PREFACE. THIS little book is designed for our senior scholars, junior teachers, and rising youth. It is an honest and earnest effort to inform their heads, and improve their hearts; to make them wiser, holier, and happier. In it will be found pleasant tales, illustrative narratives, affectionate appeals, wise counsels, and pithy sayings, with discussions of knotty questions, glimpses of books, both good and bad, with here and there a scrap of poetry, and now and then a little music to sweeten and enliven what otherwise might prove too dull. Many heads and hearts have been at work to make it what it is, and the Editor has sincerely to thank the kind folks who have helped so ably in his work; gentle ladies, who have sent him poetry, music, anecdotes, and tales; good friends, who have copied, or cut out for him, choice pieces from their books; worthy correspondents, not a few, who have tried their hand at solving difficulties; and an Old Alan Gray, who, though his head is white with age, has still prattled through twelve months again with no little energy and wisdom, to the delight and profit of young readers. To each and all of these a note of gratitude is due; but above all, to that good, kind God, who has guided and sustained throughout another year, and given the heart and ability to do this little service for his glory. Praying for His blessing on this and former volumes, and seeking at His hands fresh gifts for days to come, we lay our little offering at His feet, and address ourselves once more to the interesting work of catering for the religious benefit of our rising youth through 1854. Hopton, December, 1853. |