th
fire,--quick, greedy fire, leaping like serpents' tongues out of its
hundred jaws, hungry sheets of flame maddening and writhing towards her,
and under all a dull and hollow roar that shook the night. Did it call her
to her death? She turned to fly, and then--He was alone, dying! He had
been so kind to her! She wrung her hands, standing there a moment. It was
a brave hope that was in her heart, and a prayer on her lips never left
unanswered, as she hobbled, in her lame, slow way, up to the open black
door, and, with one backward look, went in.

* * * * *

JAMES FENIMORE COOPER.

The publication, now brought to a close, of a new edition of the novels of
Cooper[6] gives us a fair occasion for discharging a duty which Maga has
too long neglected, and saying something upon the genius of this great
writer, and, incidentally, upon the character of a man who would have been
a noticeable, not to say remarkable person, had he never written a line.
These novels stand before us in thirty-two goodly duodecimo volumes, well
printed, gracefully illustrated, and, in all external aspects, worthy of
generous commendation. With strong propriety, the publishers dedicate this
edition of the "first American novelist" to "the American People." No one
of our great writers is more thoroughly American than Cooper; no one has
caught and reproduced more broadly and accurately the spirit of our
institutions, the character of our people, and even the aspects of Nature
in this our Western world. He was a patriot to the very core of his heart;
he loved his country with a fervid, but not an undiscerning love: it was
an intelligent, vigilant, discriminating affection that bound his heart to
his native land; and thus, while no man defended his country more
vigorously when it was in the right, no one reproved its faults more
courageously, or gave warning and advice more unreservedly, where he felt
that they were needed.

[6] We refer to the new edition of the novels of Cooper by Messrs.
W.A. Townsend & Co., with illustrations by Darley.

This may be one reason why Cooper has more admirers, or at least fewer
disparagers, abroad than at home. On the Continent of Europe his novels
are everywhere read, with an eager, unquestioning delight. His popularity
is at least equal to that of Scott; and we think a considerable amount of
testimony could be collected to prove that it is even greater. But the
fac