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PREFACE. 



A PREFACE is like the bow of an actor when he comes 

 on the stage, or like the hand-shaking of two friends 

 when they meet the prelude to the entertainment, 

 or the friendly conversation. I suppose, therefore, I 

 must follow the fashion, and say, " How d'ye do ? " in 

 this way. I hope the answer will be, " Quite well, 

 thank you, and much the better for seeing you." 



In a book of similar character to this one, which I 

 published a short time ago, I offered to reply to any 

 questions which any of my young readers, who wished 

 for further information upon any of the subjects men- 

 tioned in that book, might put to me, by means of 

 letters addressed to me, to the care of the publishers. 

 I then had the pleasure of answering many such letters, 

 and I now repeat the offer to the readers of this book. 



I am indebted to my friend Mr. William Whitwell, 

 of Oxford, who is, like myself, a lover of boys, for the 

 chapter on the " LIFE OF A FERN." 



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