INTRODUCTION. THIS little volume forms the first of a series intended chiefly for youthful readers. It has a slight degree of connexion with a preceding small workTHE DIVERSIONS OF HOLLYCot, or the Mother's ART OF THINKING. Each of the volumes is, however, complete in itself; and they are held together merely by unity of sentiment and design, and by some of the characters introduced into the first little book being further developed as actors or story-tellers at the ROUND TABLE. The Tales and Conversations which form the present volume, are intended for readers of a more advanced age than such as may find amusement and instruction in the Chapters of Hollycot. In some of the stories, to which, for want of any known English name, I affix the title, BIOGRAPHICAL TALES, in adapting the story to my purpose, a slight degree of license is taken with unimportant facts, though not nearly to the extent allowed in the historical novel. In the Tale of THE THREE WESTMINSTER Boys, it is probable that the acquaintance I assume as existing between two of the school-fellows did not commence till a few years afterwards, when William and Edward were students in the Temple. In the Biographical Tale of THE TWO SCOTTISH WILLIAMS, which is to form part of the volume that appears next in the series, the history of the eminent individuals is strictly adhered to in every important point; and I would fall far short of my aim in conveying an impressive lesson, if the very letter as well as the spirit of the Tale were not in exact consonance with the truth, and if the young reader were not absolutely assured that they were living men, of whom he is told, and that such were their real sentiments, and such their actual doings throughout an illustrious career. It is needless to state how far some of the other Tales, which seem the least probable, are founded on fact. It will be better that they be found useful and interesting. EDINBURGH, November 1831. CONTENTS. The Second Series of NIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE will con- NIGHTS OF THE ROUND-TABLE. MISS HARDING'S TALE. WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL. SINCE it is my chance to tell the first story, (said Miss Jane Harding, on whom it may be remembered by the readers of the DIVERSIONS OF HOLLYCOT, the lot had fallen,) I should like to follow the most approved method of story-tellers, whether Mother Bunch, Scheherazade, or Lady Bluemantle; and as it is alleged that a story goes better off when the audience know something of the speaker, I must beg to say a little about myself, WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL. I assure you my own adventures though not very romantic, are, I have been told by my young auditors, very interesting; which can only be, I modestly imagine, from their truth in real life. A |