University of Virginia Library

These simple and unpretending Sketches require no introduction; and yet, when title-page, contents, and dedication have been made out, an introduction so naturally follows, that it might be supposed a book could not be put together without one,—though the writer, as in my case, has little either to say of herself or her volume.

All, therefore, that I shall now remark is, that these Sketches were written for my own Children; and many of them at

their suggestion; and that in seeing the pleasure they have derived from them, I have hoped their young cotemporaries may find them equally agreeable. A few of them have already appeared in some of the Juvenile Annuals, and may therefore be familiar to many of my young readers; but I trust they will pardon a reprint of what is already known, in the prospect of finding more that is new.

Nottingham, May, 1834.