PREFACE.

HERE, Reader, is our First Book of FAMILY PASTIME. May it prove a more lively Pastime to you than it has to us, for, in truth, we have found NO JOKE in the necessity for wading through a great mass of competitive compositions, having to weigh each and all with scrupulous care, and with a due regard to the just distribution of the prizes which had allured so many intelligent and ingenious people into the field.

We have done our BEST for the public, and our wORST for ourselves; for at the moment we write, we are so overcome with fatigue and depression, that the finest joint of Christmas beef could scarcely allure. us; and the best pudding would be, to our physical stomach, quite as indigestible as some of the profound enigmas in the present work will be found by the mental faculties of many who may endeavour to solve them. We hope, however, for a mental and bodily revival before the time of festivity comes, when, no doubt, we shall be " up and doing." Whatever our own fate may be, we heartily wish our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Some persons may question the propriety of our withholding the publication of the SOLUTIONS TO FAMILY PASTIME until a month after its first part has been in circulation. We are anxious, however, to show that we can 66 keep secrets" with uncommon integrity; and not before the appointed time, to anybody, or in any shape, will we say one word upon what "this, that, or the other " may mean. Moreover, we are persuaded that greater interest, mirth, and instruction will result from our withholding the Solutions for a time. For the interest of an enigma or conundrum is much diminished by an immediate and unsought-for solution. The Enigmatical department will be found highly instructive. We do not hesitate to say that the man who could solve all the problems, wrapped up in their mystic rhyme, must be a philosopher of no common. order.

We advise our friends to go systematically through the work, and to dot down their surmisings of as many of the answers, in general and in detail, as they can possibly think of. Then, when the Solutions. appear, the comparison of their notes with the printed answers will afford a capital evening's entertainment.

It occurred to us, late in the period of our labours, that an ephemeral Christmas Story, preceding the Enigmatical parts of the work, would be well received by everybody. Accordingly, we gave willing place to the story of JEANNOT, which will be found as great an Enigma as anything else in the book. In fact, greater-for every reader will have to form his own opinion upon the problem, whether Jeannot married the Ladybird, the Cricket, or the Spider. We have no solution to offer. We feel that we could have been

66 happy with either,

Were t'other dear charmer away!"

A great mass of manuscripts lies in the Editor's hands, and will be used from time to time in the pages of The Family Friend. We hope that no competitor will feel disappointed. We feel conscious of having discharged our duty with strict impartiality; and we believe that the amount of prizes awarded will greatly exceed the sum originally offered.

Many of the "Fire-side Games" sent in for competition appeared to the Editor more "Educational Exercises," than as lively games. as This will explain why the offerings of many contributors to this department remain with nothing more than this notice.

We hope that this BOOK OF PASTIME may be found acceptable, and that it may contribute to make many "homes happy " during the dark cold. months of winter. Ambition and Love lead us to desire that we may publish a similar Book for the Christmas of '51-2-with many improvements, which a select corps of contributors, and the experience of the present publication, will enable us to effect.

65, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON,

December 21, 1850.

FAMILY PASTIME.

JEANNOT:

A FAIRY STORY FOR THE CHRISTMAS TIME.

(Translated from the French)

THERE was once a rich merchant, who had an only son, a most amiable youth, but of a very remarkable simplicity of mind: his father was anxious to put him to some business, but the boy found none to his taste, and as for being a merchant, he was less fitted for that than for any other occupation. He had no idea of the care of money; he never could comprehend its value, and willingly gave all he possessed to his companions, a plaything being far more precious to him than a piece of gold. ÎHis father in despair predicted he would one day die of want, and sometimes he went so far as to chastise him unmercifully, when his friends and neighbours were obliged to interfere, and flattered him with the hope that his son would become wiser as he grew older: childhood passed away, but wisdom came not with increasing years.

One day the merchant called his son, and thus addressed him, "Jeannot, it is time at length that you should do something; it is my wish that you should one day succeed me, therefore you must forthwith commence to learn my business. Here are a hundred crowns, take them; a fair will be held in the next town to morrow, go and purchase me some fine cloth with the money, and try to show me you can trade well, for I am thoroughly ashamed of you." "Father," said Jeannot, "I promise you shall be satisfied with me, and that I will never make you blush for me any more." May it be so, my dear child! go, and do not loiter on the way, as you are wont to do."

66

Jeannot set out with a firm resolution of showing himself worthy of his father. His way lay through a wood, in the middle of which he beheld seated near a fountain a beautiful lady, absorbed in contemplating something which she held in her open hand. As Jeannot approached nearer, he saw it was a lady-bird, standing on its hind-legs, holding a tiny guitar, and playing exquisitely enough to excite the jealousy of a Spaniard. The