12 DECEMBER 1885, Page 16

Brownsmith's Boy. By G. Manville Fenn. (Blackie and Son.)— Mr.

Fenn generally contrives to give us something fresh in his stories. Here his hero is initiated into the mysteries of gardening. As we follow him in his apprenticeship we, too, have an opportunity of learning a good deal about the art. All this part of the story is good ; but we could have dispensed with some of the dramatic persona, with the two boys, who, considering their belongings, are inconceivably rude and ungentlemanly. " Shook," too, is somewhat of a puzzle. We apprehend Mr. Fenn's idea in drawing this strange character; but it is not, we think, adequately worked oat.