Advertisement. THESE Tales, of which the present volume includes the four first, have for their purpose the combining of instruction with amusement, in such a manner, as, along with the moral, or the elements of the particular species of knowledge, meant to be conveyed, to impart a taste for improvement and for useful learning in general, and create in the young reader both a sense of their importance, and a desire for their farther acquisition... How early these objects may be prosecuted in the cultivation of the youthful mind, these tales, it is believed, will afford an opportunity of shewing and their cheapness, united to their obvious utility, cannot, it is hoped, fail to introduce them to the notice of all, who, as heads of families, or of seminaries for educating the rising generation, must be impressed with the necessity of occasionally varying instruction with entertainment, and conscious of the advantage to be derived from making the entertainment itself conducive to instruction. INTRODUCTION. THE populous village to which we shall give the name of Muchlore, in Essex, is pleasantly situated on the confines of a green, descending a gently-sloping hill, at the foot of which meanders through a narrow dell, a small river. It was formerly a place of some importance, as has appeared from vestiges of an ancient castle and a palace, said to have been built by king John, a traditional remembrance of which is still preserved by some of the old inhabitants of the village. Immediately surrounding the green, stand the houses of the gentry of the place, with some cottages of the labouring poor intermixed; and on one side, rendered particularly conspicuous by its long white front, and some elm trees which shade without concealing it, is Mr. Osgood's academy. The situation of the school-house is known, also, at a very considerable distance, to those acquainted with Essex scenery, by means of a number of remarkably lofty poplars which ornament the grounds behind it, as well as by the tower of the village church, which is almost equally contiguous. From an elevation, surmounted by a wind-mill, on the opposite side of the river already mentioned, the green, with the buildings around it, and the market-cross or ancient court-house standing centrically at the upper end, groupes of pupils at play, the tower, and school-house, with the noble poplars which embosom it, form an interesting scene; particularly on a still fine summer's evening, when the various sounds of merriment and laughter from the youths, and the hum of the villagers, retiring homeward from their labours, and chatting together, with their implements of industry upon |