The tales down to and including The Were wolf in this volume have been selected in book It was also thought desirable to take from Culture's Garland, and to incorporate in this volume, such sketches as seemed most likely to prove of permanent value and of interest as illustrating earlier manner; and these, eight in number, form the latter part of the book. His poems too always kindle afresh that spark of child life which still lies smouldering in the hearts of us all, no matter how poor and sorrowful our beginnings. As we read, how the old memories come back to us! Old hopes, rosy with the expectation of the indefinite and unknowable. Old misgivings and fears; old rompings and holidays and precious idle hours. We know them all, and we know how true they are. We remember in our own case the very hour and day, and how it all happened and why, and what came of it, joys and sorrows as real as our keenest experiences since.
