THERE is no doubt whatever but that every little girl and every little boy has heard of the country of Poland, and of its inhabitants the Polacks, or Poles, as you hear them more often spoken of. But there are countless numbers of these same children, I fear, who have not the slightest idea where Poland lies, except in a most vague way; nor how the people live, what they eat, what their pleasures and enjoyments are, and how they dress. Of course, you say at once, "Why, they eat the same things we do; every one eats meat and vegetables, and drinks milk or coffee," but right there you are mistaken. The nations of other lands do _not_ live as we do, for we are the most extravagant nation in the whole world; indeed, other peoples cannot afford to live like us, for most of them are extremely poor; so poor and ignorant, as applied to Polacks, that it would make your heart ache to see them in their homes; they know very little of happiness, and comfort is a thing unknown to them, except for the wealthy, landed class. But these Polish peasants never think of complaining of their lot. They accept it as their fate, to which they were born; and, with light hearts, they make the best of their surroundings and their holidays; and I believe they derive more real pleasure from their infrequent play-days than we are able to do every day in our blessed, happy lives. The story of Poland, like the story of every other nation, is not dry and dull. It is intensely interesting. It reads like a fairy-tale, and I am certain you will agree with me after you have finished this little volume. I can but hope it will give you a better and clearer understanding of the life of the Polacks, not only as to the rich, but to the poor. Contents CHAPTER PAGE PREFACE vii I. THE ORIGIN OF POLAND 1 II. THE ARRIVAL AT THE DWÓR 10 III. THE SENDING OF THE OPLATKI 23 IV. CHRISTMAS AT THE DWÓR 35 V. THE VISIT TO THE GAILY PAINTED COTTAGE 56 VI. CARNIVAL SEASON 77 VII. THE VILLAGE WEDDING 99 VIII. THE ORPHANAGE IN THE WOODS 111 IX. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE BROTHERS DISAGREED 124 X. THE HARVEST FESTIVAL 139 List of Illustrations PAGE MARYA OSTROWSKA _Frontispiece_ "HENRYK LEANED DOWN AND KISSED THE HAND OF THE LITTLE FELLOW" 14 "THE LITTLE ONES THREW QUANTITIES OF SMALL COINS" 49 "THE PROCESSION FORMED, THE MARCH BEGINS TO THE CHURCH" 79 "SHE WAS BUNDLED INTO THE VILLAGE CART" 103 "HER HEART WAS BEATING FASTER AND FASTER" 137 Our Little Polish Cousin