has been gathered from the treasury of Arabian and Hindu lore, from the Teutonic storehouses of legend, from Scandinavian sagas, and from the finer modern spirits who have caught the inspiration of the elder masters.

Though the old tales and legends are rarely directly didactic, a deep meaning and moral run through them, and form the sweetness and savor that have kept them so long alive. Yet to select indiscriminately from folk-lore would not be fitting for educational purposes. Hence it is that in the choice of pieces for "The Book of Tales," only such have been taken as combine the noblest sentiment with the finest fancy; while at the same time all the pieces have been subjected to such scrutiny and editorship as guarantee the requisites of purity and propriety of sentiment and technical fitness for class-room reading.

The Editors are indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. for permission to use selections from their copy-right editions of American Authors.

WEBSTERIAN MARKS USED IN THIS BOOK. — ā, ē, ï, ō, û, ỹ, long; ă, ĕ, I, ,, y, short; as in term; I as in firm; oo as in food; oo as in foot; f as s; e, eh, as k; gas j; g as in get; n as in linger; § as z; X as gz.

56. A TALE OF THE SEA. III.

57. THE YARN OF THE "NANCY BELL" Gilbert.

Charles Reade

243

251

3. They stole little Bridget
For seven years long;
When she came down again,
Her friends were all gone.
They took her lightly back

Between the night and morrow :
They thought that she was fast asleep,
But she was dead with sorrow.
They have kept her ever since
Deep within the lakes,
On a bed of flag-leaves,
Watching till she wakes.

4. By the craggy hill-side,
Through the mosses bare,
They have planted thorn-trees
For pleasure here and there.
Is any man so daring

As dig them up in spite,

He shall find their sharpest thorns
In his bed at night.

5. Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen,

We dare not go a-hunting,

For fear of little men:
Wee folk, good folk,

Trooping all together,

Green Jacket, Red Cap,

And White Owl's Feather.