contemporary Literature [pp. 362-378]

1876.] CONTE~IPORARY LITERATURE. 375
the famous Plea for Christians, by Athenagoras, the Athenian scholar and
philosopher, and his clear and logical treatise on the Resurrection of the
Dead. His Greek is the best of his times; his arguments are manly and
well put; his style is elevated and forcible. It is also remarkably well edited.
The Notes, by Prof. Owen, are suited to the class-room. It would be a good
thing to have such a book studied in all our colleges and higher schools.
The college curriculum may as well be enlarged in this direction, as in
conchology and entomology. The plan of the series is a commendable one
and it will make its way.
Aiwyn; a i?omance'f &udy. By JAMES C. MoFFAT. A. D. F. Randolph & Co. We take pleasure in calling attention to this little volume, recently published by A. D. F. Randolph. Those who have read Song and
Scenery: or, a Surnn~er i?ambie in Scotland, and have seen how much the
writer's mind is imbued with the spirit of poetry, will not be surprised that he'
has adopted its distinctive form. The poem is divided into seven cantos, in
the first of which the youth, Alwyn, brought up amid the woods and hills,
revels in the charms of pastoral life, and is continually deriving lessons from
animate and inanimate nature, rejoicing to give play to his imagination, until
he finds himself questioning causes. Then his rest is broken. The succeeding caiitos describe his earnest search for truth. Literatu~, ancient and
modern, philosophy, deism, fatalism, all are investigated and argued, but his
reasoning brings him no satisfaction. Even practical ]ife is tned,. but he is
in darkness still. In early life he had smiled at the simplicity of his rustic
friend, Norman, who believed and was happy. Long years have passed since
then, and Alwyn, prospered in temporal things, after study and travel, finds
himself again in his native land. In a lonely walk he finds the friend of his
youth, afflicted and in abject poverty, yet believing still. Alwyn wonders,
but devotes himself to relieving his necessities, and finding others who need
help he assists them. In simple deeds of charity he experiences a joy he
never knew before, and this joy comes from the faith that his labors are not
in vain. In doing good to others, be is led to study the life and character ot
Him who "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister," and learned to
trust and love Him. Reason's arguments are not answered, but they flee
away, because supplanted by the stronger principle of faith.
Robert Carter & Brothers are bringing out new editions of several of
their well-known works, and new volumes by some of their favorite authors.
Their books are uniformly selected with the greatest care and judgment.
We have received copies of the "thirty-second thousand" of HUGH MILL~R'S Testimony of the i?ocks, and of the "twenty-second thousand" of his
Foot-Prints of the Creator. The latter has a Memoir of the Author, by
Louis Agassiz. By the Author of the Wide, wide World, there are two
volumes, The i?a~ids of Niagara and Bread and Oranges, both of them
characteristic works, illustrating the qualities which have gi~en her such a
wide popularity and so enviable an influence for good. Nurses for the
Needy; or, Bible- W~men Nurses in the Houses of the London Poor, by
L. N. R., author of" The Book and its Story," is a familiar record of devo