The Irish Twins, by Lucy Fitch Perkins.
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In this short book the author conveys a very good image of the lives of
Irish country children at the end of the nineteenth century. The images
drawn by the very talented author are also very good. There is just
enough of the Irish manner of speech to convey the flavour of the way
the twins and their relatives would have spoken, had they done so in
English. Of course in reality it is likely that such children would
have spoken in the Irish language, instead of just occasionally using
an Irish word. But the book not only has a good story-line, but also
conveys to its target audience, American children, something of the
background of their Irish compatriots. It is supposed to be a Grade V
reader, and, published in 1913, is the third of the Twins series.
There is one blunder, as Kathleen, the daughter of the Earl of Elsmore,
is referred to as Lady Kathleen. Her father would have had to be a Duke
or a Marquess for that address to be correct. Her actual title does not
sound so good, so perhaps Perkins can be forgiven for this solecism.
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THE IRISH TWINS, BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS.