PREFACE. IN the following little selection the Editor has attempted to bring together the more effective passages of such school stories and boys' books as have enjoyed popularity. This department has indeed so developed the shelf corner devoted to such entertainment having expanded almost into a library— that the task of selection became one of serious difficulty. Where there was such an embarras de richesses, the best course appeared to be to admit such passages only as could be considered as representing a particular phase of juvenile life, or be fairly distinguished from their fellows. With this view, too, some sketches of French school life, as well as of English training at home, have been introduced. In the body of this little work the Editor has acknowledged his obligations to Mr. Hughes and the Rev. Dr. Farrar. He has also to thank Mr. Charles Dickens, Messrs. Black, Mr. William Tinsley, and the publishers of Hugh Miller's works for permission, freely given, to use extracts from their books. |