This is a short story book. My publisher wants me to apologize for—'introduce' was the kindly word he used—this collection of articles and verses from Punch. I do so with pleasure. Among the many interests of a long and varied career—No, I don't think I shall begin like that. It was early in 1871 — Nor like that. Really it is very difficult, you know. I wrote these things for a number of years, and—well, here they are. But just to say 'Here they are' is to be too informal for my publisher. He wants, not a casual introduction, but a presentation. Let me tell you a little story instead. When war broke out, I had published three of these books in England, the gleanings of nine years' regular work for Punch. There are, I understand, a few Americans who read Punch, and it was suggested to me that a suitable collection of articles from these three books might have some sort of American sale. So I made such a collection, leaving out the more topical and allusive sketches, and including those with a more general appeal. I called the result 'Happy Days'—an attractive title, you will agree—and in 1915 a New York publisher was found for it.
