A In the present volume will be found twenty stones from early writers for children, the period being roughly 1790 to 1830, with three later and more sophisticated efforts added. Having so recently made remarks on the character of these old books — in the preface last year to Old- Fashioned Tales, a companion volume to this — I have very little to say now, except that I hope the selection will be found to be interesting. If it is not, it is less my fault than that of the authors, who preferred teaching to entertaining, moral improvement to drama. The pendulum has now perhaps swung almost too far the other way ; but such things come right. My first story, ' Dicky Random,' is from a little book published in 1805, entitled The Satchel ; or. Amusing Talcs for Correcting Rising Errors in Early Youth, addressed to all who wish to grow in Grace and Favour. On the title-page is this motto : •Put on the cap, if it will fit, And wiser grow by wearing it.' There is no author's name. I do not consider the story of Dicky a very brilliant piece of wjrk, but it has some pleasing incidents, not the least of which is the irreproachable be- 520
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