The Project Gutenberg eBook, Second Book of Tales, by Eugene Field,
Illustrated by W. H. W. Bicknell

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Title: Second Book of Tales

Author: Eugene Field

Release Date: June 11, 2007 [eBook #21809]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SECOND BOOK OF TALES***

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The Works of Eugene Field

Vol. X

The Writings in Prose and Verse of Eugene Field

SECOND BOOK OF TALES

[Frontispiece: Eugene Field. Etched by W. H. W. Bicknell.]

Charles Scribner's Sons
New York
1911

Copyright, 1896, by
Julia Sutherland Field.

NOTE

The tales down to and including "The Werewolf" in this volume have been
selected from those which remained unpublished in book form at the time
of Mr. Field's death. It was also thought desirable to take from
"Culture's Garland," and to incorporate in this volume, such sketches
as seemed most likely to prove of permanent value and of interest as
illustrating Mr. Field's earlier manner; and these, eight in number,
form the latter part of the book.

INTRODUCTION

Of all American poets Field, it seems to me, best understood the heart
of a child. Other sweet singers have given us the homely life of the
Western cabin, the unexpected tenderness of the mountaineer, the
loyalty and quaint devotion of the negro servant, but to Field alone,
and in preeminent degree, was given that keen insight into child
nature, that compassion for its faults, that sympathy with its sorrows
and that delight in its joyous innocence which will endear him to his
race as long as our language is read.

His poems too always kindle afresh that spark of child-life which still
lies smouldering in the hearts of us all, no matter how poor and
sorrowful our beginnings. As we read, how the old memories come back
to us! Old ho