ANNOUNCEMENT OF

Ben: Perley Poore's Book.

Sixty years of a busy journalist's life at Washington are epitomized in Maj. Ben: Perley Poore's two superb volumes. One of the admirers of the Major recently said that "at a judiciously ripe period of life the Major stopped growing old, and since then, like some of the choice Madeira of which he writes with so much feeling, he has only been accumulating bouquet and flavor." Maj. Poore has been one of the best known and one of the most knowing men in Washington society for a half a century. His is the sunny temperament delighting in bright, social intercourse. Yet his connection with daily journalism and his position in the U. S. Senate placed him always in the thick of political affairs and social gossip. He was ever in the Washington "Swim," breasting the waves with jovial vigor, and never failing to hear or see what was said and done.

The Major could never be very solemn, and in his ripened sketches of Washington life every phase reminds him of half a dozen amusing anecdotes. He has a rare gift in telling a story, and his anecdotes are inexhaustible.

His book will not only add lustre to his fame as a writer, but it is of so unique a character and so intensely interesting in matter that it will prove

a valuable contribution to the literature of the country. It has mirth for the mirthful, wit for the witty, information for all, and we doubt if it has been equalled by any subscription book since the war.

It is being issued by the well known house of Hubbard Bros., and is sold exclusively by subscription.

AN UNFORTUNATE WOMAN AND ARS' YA, by Ivan Turgenieff, a Russian writer of great force and originality, has lately been published by Funk & Wagnalls.

THE MENTOR, a little book for the guidance of such men and boys as

would appear to advantage in the so

It

ciety of persons of the better sort, by Alfred Ayres, published by Funk & Wagnalls, is full of good sense, good advice, and wise counsel. would not come amiss in the hands of any young man who is striving to be a gentleman.

THE HISTORY OF SANBORNTON, which by many is considered the most perfect model for similar works, is in two volumes, aggregating about 1600 pages. It can be obtained of the author for $5.00. He has a few copies deficient in plates, for $4.00. In corresponding with him, please mention this magazine. His address is Rev. M. T. Runnels, East Jaffrey, N. H.

From Messrs. Harper & Brothers, New York, we have received the following of Harper's Handy Series:

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Regimental Legends by John Strange Winter, author of " Mignon; or, Bootle's Baby." 16mo, 25 cts.

A Child of the Revolution-an interesting French novel. Illustrated. 16mo, 25 cts.

F. M. F. Skene. 16mo, 25c.
A Strange Inheritance-a novel by

Locksley Hall, Sixty Years After etc., by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. 16mo, 25 cts.

Yeast, a Problem-by Chas. Kingsley, author of "Alton Locke,” “Hypatia," etc. 16mo, 25 cts.

Of the Franklin Square Library, we have received:

No. 556. A Wilful Young Woman -a novel, by "Who is Sylvia?" 25 cts.

No. 557. The World Went Very Well Then-a novel, by Walter Besant. Profusely illustrated. 25 cts.

No. 558. She; a History of Adventure-by H. Rider Haggard, author of "Solomon's Mines." Profusely illustrated. 25 cts.

VOL. X.

No. 3.

When, in the early part of the eighteenth century, a few hardy pioneers gathered about Amoskeag falls to found a settlement in the wilderness, they were prepared to wrest a livelihood from the sterile soil, and defend their possessions and families from Indian marauders. It was a frontier settlement, greatly exposed to attack, but it was shunned by the dusky warriors, who dreaded the prowess and the unerring aim of the new comers. The men at the falls carried the war into Canada, and in return for early Indian atrocities the Rangers retaliated with sword and fire-brand in distant savage fastnesses. Though stern and warlike and aggressive, these children of Scotch Covenanters and Massachusetts Puritans were law-abiding and God-fearing men and women. were Goffe, Hildreth, Kidder, McNeil, Stark, Hadley, Stevens, Martin, Emerson, Perham, Blodgett, Nutt, Ridell, McMurphy, Hall, McClintock, Dickey, Gamble, Anderson, Leslie, whose descendants have left an impress on state and national history.

There

While using Amoskeag falls for fishing for shad, for salmon, and for lamprey-eels, the most sanguine of those early settlers in his wildest dreams could not have pictured the fair city of Manchester, with its tens of thousands of busy artisans, which the future was to uprear on the banks of the Merrimack river.

In the early part of the present century, when this continent had received the impetus of freedom, and the people were surging onward to occupy our vast domain, the highest honors and the richest rewards lay in political preferment. The greatest intellects were devoted to law, to statesmanship, or to politics. Ship-building and foreign commerce offered a field for the energies of the most adventurous. Agriculture was the great occupation of the American people. The growth of the cities, centres of commerce and government, was slow and gradual. The advent of the railroad was the dawn of a new era in the history of the world. Steam had already been utilized for ocean travel, but the locomotive was destined to

revolutionize human destiny. It annihilated distance; it brought the products of mill and farm to points of distribution; it put the vast interior of our country in connection with our sea-board; it united the North and the South, the East and the West, in an imperishable union; it made possible the rapid growth of our great cities. It vastly increased human wants and necessities, and opened up a thousand channels for the energy and work of mankind. After the railroad came electricity, commerce and manufacturing on a gigantic scale, mines, banking, insurance, and the complicated business of a great nation, in which large fortunes could be accumulated. From farm and college hall the brightest minds and keenest intellects have been drawn to the counting-house, the machine-shop, and the railroad office.

The highest elevations in rank, in honor, and in emolument have been gained by self-made men. By their skill and ability great enterprises have been started and successfully carried on, and their labors have been appreciated and rewarded. A selfmade man, honored, respected, and successful, is the subject of this sketch,-Hon. Aretas Blood, of Manchester, a man whose name will ever be inseparably connected with the development of the massive locomotive in use to-day, and with the inception and growth of the railroad system of the United States.

ANCESTRY.

name in this country, was James Blood, said to have been a brother of Col. John Blood, known in English history for his designs on Charles II. James Blood and his wife Ellen came from Paddington, Nottingham county, England, and settled in Concord, Mass., as early as 1639. He had a great estate, and died November 17, 1683. His wife Ellen died in 1674.

2. Richard Blood, son of James and Ellen Blood, was one of the first settlers and largest proprietors of Groton. He was town-clerk in 1668. His wife's name was Isabel.

3. James Blood, son of Richard and Isabel Blood, lived in Groton. He married (1) Elizabeth Longley, September 7, 1669; (2) Abigail. He was killed by the Indians September 13 (or October 13), 1692.

4. John Blood, son of James and Abigail Blood, was born in Groton, March 16, 1689; married July 13, 1712, Joanna Nutting, of Groton; settled in his native town, and died August 23, 1758, in the 70th year of his age.

5. Moses Blood, son of John and Joanna (Nutting) Blood, was born in Groton, November 25, 1724; settled in Pepperell; married Elizabeth Stone, June, 27 1745; and died in Pepperell.

6. Sewall Blood, son of Moses and Elizabeth (Stone) Blood, was born in Pepperell, May 24, 1756; married Molly Kendall, of Shirley, April 9, 1786; and was a soldier of the Revolution. He died in Windsor, Vt., in 1813; his widow in 1814.

7. Nathaniel Blood, son of Sewall and Mary (Kendall) Blood, was born in Shirley, August 17, 1788; mar