slead the reader.

But, Mr. Mayor, I hope you will pardon the egotism of these
remarks; for I did not prepare myself to say what I have said, and
I was rather surprised into it by your mention of my book name.

With the same apology to my readers of the present day for reproducing
this speech, and for saying so much about myself, I wish to allow a
young gentleman to state the influence upon himself of these books. He
is the son of a distinguished literary man whose works live after him,
and who was for several years United States Consul at Glasgow and
Edinburgh. I insert here the young man's letter, which I received in
Florence, Italy, in 1870.

BOSTON, _Sept._ 9, 1870.

MR. ADAMS:

_Dear Sir_,--I heard some one remark the other day, that, however
high a man might stand in the estimation of his fellow-men, there
would be times when it would be pleasant for him to know that he
had been of some especial benefit to one or more individuals. The
remark reminded me of you, and of the immense advantage which your
writings had been to me; and I thought that possibly it might give
you pleasure to know that to you--together with a good mother's
judicious management--I owe all my taste for reading.

Until I was about ten years of age, I perfectly detested the idea
of taking a book into my hands. At about this time my mother
procured "Poor and Proud," which she commenced reading to me; and
finding me a good deal interested, she contrived to stop reading at
one of the most interesting points in the story, when, giving me
the book, she said that perhaps I would like to read on and see
what came next. And I read on and on, becoming more and more
interested in the story, until I had finished the book. Seeing me
interested in your works, others were procured for me; and in
reading those I often met with something which would rouse in me a
desire to read history, until at last a taste for reading was
formed, which a lifetime will not gratify. Thus you see I have
especial reason for gratitude that you should ever have written
stories for boys. Not that I believe myself to be the only one, but
one of the many who have been benefited in the same way.

Hoping that you may find your visit to the Old World both pleasant
and profitable, and wishing you a safe return, I remain, sir,