this collection of essays, now republished in the "wayfarers' library," were written during the war, and first appeared in book form during the war. like the preceding volume, pebbles on the shore, they were the literary diversions of a time of great public anxiety and heavy personal tasks. the writing of them was a happy distraction from unhappy things, and now that the great wind has passed it is a pleasure to find the leaves it blew down gathered between the companionable covers of the "wayfarer." i leave them as they fell.