The secret of the hold which the stories of Dr. Macdonald have so long retained upon the youthful imagination is not a hard one to solve;—it is necessary to read but a few pages of his tales to realize that he understood the mind of the child and was heartily in sympathy with childhood's moods. The pure and tender spirit, the deep perception of human nature, and the earnest yet unobtrusive religious feeling, that were his chief characteristics, and that won him fame in many fields of literature, made him peculiarly fitted to write for children. He not only appeals to the child's imagination and innate sense of beauty, but seems to grasp and portray the vital relationship existing between the child and the great outer world of nature.

Few stories for children have afforded greater entertainment than "The Princess and Curdie"—moreover it has made its readers better for their acquaintance with it. Who of us is there who has had the good fortune to know it in childhood, but does not cherish its memory as one of the dearst of possessions? It is one of those few perennially fresh and attractive tales that have become the classics of childhood in our language—those tales whose memories remain with us through the years.

A year ago the publishers of this volume issued, in more attractive form than it had previously appeared, "The Princess and the Goblin." Dr. MacDonald had recently died, and the renewed interest in his work had supplied the motive. As the reception of this earlier book has been so favorable, they are encouraged to issue "The Princess and Curdie" also in a handsomer form merited by its long-continued popularity—for it first appeared as far back as 1882. They have therefore asked Miss Kirk to prepare a set of illustrations corresponding to those she furnished for the earlier tale, and they trust that in its new dress "The Princess and Curdie" will find favor with the children of those who enjoyed it a quarter of a century ago.

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