PREFACE. 



throughout by that wisdom of which it is 

 written, ' Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 

 and all her paths are peace.' " 



" Therefore it is," replied Lobworm, " that I 

 would have you by all means to refrain : that 

 book will always stand unrivalled and unap- 

 proachable. Excuse me, but ' ex quovis ligno 

 non fit Mercurius." 



" Nay, nay, you cannot for a moment imagine 

 that I shall attempt such a flight as that. I 

 have read of Icarus, and also of the Ulm 

 Tailor, who on the first trial of his patent 

 wings fell into the Danube, instead of pitching 

 upon the opposite bank ; so, as I cannot touch 

 the summits, I must perforce be content to 

 creep on level lands, — ' timidus procellse : ' — 

 mine shall be a work quite of another 

 character." 



" There is not the least doubt of that, I 

 think," said Mr. Lobworm. " Know like- 

 wise," continued he (I never knew him so 

 loquacious or so disagreeable before), — " Know 

 likewise to thy discomfort, nay, to thy utter 

 confusion, that a book has lately appeared 

 yclept ' The Rod and the Gun,' so amusingly 

 written, and so complete in all its parts, that 

 there is not the least occasion for you to 



