there wanted a directing mind, a good sound teacher, and I now deplore over the secrecy, the subterfuge, the fear under which this ill-digested, ill-arranged knowledge was gained. On my marriage, of course, a new life began. The world of literature was opened to me, and a companion was by my side able and willing to direct and assist."
Soon after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Howitt, they published, jointly, two volumes of poems, which met with so much success, that they were rapidly followed by a variety of other works, in prose and verse. Partly to perfect themselves in the German language, and partly for the purpose of bestowing upon their children a better education than they could obtain in England, Mr. and Mrs. Howitt, about the year 1835, repaired to Germany, where they remained three years, travelling extensively, and acquainting themselves with the country, its literature, and its people; and pursuing, at the same time, their literary labours. Here Mrs. Howitt first met with the works of Frederika Bremer, which delighted her so much, that she determined to introduce them to the English public by translation. For this purpose, she acquired the Swedish language, to enable her to give them from the original; Miss Bremer's later works having all been translated from the manuscripts. Her acquaintance with the Swedish language induced her to acquire its kindred tongue, the Danish, from which, as well as from the German, she has translated numerous works.
Miss. Howitt's marriage has been one of singular happiness, and is blessed with children of great promise. In her literary pursuits, she possesses the sympathy and good offices of her husband, himself an extensive and popular writer, and in many of her translations she has been assisted by him. It is to be lamented that talents, worth, and industry, like Mrs. Howitt's, should, through unmerited misfortune, have been striped of all substantial reward, at a period of life when she might naturally have looked for some relaxation of her labours. Mr. Howitt having embarked as partner in the "People's Journal," was, in a short time, held responsible, by its failure, for debts to a large amount. His financial ruin was the consequence; the copy-rights even of his own and his wife's works—the hard-won results of years of labour—were sacrificed, and they were obliged to begin the world anew. That their renewed exertions have met with such happy success as to warrant a hope of the retrieval of their fortunes, we have every reason to believe, and we trust, for the honour of human nature, that such exertions, based upon the honest character and good reputation of a quarter of a century, will be justly estimated, and meet with the reward they merit. Mrs. Howitt's first prose work was "Wood Leighton," in three volumes, which was exceedingly popular. She next wrote for children the following works,—"Tales in Verse," "Tales in Prose," "Sketches of Natural History," "Birds and Flowers," "Hymns and Fireside Verses;" and also a series of books, which are very popular, called "Tales for the People and their Children,"—of these there are, "Strive and Thrive," "Hope on, Hope Ever," "Sowing and Reaping," "Alice Franklin," "Who shall be Greatest!" "Which is the Wiser?" "Little Corn, much Care," "Work and Ways," "Love and Money," "The Two Apprentices," and "My Own Story." After the publication of these, Mrs. Howitt wrote "The History of Mary Leeson," "The Children's Year," and "Our Cousins in Ohio." She published, about
