Uncle Joe's Stories

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Uncle Joe's Stories, by Edward Hugessen Knatchbull-Hugesson, First Baron Brabourne, Illustrated by Ernest Griset
Front. ZAC WINS THE PIG-RACE.—P. 57
BY THE RIGHT HON.
E. H. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN, M.P.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY ERNEST GRISET
LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL NEW YORK: 416 BROOME STREET 1879
(IF THERE BE ANY SUCH LEFT IN ENGLAND)
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
My dear Children—
Yes—you are dear, and will be very dear to your parents and friends if you continue to be naughty. I dedicate this little book to you because I have been told (though it is scarcely possible to believe it) that I was once a naughty child myself. If it be true, it was a very long time ago; and then there were not nearly so many pretty children's books as there are now, so I had not the same chance as you have of knowing how much best it is to be good. As soon as I found this out, I began to be good directly, and now I advise you all to do the same.
Whilst you are thinking how to manage it, you cannot do better than read a few stories about Fairies, Pigmies, Witches, and such-like interesting creatures. In these stories you will find that the good people always come out right at last, and the naughty people get into the most disagreeable scrapes. Well, this is just the same with creatures who are not Fairies nor Pigmies, nor anything of the sort. So as soon as you have read these stories—or even before doing so if you can—leave off being naughty and be good as fast as possible. By so doing you will make everybody about you happy, will become more and more happy yourselves, and will show that Fairy stories are really of some use. In this case we must have another book next year, and meanwhile I remain your affectionate friend,
E. H. Knatchbull-Hugessen.