INTRODUCTORY. 



homes ;' and in illustration of the interest which 

 the subject of this notice possesses for the class to 

 which it especially refers, the following letter, 

 received a few days after it appeared, may be 

 quoted : 



' Fairy Grotto, Oley Place, Stepney Green. 

 TO THE AUTHOR OP 'THE FERN PARADISE.' 



SIR, I am tempted to trouble you, after read- 

 ing an interesting review of your ' FERN PARADISE ' 

 in Lloyd's. As far back as my memory serves me, 

 I was ever fond of making the most of parti- 

 cularly common things. When a boy I used to take 

 a delight in cultivating a few wild flowers and 

 different grasses. My fancy has gone on from 

 then till now ; for in the smallest and most insig- 

 ficant public garden (perhaps) in the whole world 

 I still indulge my taste by cultivating a few 

 bits of green such as sorrel, chick weed, clover, 

 grasses, and other wild things that I do not know 

 the names of. What life there is in my little bit of 

 green in my little grotto garden I should feel a great 

 pleasure in showing to you, privately, by gaslight. 

 I am, sir, yours respectfully, 



H. DEVEY.' 



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