Since “Little Ferns” was published, I havehad many letters, and messages, from littlechildren all over the country, asking me“to write them soon another little book ofstories.” Here is one that I have preparedfor you and them: I hope you will like it;for some of you, it will be too young a book;for some of you, too old; those for whom itis too young, will perhaps read it to littlebrothers and sisters; those for whom it is tooold now, can look at the pictures and learnto read, little by little, by spelling out thewords in the stories. I call it “The Play-DayivBook;” because I made it to read whenyou are out of school, and want to be amused.If, while you are looking only for amusement,you should happen to find instruction,so much the better.