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The Girl Crusoes: A Story of the South Seas

Page 21

by Oliver Optic


  "Miss Letts has written a story for which elder girls will be grateful,so simple and winning is it; and we recognize in the author's work asense of character and ease of style which ought to ensure itspopularity."--_Globe_.

  MABEL QUILLER-COUCH

  The Carroll Girls

  Illustrated, 5/-.

  The father of the Carroll girls fell into misfortune, and had to go toCanada to make a new start. But he could not take his girls with him,and they were left in charge of their cousin Charlotte, in whosecountry home they grew up, learning to be patient, industrious, andsympathetic. The author has a dainty and pleasant touch, and describesher characters so lovingly that no girl can read this book without keeninterest in Esther's housekeeping and Penelope's music, Angela'spoultry-farming, and Poppy's dreams of market-gardening.

  ANNA CHAPIN RAY

  Teddy: Her Daughter

  Illustrated in Colour by N. TENISON. Crown 8vo, cloth, olivine edges.3/6.

  Many young readers have already made the acquaintance of Teddy in MissAnna Chapin Ray's previous story, "Teddy: Her Book." The heroine of thepresent story is Teddy's daughter Betty--a young lady with a strongwill and decided opinions of her own. When she is first introduced tous she is staying on a holiday at Quantuck, a secluded seaside retreat;and Miss Ray describes the various members of this small summercommunity with considerable humour. Among others is Mrs. Van Hicks, alady of great possessions, but little culture, who seeks to put peopleunder a lasting obligation to her by making friends with them. Onhearing that a nephew of this estimable lady is about to arrive atQuantuck, Betty makes up her mind beforehand to dislike him. At firstshe almost succeeds, for, like herself, Percival has a temper, and canbe "thorny" at times. As they come lo know each other better, however,a less tempestuous state of things ensues, and eventually they cement afriendship that is destined to carry them far.

  Nathalie's Sister

  Illustrated in Colour by N. TENISON. Crown 8vo, cloth, olivine edges.3/6.

  Nobody knows--or cares--much about Nathalie's Sister at the opening ofthis story. She is, indeed, merely Nathalie's Sister, without a nameof her own, shining with a borrowed light. Before the end is reached,however, her many good qualities have received the recognition theydeserve, and she is Margaret Arterburn, enjoying the respect andadmiration of all her friends. Her temper is none of the best: she hasa way of going direct to the point in conversation, and her words havesometimes an unpleasant sting; yet when the time comes, she revealsthat she is not lacking in the qualities of gentleness and affection,not to say heroism, which many young readers have already learned toassociate with her sister Nathalie.

  Nathalie's Chum

  Illustrated in Colour by DUDLEY TENNANT. Crown 8vo, cloth extra,olivine edges. 3/6.

  This story deals with a chapter in the career of the Arterburn family,and particularly of Nathalie, a vivacious, strong-willed girl offifteen. After the death of their parents the children were scatteredamong different relatives, and the story describes the efforts of theeldest son, Harry, to bring them together again. At first there is agood deal of aloofness, owing to the fact that, having been kept apartfor so long, the children are practically strangers to each other; butat length Harry takes his sister Nathalie into his confidence and makesher his ally in the management of their small household, while shefinds in him the chum of whom she has long felt the need.

  "Another of those pleasant stories of American life which Miss AnnaChapin Ray knows so well how to write."--_Birmingham Post_.

  Teddy: Her Book

  A Story of Sweet Sixteen.

  Illustrated in Colour, by ROBERT HOPE. Crown 8vo, decorated clothcover, olivine edges. 3/6.

  "Teddy is a delightful personage; and the story of her friendships, herambitions, and her successes is thoroughly engrossing."--_World_.

  "To read of Teddy is to love her."--_Yorkshire Daily Post_.

  Janet: Her Winter in Quebec

  Illustrated in Colour by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, decorated clothcover, olivine edges. 3/6.

  "The whole tone of the story is as bright and healthy as the atmospherein which these happy months were spent."--_Outlook_.

