FOEEWOBD. 



In the 31st chapter of the book of Job the fol- 

 lowing passage occurs : ' * My desire is ... . that mine 

 adversary had written a book ! " Job's meaning 

 is not very clear. Did he mean the manual labour 

 of writing ? for in those days it was more difficult 

 than now ; or did he mean the canvassing for sub- 

 scribers ? — if he had to do so, and he may have, for 

 we are told " there is nothing new under the sun." I 

 think he must have meant the latter, for to me the 

 mere writing of the book has been a pleasant pas- 

 time but canvassing for subscribers wasn't. Not 

 that I have even in that respect anything to com- 

 plain of, for I was on every hand cheerfully re- 

 ceived, liberally responded to and invariably with a 

 smile and wishes for good luck and success in my 

 enterprise. But yet the waiting for an interview 

 and the fear that I would meet with a refusal was 

 not so pleasant, and I could not wish my adversary — 

 if I have one — a more disagreeable task, except, as 

 some one may say now that it is written, that of 

 reading it. 



THE AUTHOR. 



