Gay-Neck - 1 - Dhan Gopal Mukerji

Gay-Neck

First Printing	July, 1927
Fifth Printing	Dec., 1927
Tenth Printing	May, 1928
Fifteenth Printing	Oct., 1928
Seventeenth Printing	Jan., 1929
Eighteenth Printing	June, 1929
Nineteenth Printing	Nov., 1929
Twentieth Printing	Nov., 1929

Printed in the United States of America

This book was awarded the John Newbery Medal by the Children's Librarians' Section of the American Library Association, for the most distinguished contribution to American Children's literature during the year 1927.

By the same author

CASTE AND OUTCAST
MY BROTHER'S FACE
THE SECRET LISTENERS OF THE EAST
THE FACE OF SILENCE

Stories for Children

KARI THE ELEPHANT
JUNGLE BEASTS AND MEN
HARI THE JUNGLE LAD
GAY-NECK (The Story of a Pigeon)

Published by
E. P. DUTTON & CO., INC.

Dear Suresh:

Since Gay-Neck needs a protector I thought of you for several reasons. First of all being a poet, an observer of nature, and a traveller, you would be able to protect the book from being condemned. In fact, there is no one who can do it as well as yourself.

You know the country where Gay-Neck grew. You are versed in the lore of birds. For a pigeon, life is a repetition of two incidents: namely, quest of food and avoidance of attacks by its enemies. If the hero of the present book repeats his escapes from attacks by hawks, it is because that is the sort of mishap that becomes chronic in the case of pigeons.

Now as to my sources, you well know that they are too numerous to be mentioned here. Many hunters, poets like yourself, and books in many languages have helped me to write Gay-Neck. And if you will permit it, I hope to discharge at least a part of my debt by dedicating this book to one of my sources—yourself.

I remain most faithfully yours,
Dhan Gopal.