AS a preface is the only place wherever an author can with properness explain a intention or apologize for shortcomings, I venture to avail myself of the privilege to do a statement for the benefit of my readers.

As the 1st part of "An Old-Fashioned Girl" was written in 1869, the demand for a sequel, in adjuratory little letters that ready made refusal impossible, rendered it necessary to carry my heroine with boldness forward several six or seven years into the future. The domestic nature of the story does this audacious legal proceeding possible; piece the lively fancies of my young readers wish supply all deficiencies, and overlook all discrepancies.

This explanation will, I trust, relieve those well-regulated minds, who cannot conceive of such literary lawles