It is not easy to give _rewards_ to children which shall not indirectly do them harm by fostering some hurtful taste or passion. In the story of “Lazy Lawrence,” where the object was to excite a spirit of industry, care has been taken to proportion the reward to the exertion, and to demonstrate that people feel cheerful and happy whilst they are employed. The reward of our industrious boy, though it be money, is only money considered as the means of gratifying a benevolent wish. In a commercial nation it is especially necessary to separate, as much as possible, the spirit of industry and avarice; and to beware lest we introduce Vice under the form of Virtue. In the story of “Tarlton and Loveit” are represented the danger and the folly of that weakness of mind, and that easiness to be led, which too often pass for good nature; and in the tale of the “False Key” are pointed out some of the evils to which a well educated boy, on first going to service, is exposed from the profligacy of his fellow servants. In the “Birthday Present,” and in the character of Mrs. Theresa Tattle, the “Parent’s Assistant” has pointed out the dangers which may arise in education from a bad servant, or a common acquaintance. In the “Barring Out” the errors to which a high spirit and the love of party are apt to lead have been made the subject of correction, and it is hoped that the common fault of making the most mischievous characters appear the most _active_ and the most ingenious, has been as much as possible avoided. _Unsuccessful_ cunning will not be admired, and cannot induce imitation. It has been attempted, in these stories, to provide antidotes against ill-humour, the epidemic rage for dissipation, and the fatal propensity to admire and imitate whatever the fashion of the moment may distinguish. Were young people, either in public schools, or in private families, absolutely free from bad examples, it would not be advisable to introduce despicable and vicious characters in books intended for their improvement. But in real life they _must_ see vice, and it is best that they should be early shocked with the representation of what they are to avoid. There is a great deal of difference between innocence and ignorance. To prevent the precepts of morality from tiring the ear and the mind, it was necessary to make the stories in which they are introduced in some measure dramatic; to keep alive hope and fear and curiosity, by some degree of intricacy. At the same time, care has been taken to avoid inflaming the imagination, or exciting a restless spirit of adventure, by exhibiting false views of life, and creating hopes which, in the ordinary course of things, cannot be realized. CONTENTS.