The Lamplighter

The story of Gerty and Uncle True, contained in the first fifteen chapters, will always make the book a favorite. Many a mother will read to her little one the story of the old fashioned lamplighter, whom they never see, but whose mysterious appearance children used to watch, as with torch and ladder he appeared in the gathering darkness, and slowly climbed one post after another, lighting up the dim oil lamps through the street, until he disappeared at the farthest corner. With the death of the lamplighter, the narrative begins to dim, although the mysterious Mr. Phillips and odd Miss Patty Pace are marked characters, which relieve somewhat the mass of people, who seem only introduced to prolong the story. Finely drawn scenes are scattered here and there, and the story only escapes being exciting, by a want of skillful arrangement and condensation.