hat is the use of a preface? most of my young readers will regard it as they would a stile in front of a field in which they were going to enjoy haymaking; as something which they hastily scramble over, eager to get to what is beyond. such being the case, i think it best to make my preface as short, my stile as small as possible, not being offended if some of my friends should skip over it at one bound. to the more sober readers i would say, if you look for some fun in the little field which you are going to enter, remember that in haymaking[vi] there is profit as well as amusement; in turning over thoughts in our minds, as in turning over newly-mown grass, we may “make hay while the sun shines,” which will serve us when cloudier days arise.

a. l. o. e.