  "The sparkle of a Canadian winter ripples across Anna Chapin Ray's'Janet.'"--_Lady's Pictorial_.

  L. B. WALFORD

  A Sage of Sixteen

  New Edition. Illustrated in Colour by JAMES DURDEN. Crown 8vo, cloth,olivine edges. 3/6.

  Elma, the heroine of this story, is called a sage by her wealthy andsophisticated relations in Park Lane, with whom she spends ahalf-holiday every week, and who regard her as a very wise youngperson. The rest of her time is passed at a small boarding school,where, as might be supposed, Elma's friends look upon her rather as anordinary healthy girl than as one possessing unusual wisdom. The storytells of Elma's humble life at school, her occasional excursions intofashionable society; the difficulties she experiences in her endeavourto reconcile the two; and the way in which she eventually wins thehearts of those around her in both walks of life.

  L. T. MEADE

  The Beauforts

  New Edition. Illustrated in Colour by JAMES DURDEN. Crown 8vo, cloth.2/6.

  This is one of Mrs. Meade's pleasant stories of girl life. It dealswith the fortunes of a family in straitened circumstances, the fatherof which has a gift for poetry that publishers refuse to recognize. Inspite of his many failures, his daughter Patty does not lose faith inher father's genius; she supports him in his trials; and eventuallyreaps the reward that her constancy has merited.

  ANNIE MATHESON

  A Day Book for Girls

  Containing a quotation for each day of the year, arranged by ANNIEMATHESON, with Colour Illustrations by C. E. BROCK.

  Leather, with special emblematic design in gold, 3/6 net; cloth, 2/6net.

  Miss Annie Matheson is herself well known to many as a writer of hymnsand poetry of a high order. In "A Day Book for Girls" she has broughttogether a large number of extracts both in poetry and prose, and soarranged them that they furnish an inspiring and ennobling watchwordfor each day of the year. Miss Matheson has spared no pains to securevariety and comprehensiveness in her selection of quotations; her listof authors ranges from Marcus Aurelius to Mr. Swinburne, and includesmany who are very little known to the general public.

  SOME BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

  PUBLISHED BY

  HENRY FROWDE and HODDER & STOUGHTON

  BOOKS FOR BOYS

  By HERBERT STRANG

  "_Boys who read Mr. Strang's works have not merely the advantage ofperusing enthralling and wholesome tales, but they are also absorbingsound and trustworthy information of the men and times about which theyare reading._"--DAILY TELEGRAPH.

  Humphrey Bold

  Chances and Mischances by Land and Sea.

  Illustrated in Colour by W. H. MARGETSON. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant,olivine edges, 6s.

  In this story are recounted the many adventures that befell Mr.Humphrey Bold of Shrewsbury, from the time when, a puny slip of a boy,he was befriended by Joe Punchard, the cooper's apprentice (who nearlyshook the life out of his tormentor, Cyrus Vetch, by rolling him downthe Wyle Cop in a barrel), to the day when, grown into a sturdy younggiant, he sailed into Plymouth Sound as first lieutenant of the Bristolfrigate. The intervening chapters teem with exciting incidents,telling of sea-fights with that redoubtable privateer Duguay Trouin; ofHumphrey's escape from a French prison; of his voyage to the WestIndies and all the perils he encountered there; together with anaccount of the active service he saw under that grim old Englishseaman, Admiral Benbow.

  _Glasgow Herald_.--"So felicitous is he in imparting local colour tohis narrative that whilst reading it we have found ourselves thinkingof Thackeray. This suggests a standard by which very few writers ofboys' books will bear being judged. The majority of them are contentto provide their young friends with mere reading. Herbert Strangoffers them literature."

  Rob the Ranger

  A Story of the Figh
t for Canada.

  Illustrated in Colour by W. H. MARGETSON, and three Maps. Crown 8vo,cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6s.

  Rob Somers, son of an English settler in New York State, sets out withLone Pete, a trapper, in pursuit of an Indian raiding party which hasdestroyed his home and carried off his younger brother. He is capturedand taken to Quebec, where he finds his brother in strangecircumstances, and escapes with him in the dead of the winter, incompany with a little band of stout-hearted New Englanders. They arepursued over snow and ice, and in a log hut beside Lake Champlainmaintain a desperate struggle against a larger force of French,Indians, and half-breeds, ultimately reaching Fort Edward in safety.

