THE FRIENDLY CRAFT A COLLECTION OF AMERICAN LETTERS EDITED BY ELIZABETH DEERING HANSCOM, PH.D. PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH IN SMITH COLLEGE New York THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1909 All rights reserved COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. Set up and electrotyped. Published November, 1908. Reprinted 143336 JUN 17 1910 Y 9419 To L. D. H. AND THE MEMORY OF G. A. H. I DEDICATE THIS BOOK ON THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR MARRIAGE PREFACE THIS Collection represents the gleanings of several years in some of the pleasant by-paths of American literature. Personal considerations have so frequently determined the selection that no defence can be offered against criticism. The reflection of a bit of bygone life, an odd or whimsical view of a situation, a swift and unconscious revelation of character, often merely the happy or individual turn of a phrase, these and causes as slight have governed choice; while for no graver reasons other far weightier and perhaps worthier material has been rejected. Yet personal choice alone did not control; many letters that I wished to include are not here because of the impossibility of securing the copyright privilege. To many librarians in many places I am grateful for patient and cheerful attention, and I am glad of this opportunity to express my appreciation of services without which the student's task would indeed be overwhelming. In particular, I would record the indebtedness of many years to the librarians of the Smith College Library and of the Forbes Library of Northampton, Mass. One more debt — and that the largest must be acknowledged. From the first suggestion of this collection until the reading of the last page of proof, I have been aided constantly by my mother; and had my wish prevailed, her name would have stood on the title-page. To the editors and publishers who have courteously granted the use of material from their publications, I offer my sincere thanks. It is a pleasure to express my grati |