Preface. vii 



If they speak to other boys, as to fellow explorers in the 

 always new world, if they bring back to older children happy 

 memories of a golden age when nature and man were not 

 quite so far apart, then there will be another pleasure in 

 having written them. 



My thanks are due, and are given heartih', to the editors 

 of Tlic Yoi/t/is Compojiioji for permissinn to use several 

 sketches that have already appeared, and to Mr. Charles 

 Copeland, the artist, for his care and interest in prei)aring 

 the illustrations. 



Wi\r. J. I.oNc;. 



Andover, Mass., June, 1S99. 