  _Glasgow Herald_.--"If there had ever been the least doubt as to Mr.Herbert Strang's pre-eminence as a writer of boys' books, it would bevery effectually banished by this latest work of his."

  One of Clive's Heroes:

  A Story of the Fight for India.

  With Illustrations by W. RAINEY, R.I., and Maps. Crown 8vo, clothelegant, olivine edges, 6s.

  Desmond Burke goes out to India to seek his fortune, and is sold by afalse friend of his, one Marmaduke Diggle, to the famous Pirate ofGheria. But he escapes, runs away with one of the Pirate's ownvessels, and meets Colonel Clive, whom he assists to capture thePirate's stronghold. His subsequent adventures on the other side ofIndia--how he saves a valuable cargo of his friend, Mr. Merriman,assists Clive in his fights against Sirajuddaula, and rescues Mr.Merriman's wife and daughter from the clutches of Diggle--are told withgreat spirit and humour. Mr. Strang lived for several years in India,and tells a great deal about the country, the natives, and their waysof life which he saw with his own eyes.

  _Athenaeum_.--"An absorbing story.... The narrative not only thrills,but also weaves skilfully out of fact and fiction a clear impression ofour fierce struggle for India."

  Samba

  A Story of the Congo.

  Illustrated by W. RAINEY, R.I. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivineedges, 5s.

  The first work of fiction in which the cause of the hapless Congonative is championed.

  _Standard_.--"It was an excellent idea on the part of Mr. HerbertStrang to write a story about the treatment of the natives in the CongoFree State.... Mr. Strang has a big following among English boys, andanything he chooses to write is sure to receive their appreciativeattention."

  _Journal of Education_.--"We are glad that a writer who has already wonfor himself a reputation for good and vigorous work should have takenup the cause of the rubber slaves of the Congo."

  _Scotsman_.--"Mr. Herbert Strang has written not a few admirable booksfor boys, but none likely to make a more profound impression than hisnew story of this year."

  The Red Book for Boys.

  Edited by HERBERT STRANG.

  A miscellany for Boys, containing a large variety of complete storiesand articles by well-known writers; episodes and narratives ofadventure; poems, etc.

  288 pages, with 12 Plates in Colour, and many Illustrations in blackand white. Picture boards, cloth back, 2s. 6d.

  _Some of the Contents._

  TRAPPED. By G. A. HENTY. THE PUNISHMENT OF KHIPIL. By GEORGE MEREDITH. A MODERN ODYSSEUS. By L. QUILLER-COUCH. FOREST ADVENTURES. By HERBERT STRANG. HIS FATHER'S HONOUR. By Captain GILSON. THE HIGHWAYMAN. By ALFRED NOYES. OCEAN LINERS, PAST AND PRESENT. By FRANK H. MASON.

  Barclay of the Guides:

  A Story of the Indian Mutiny.

  Illustrated in Colour by H. W. KOEKKOEK. With Maps. Crown 8vo, clothelegant, olivine edges, 5s.

  Of all our Native Indian regiments the Guides have probably the mostglorious traditions. They were among the few who remained true totheir salt during the trying days of the great Mutiny, vying ingallantry and devotion with our best British regiments. The storytells how James Barclay, after a strange career in Afghanistan, becomesassociated with this famous regiment, and though young in years, bearsa man's part in the great march to Delhi, the capture of the royalcity, and the suppression of the Mutiny.

  With Drake On the Spanish Main

  Illustrated in Colour by ARCHIBALD WEBB. With Maps. Crown 8vo, clothelegant, olivine edges, 5s.

