Book Reviews [pp. 107-112]

1887.] Aook )?evie~~'s. lot
Unprofitable Servants. So our poor servants nearly brought our friendli ness to grief.
My life had been apart, my home was placed
by quiet ways, Once when a costly present to my neighAnd solitary, opposite, my neighbor passed her days. bor I would give,
I had a servant, Diffidence, who long with me had I felt that, were it broken,`twould be sad indeed
stayed, to live.
And Bashfulness was what they called my timid And so I sent the blunderer away forever more,
neighbor's maid. And boldly went, myself, and knocked upon my
Now I often to the lady, dainty delicacies sent, neighbor's door.
-A tender word, a message sweet, or pretty com-`Twas Bashfulness that oped to me, a very little
pliment. space.
But my provoking servant was sure to spoil them all, But I pressed in and soon I met my lady, face to face.
He crushed them, or he lost them, or else he let "Fair lady," said I simply, "I have brought my
them fall, heart to you,
And in the dust did roll them, while I in shame I hope you will accept it, for`tis loving, warm,
would wait, and trj~e."
And long to call him back with them, but ever was Then the lady whose dull servant had affrighted
too late. fled away,
And when, with thanks, her Bashfulness came Thanked me herself and promised me to cl~erish
tripping o'er the way, it for aye.
All mute she stood, forgetting quite what she was The love and joy she gave to me has gladdened all
sent to say, my life,
While my clumsy Diffidence, of coursc, ne'er came For my gentle little neighbor has become my own
to her relief; true wife.
LN.K.
BOOK REVIE\VS.
Life of Thomas Benton. dates, that we have long ago come to think that
It is doubtless to Mr. Roosevelt's ambition to at- their insertion at the important events of life intain such a place in the political history of the dicated accuracy in the writer and were quite helpcountry that, as the series of biographies upon fi~l in comparative biography and history. If any
American statesmen progresses, it may not end with- reader of this volume has a prejudice in favor of
out including one of himself, that we are indebted such things, he had better overcome it, or, in case
for this life of Mr. Benton. A study of the politi- his enjoyment depends upon them, he will have
cal history of the country is necessary to the educa- moments of dissatisfaction as he progresses through
tion of the political aspirant and that must include the book. It may be he will see other reasons to
the public life of its eminent men. For more than find fault also.
thirty years Mr Benton was the most eminent, as Mr. Roosevelt is not without considerable ability.
He li
he was by far the ablest, person in politics fron that as studiously and patiently, we judge, availed
part of the country lying west of the Mississii himself of Mr. Benton's "Thirty Years' View," and
"The
river. He was born March 14th, 1782. This is Abridgment of the Debates of Congress from
the only date noted in the volume with reference 1789 to 1856," by Mr. Benton, in sixteen volumes,
to Mr. Benton, excepting Apnl 10th, 1858, the day bringing the debates down to 1850, which were the
on which he died. These seem to be the most im- basis of most of this biography. According to the
portant dates in any one's life; but we have become custom of the series, he has considered the life of
so accustomed in reading other biographies to his subject as made up of eras in the political hisbeing more liberally dealt with in the matter of tory of the country, and has not allowed his readers'
The Life of Thomas Hart Benton. By Theodore Roose attention to be distracted from the fact that he was
velt. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflia and writing of Mr. Benton as a statesman, and not ai
Company. 1887. For sale in San Francisco, by Chilion an individual, whose personal life was of any par