10 



on the Adirondacks, "The Babes in the 

 Woods," and interesting volumes indors- 

 ed with the names of Frank Forester, 

 Scott, Hallock, Francis, and others. 



That's a delightful shelf ! 



And I thought I would add to its treas- 

 ures : but not a copy of the old Dame's 

 book could I find : that is, in this country. 

 So I sent to the other side, and found that 

 one of the original copies, printed in 1496, 

 if I could get it at all, would cost me from 

 $2500 to $3000 : and that a copy of the 

 Baskerville edition, of 1827, would cost 



$8 2 . 



Perhaps, however, critics may be found, 

 who may render it necessary for me to 

 state that I do not vouch for the correct- 

 ness of my transcript of the old English 

 style and spelling, on the ground that I 

 have read a copy of the original edition. 



