to "the men of the dark," they have long afflicted a man living
and well known to the author of this tale, who now commits it to
the world hoping only that these poor children of his brain may
deserve kindness if not approval.

NEW YORK CITY,
March, 1903.

CONTENTS

PRELUDE

CHAPTER
I. The Story of the Little Red Sleigh
II. The Crystal City and the Traveller
III. The Clock Tinker
IV. The Uphill Road
V. At the Sign o' the Dial
VI. A Certain Rich Man
VII. Darrel of the Blessed Isles
VIII. Dust of Diamonds in the Hour-glass
IX. Drove and Drovers
X. An Odd Meeting
XI. The Old Rag Doll
XII. The Santa Claus of Cedar Hill
XIII. A Christmas Adventure
XIV. A Day at the Linley Schoolhouse
XV. The Tinker at Linley School
XVI. A Rustic Museum
XVII. An Event in the Rustic Museum
XVIII. A Day of Difficulties
XIX. Amusement and Learning
XX. At the Theatre of the Woods
XXI. Robin's Inn
XXII. Comedies of Field and Dooryard
XXIII. A New Problem
XXIV. Beginning the Book of Trouble
XXV. The Spider Snares
XXVI. The Coming of the Cars
XXVII. The Rare and Costly Cup
XXVIII. Darrel at Robin's Inn
XXIX. Again the Uphill Road
XXX. Evidence
XXXI. A Man Greater than his Trouble
XXXII. The Return of Thurst Tilly
XXXIII. The White Guard
XXXIV. More Evidence
XXXV. At the Sign of the Golden Spool
XXXVI. The Law's Approval
XXXVII. The Return of Santa Claus

DARREL OF THE BLESSED ISLES

Prelude

Yonder up in the hills are men and women, white-haired, who love to
tell of that time when the woods came to the door-step and God's
cattle fed on the growing corn. Where, long ago, they sowed their
youth and strength, they see their sons reaping, but now, bent with
age, they have ceased to gather save in the far fields of memory.
Every day they go down the long, well-trodden path and come back
with hearts full. They are as children plucking the meadows of
June. Sit with them awhile, and they will gather for you the
unfading flowers of joy and love--good sir! the world is full of
them. And should they mention Trove or a certain clock tinker that
travelled from door to door in the olden time, send your horse to
the stable and God-speed them!--it is a long tale, and you may
listen far into the night.

"See the big pines there in the dale yonder?" some one will ask.
"Well, Theron All