Front Matter

The Preface

I N an old, old house, tucked away among huge magnolias and wide-spreading apple trees, there was once a kindergarten—such a happy, happy kindergarten, echoing with child laughter throughout the whole day. Now, the children in this kindergarten believed in stories—they wanted them every day—and if you wished to please them very much, you would begin something like this:—

"Once upon a time there was a little boy, and his name was Boy Blue. And just across the street from him was a little girl, and her name was Polly Flinders. And they both lived in Mother Goose Village. And——"

It was then, if you glanced around the circle, you would see broad smiles on all the faces, and every pair of eyes resting eagerly on your own.

"Yes, yes," they would stop to tell you. "We know Mother Goose. We have seen Boy Blue's picture and Polly Flinders', too, and ever so many others in our book at home—Peter Piper's, Jack Sprat's, Tommy Tucker's, Bo-Peep's, and all the rest."

Dear old Mother Goose of world-wide fame! Through the fascination which ever clings about your name we are sure to gather inspiration for a story and hasten on, having gained, in the beginning, interest —the one great aim in all education.

It is then you may safely usher in your nature lesson, for the Crooked Man stands guard. It is then you may follow cotton and wool from field to loom; Bo-Peep is there. It is then the loaf of bread may be traced through its wonderful chain of interdependence—to end in Tommy Tucker's supper. It is then you may hold Truth up as something dazzling and beautiful—or God as love itself. It is then such qualities as economy, thrift, perseverance, generosity, and honor may be clothed in robes royal, for the children are listening,—blessings on thee, Mother Goose!

The days sped fast in the old house among the trees, and with them the stories grew, until by and by, through the suggestion of a friend, they were gathered together in this little book, with the hope that both children and teachers in other schools might find the sunshine scattered through its pages.

The story of Little Miss Muffet's Valentine is included through the courtesy of the Kindergarten Magazine.

MADGE A. BIGHAM.

Atlanta, Ga.