PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION". 
When the first edition of “ Brambles and Bay Leaves” had 
been committed to the press, a dark cioad overspread my domestic 
life, and rendered me altogether careless whether the book should 
find readers, or make its way silently and secretly to the trunk- 
maker or cheesemonger. The cloud has not cleared away, but has 
changed its form, and acquired a few additional touches of black¬ 
ness; though, thank G-od, it has a golden fringe, so that there are 
gleams of light afar off. I name this fact to explain that not the 
slightest effort was ever made to give publicity to the work, and 
but one single guinea was expended in advertising it. Yet the 
edition has been sold, and a new one demanded; making good an 
observation, which I think Mr. Dickens is the author of, that a 
good book will find readers, even if privately printed, and utterly 
denied the assistance of an art known in the book trade as “ push¬ 
ing.” It is no doubt bold of me to take credit to myself that this 
is “a good book;” but I may as well confess that I so regard it, 
else why should I publish it? In truth, the sale of the edition is 
to be attributed solely to the kindness of reviewers, who made it 
known for me, when I simply contented myself to place it on a 
publisher’s shelf; and their generous recommendations of it 
demand from me this acknowledgment and record of thanks. 
