in a way, this book, “little homespun,” is a story quite by itself. in another way it is a sequel to “courage,” although you can “catch its thread” without having read a line of “courage.” now some grown people, and i presume some children, do not care for sequels at all, but i happen to know that the children who are good enough to read and care for my stories are fond of sequels. those who have taken the trouble to write me, in little letters that are worth their weight in gold many times over, almost invariably ask for another book about the same people. sometimes they tell me just what to put into the new story and what name to give it. so here lies my excuse if one is needed for writing “little homespun.” besides, i could hardly help it, for there seemed to be quite a little yet to tell about courage and sylvia, and some new little friends of theirs. and one thing more—everything in this story that has to do with real people or actual events is absolutely true; a little book, named “historic arlington,” giving most of the information needed. even old black joe has his counterpart in wesley morris, one of the slaves of mr. custis, born on the estate, and employed for many years following the war as a workman about the grounds at arlington.

“ruth ogden.”

oakdene

sept. 1, 1897.