First Edition printed 1861 (dated 1862). Reprintea with corrections, and Index added, February, 1862. Reprinted with corrections, 1863, Reprinted 1866, 1871, 1874, 1877, 1879. March and August, 1882, 1884, 1891, 1892, 1895, 1899. latter cla lessened an unkno beauty, b seen an the less nothing amuse PREFACE lume will, I hope, be found to cony all the genuine poetry in our laned to please children,-of and from t which they have usually learned in common with grown people. A on this plan has, I believe, never en made, although the value of the eems clear. - applied, in every instance, in the election, has been that of having eased intelligent children; and my been to make a book which shall 1 no more nor less than a book of od poetry is to intelligent grown The charm of such a book to the of readers is rather increased than y the surmised existence in it of n amount of power, meaning and yond that which is at once to be children will not like this volume ecause, though containing little or hich will not at once please and m, it also contains much, the full b excellence of which they may not as yet be able to understand. The application of the practical test above mentioned has excluded nearly all verse written expressly for children, and most of the poetry written about children for grown people. Hence, the absence of several well-known pieces, which some persons who examine this volume may be surprised at not finding in it. I have taken the liberty of omitting portions of a few poems, which would else have been too long or otherwise unsuitable for the collection; and, in a very few instances, I have ventured to substitute a word or a phrase, when that of the author has made the piece in which it occurs unfit for children's reading. The abbreviations I have been compelled to make in the "Ancient Mariner," in order to bring that poem within the limits of this collection, are so considerable as to require particular mention and apology. No translations have been inserted but such as, by their originality of style and modification of detail, are entitled to stand as original poems. COVENTRY PATMORE. IN arking sound t 4 perlons life, a abon Ben Adhen what can ail At fell upon a A in the sunshi 4 dead of night end all ye w dore the stout Beside the Mol Cear had the d Case by the th Come dear chil Come listen to Come live with Come unto the |