  A rousing story of adventure by sea and land. The hero, DennisHazelrig, is cast ashore on an island in the Spanish Main, the solesurvivor of a band of adventurers from Plymouth. He lives for sometime with no companion but a spider monkey, but by a series ofremarkable incidents he gathers about him a numerous band of escapedslaves and prisoners, English, French and native; captures a Spanishfort; fights a Spanish galleon; meets Francis Drake, and accompanieshim in his famous adventures on the Isthmus of Panama; and finallyreaches England the possessor of much treasure. The author has, asusual, devoted much pains to characterisation, and every boy willdelight in Amos Turnpenny, Tom Copstone, and other bold men of Devon,and in Mirandola, the monkey.

  _School Guardian_.--"Another of Mr. Herbert Strang's masterful storiesof adventure and romance."

  Swift and Sure

  The Story of a Hydroplane.

  Illustrated in Colour Crown 8vo, cloth. 2s. 6d.

  What the aeroplane is to the air the hydroplane promises to be to thesea. This story is a companion volume to "King of the Air" and "Lordof the Seas," a forecast of what may be expected from the progress ofmechanical invention in the near future.

  Lord of the Seas

  A Story of a Submarine.

  Illustrated in Colour Crown 8vo, cloth extra. 2s. 6d.

  The present day is witnessing a simultaneous attack by scientificinvestigation on the problems of aerial and submarine locomotion. Inhis book "King of the Air" Mr. Strang gave us a romance of modernaeronautics. In "Lord of the Seas" we have a companion volume dealingwith the marvels of submarine navigation.

  King of the Air

  or, To Morocco on an Airship.

  Illustrated in Colour by W. E. WEBSTER. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 2s. 6d.

  In this story (Mr. Herbert Strang's second half-crown book) the younghero, having a strong turn for mechanical invention, contrives amachine that represents a great advance on what has previously beenaccomplished in the direction of aerial navigation. He has nearlyperfected his invention when a British diplomatist is captured bytribesmen in Morocco, and his assistance is invoked in order to rescuethe captive without negotiations that may involve internationaldifficulties. The story tells of the exciting and amusing adventuresthat befell him and his companions in their perilous mission.

  _Morning Leader_.--"One of the best boys' stories we have ever read."

  Jack Hardy:

  or, A Hundred Years Ago.

  Illustrated by W. RAINEY, R.I. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 2s. 6d.

  The old smuggling days! What visions are called up by the name--ofstratagems, and caves, and secret passages, and ding-dong fightsbetween sturdy seamen and dashing King's officers! It is in thesebrave days of old that Mr. Herbert Strang has laid the scenes of hisstory "Jack Hardy." Jack is a bold young middy who, in the course ofhis duty to the King, falls into all manner of difficulties anddangers: has unpleasant experiences in a French prison, escapes bysheer daring and ingenuity, and turns the tables on his captors in away that will make every British boy's heart glow.

  _Athenaeum_.--"Herbert Strang is second to-none in graphic power andveracity.... Here is the best of characterisation in bold outline."

  _HERBERT STRANG'S HISTORICAL SERIES_

  This new series is quite unique. Its aim is to encourage a taste forhistory in boys and girls up to fourteen years of age by giving all theimportant events and movements of a reign or period intermingled with arousing story of adventure. While the stories are worth reading fortheir own sakes, they are also worth reading--especially on the eve ofan examination--by a boy or girl who in class or in school text-bookhas worked up the "dry history" of the period. Each volume contains,besides the story, a general summary, a chronological list of importantevents, and a map. Much care has been devoted to the "get-up" of thesebooks.
They contain about 160 pages each, with four beautifulillustrations in full colour. Cloth, 1s. 6d. each.

  In the New Forest: A Story of the Reign of William the Conqueror.

  Lion Heart: A Story of the Reign of Richard I.

  Claud the Archer: A Story of the Reign of Henry V.

  One of Rupert's Horse: A Story of the Reign of Charles I.

  With the Black Prince: A Story of the Reign of Edward III.

  A Mariner of England: A Story of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.

  With Marlborough to Malplaquet: A Story of the Reign of Queen Anne.

  _Practical Teacher_.--"These Stories, which are bright and stirring,are sufficiently simple to be within the grasp of the children, thedescriptions of life and manners are accurate, and the history of theperiod is interwoven in a skilful manner."

 

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