a few years ago, when my first story saw the light, a little fellow, a stranger to me then, but who has since proved himself the truest of friends, wrote me a most welcome letter. he said, among other things: “i have read the book five times through. my nurse, lily jones, read the book to me twice, my mamma read the book to me once, and my aunt lizzie read the book to me twice, for i can only read in my reading-book.” now you can understand, i think, how i have wanted to keep that boy for a friend, together with the other children who have proved themselves friendly; and so realizing they were all growing older each year, i have tried in the books i have written since then to keep pace with them, that they might not perhaps outgrow me for a little while yet.

at the same time, my heart, in a way, is still with the little people who count their years by a single numeral; and so, if you please, i want to take them aside for a moment, and just whisper in their ears that, although “a little oueen of hearts” may seem a trifle too old for them at first, i have an idea they will not find that fault later on.

ruth ogden.