A third, perorated a long and beautifully written review, by the bold and startling announcement-"This writer is unquestionably a highly respectable youth."
Nor had the editors of various moral and religious periodicals failed to render the tribute of their severer appreciation, and more enviable, because more chary applause. A renowned clerical and philological conductor of a weekly publication of this kind, whose surprising proficiency in the Greek, Hebrew, and Chaldaic, to which he had devoted by far the greater part of his life, peculiarly fitted him to pronounce unerring judgment upon works of taste in the English, had unhesitatingly delivered himself thus:-"He is blameless in morals, and harmless throughout." Another, had unhesitatingly recommended his effusions to the family-circle. A third, had no reserve in saying, that the predominant end and aim of this author was evangelical piety.
A mind less naturally strong than Pierre's might well have been hurried into vast self-complacency, by such eulogy as this, especially as there could be no possible doubt, that the primitive verdict pronounced by the editors was irreversible, except in the highly improbable event of the near approach of the Millennium, which might establish a different dynasty of taste, and possibly eject the editors. It is true, that in view of the general practical vagueness of these panegyrics, and the circumstance that, in essence, they were all somehow of the prudently indecisive sort; and, considering that they were panegyrics, and nothing but panegyrics, without anything analytical about them; an elderly friend of a literary turn, had made bold to say to our hero-"Pierre, this is very high praise, I grant, and you are a surprisingly young author to receive it; but I do not see any criticisms as yet."
"Criticisms?" cried Pierre, in amazement; "why, sir, they are all criticisms! I am the idol of the critics!"
"Ah!" sighed the elderly friend, as if suddenly reminded that that was true after all-"Ah!" and went on with his inoffensive, non-committal cigar.
Nevertheless, thanks to the editors, such at last became the popular literary enthusiasm in behalf of Pierre, that two young men, recently abandoning the ignoble pursuit of tailoring for the more honorable trade of the publisher (probably with an economical view of working up in books, the linen and cotton shreds of the cutter's counter, after having been subjected to the action of the paper-mill), had on the daintiest scolloped-edged paper, and in the neatest possible, and fine-needle-work hand, addressed him a letter, couched in the following terms; the general style of which letter will sufficiently evince that, though-thanks to the manufacturer-their linen and cotton shreds may have been very completely transmuted into paper, yet the cutters themselves were not yet entirely out of the metamorphosing mill.
"Hon. Pierre Glendinning, "Reverend Sir,
"The fine cut, the judicious fit of your productions fill us with amazement. The fabric is excellent-the finest broadcloth of genius. We have just started in business. Your pantaloons- productions, we mean-have never yet been collected. They should be published in the Library form. The tailors-we mean the librarians, demand it. Your fame is now in its finest nap. Now-before the gloss is off-now is the time for the library form. We have recently received an invoice of Chamois-Russia leather. The library form should be a durable form. We respectfully offer to dress your amazing productions in the library form. If you please, we will transmit you a sample of the cloth-we mean a sample-page, with a pattern of the leather. We are ready to give you one tenth of the profits (less discount) for the privilege of arraying your wonderful productions in the library form:-you cashing the seamstresses'-printer's and binder's bills on the day of publication. An answer at your earliest convenience will greatly oblige,-
"Sir, your most obsequious servants,
"wonder wen."
"P.S.-We respectfully submit the enclosed block-sheet, as some earnest of our intentions to do every thing in your behalf possible to any firm in the trade.
"N.B.-If the list does not comprise all your illustrious wardrobe-works, we mean-, we shall exceedingly regret it. We have hunted through all the drawers-magazines.
"Sample of a coat-title for the works of Glendinning:
the COMPLETE WORKS
OF :.-
GLENDINNING,
AUTHOR OF
That world famed production, "The Tropical Summer: a Sonnet," "The Weather: a Thought." "Life: an Impromptu." "The late Reverend Mark Graceman: an Obituary." "Honor: a Stanza." "Beauty: an Acrostic." "Edgar: an Anagram." "The Pippin: a Paragraph."
c. c. c. c.
c. c. c.
c. c.
c. "
From a designer, Pierre had received the following:
"Sir: I approach you with unfeigned trepidation. For though you are young in age, you are old in fame and ability. I can not express to you my ardent admiration of your works; nor can I but deeply regret that the productions of such graphic descriptive power, should be unaccompanied by the humbler illustrative labors of the designer. My services in this line are entirely at your command. I need not say how proud I should be, if this hint, on my part, however presuming, should induce you to reply in terms upon which I could found the hope of honoring myself and my profession by a few designs for the works of the illustrious Glendinning. But the cursory mention of your name here fills me with such swelling emotions, that I can say nothing more. I would only add, however, that not being at all connected with the Trade, my business situation unpleasantly forces me to make cash down on delivery of each design, the basis of all my professional arrangements. Your noble soul, however, would disdain to suppose, that this sordid necessity, in my merely business concerns, could ever impair-
"That profound private veneration and admiration "With which I unmercenarily am,
"Great and good Glendinning, "Yours most humbly,
"PETER PENCE."
II
These were stirring letters. The Library Form! an Illustrated 'Edition! His whole heart swelled.
But unfortunately it occurred to Pierre, that as all his writings were not only fugitive, but if put together could not possibly fill more than a very small duodecimo; therefore the Library Edition seemed a little premature, perhaps; possibly, in a slight degree, preposterous. Then, as they were chiefly made up of little sonnets, brief meditative poems, and moral essays, the matter for the designer ran some small risk of being but meager. In his inexperience, he did not know that such was the great height of invention to which the designer's art had been carried, that certain gentlemen of that profession had gone to an eminent publishing-house with overtures for an illustrated edition of "Coke upon Littleton." Even the City Directory was beautifully illustrated with exquisite engravings of bricks, tongs, and flat-irons.