Text: Anonymous, “[Review of The Gift for 1840],” Charleston Courier (Charleston, SC), vol. XXXVIII, whole no. 12, 528, October 28, 1839, p. 2, col. 2

[page 2, column 2, continued:]

1. The Gift. Carey & Hart, Philadelphia. This is indeed a superb volume and cannot fail to prove an acceptable gift. Its binding is of rich brown with splendid golden decorations, and it is embellished with nine engravings, among which “Childhood,” the vignette, and Shakspeare' virtuous and high souled, “Isabella,” all by CHENNEY, from paintings by SULLY, take the lead for softness and beauty of finish, and “The Ghost Book” for graphic delineation, portraying to the life the terrifying yet fascinating influence of the ghost story over the mind of childhood. “Bargaining for a Horse” is also admirably well done, and “The Dying Greek” would likewise command our high praise, were it not that the whole group, save the principle figure, want the expression of feature suited to the scene. The “Gift” is edited by the accomplished Miss LESLIE, who has called to her aid several elegant and superior pens in the preparation of the present volume. Among the contributors are our distinguished novelist Simms, and M. E. L., one of the sweetest muses of the “Southern Rose” — the former furnishing, in “The Lazy Crow,” an amusing illustration of negro superstition and belief in withcraft [[witchcraft]], and the latter singing in touching strains “The Parting of Charles 1st with his Children The author of Richard Hurdis,” who is still anonymous, contributes an extract or fragment, entitled “Ellen Ramsay,” and Edgar A. Poe, formerly the genius of the Southern Literary Messenger, furnishes one of his mystic fancies — most of the other writers are well known favorites.