{"product_id":"2940013522183","title":"MELCHIOR'S DREAM \u0026 OTHER TALES","description":"CONTENTS.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    MELCHIOR'S DREAM\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    THE BLACKBIRD'S NEST\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    FRIEDRICH'S BALLAD\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    A BIT OF GREEN\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    MONSIEUR THE VISCOUNT'S FRIEND\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    THE YEW-LANE GHOSTS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    A BAD HABIT\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    A HAPPY FAMILY\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEDITOR'S PREFACE.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is always a memorable era in a mother's life when she first\u003cbr\u003eintroduces a daughter into society. Many things contribute to make it\u003cbr\u003eso; among which is the fact of the personal blessing to herself, in\u003cbr\u003ehaving been permitted to see the day--to have been spared, that is, to\u003cbr\u003ewatch over her child in infancy, and now to see her entering life upon\u003cbr\u003eher own account.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut a more uncommon privilege is the one granted to me on the present\u003cbr\u003eoccasion, of introducing a daughter into the literary world; and the\u003cbr\u003efeelings of pride and pleasure it calls forth, are certainly not less\u003cbr\u003epowerful than those created by the commoner occurrence. It is my\u003cbr\u003ecomfort also to add that these are not overclouded by any painful\u003cbr\u003eanxiety or misgiving. There may be differences of opinion as to the\u003cbr\u003eprecise amount of literary merit in these tales; but viewed as the\u003cbr\u003efirst productions of a young author, they are surely full of promise;\u003cbr\u003ewhile their whole tone and aim is so unmistakably high, that even\u003cbr\u003ethose who criticize the style will be apt to respect the writer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI ought here to express a hope that it will not be thought\u003cbr\u003epresumptuous on my part, to undertake the office of introduction. I\u003cbr\u003ebeg it to be understood that I address myself especially to those\u003cbr\u003ereaders who have (I speak it with deep gratitude and pleasure)\u003cbr\u003elistened kindly and favourably to me for several years past, and who\u003cbr\u003ewill, I trust, be no less well disposed towards my daughter's\u003cbr\u003ewritings.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo them also it may be interesting to know, that in the \"J.H.G.\" of\u003cbr\u003e\"Melchior's Dream,\" etc., they will find the original of my own\u003cbr\u003eportrait of \"Aunt Judy.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut I have still something more to say: another little bit of\u003cbr\u003egratification to express. What one sister has written, another has\u003cbr\u003eillustrated by her pencil; a cause of double thankfulness in my heart\u003cbr\u003eto Him from whom all good gifts come.","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47079641678064,"sku":"2940013522183","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013522183_p0.jpg?v=1763581948","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013522183","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}