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ophetic dreams to which the dreamer himself did not yield a waking credence。 Children are now the only representatives of the men and women of that happy era； and therefore it is that we must raise the intellect and fancy to the level of childhood； in order to re…create the original myths。
I let the youthful author talk as much and as extravagantly as he pleased； and was glad to see him commencing life with such confidence in himself and his performances。 A few years will do all that is necessary towards showing him the truth in both respects。 Meanwhile； it is but right to say； he does really appear to have overcome the moral objections against these fables； although at the expense of such liberties with their structure as must be left to plead their own excuse； without any help from me。 Indeed； except that there was a necessity for itand that the inner life of the legends cannot be come at save by making them entirely one's own propertythere is no defense to be made。
Eustace informed me that he had told his stories to the children in various situationsin the woods； on the shore of the lake； in the dell of Shadow Brook； in the playroom； at Tanglewood fireside； and in a magnificent palace of snow； with ice windows； which he helped his little friends to build。 His auditors were even more delighted with the contents of the present volume than with the specimens which have already been given to the world。 The classically learned Mr。 Pringle； too； had listened to two or three of the tales； and censured them even more bitterly than he did THE THREE GOLDEN APPLES； so that； what with praise； and what with criticism； Eustace Bright thinks that there is good hope of at least as much success with the public as in the case of the 〃WonderBook。〃
I made all sorts of inquiries about the children； not doubting that there would be great eagerness to hear of their welfare； among some good little folks who have written to me； to ask for another volume of myths。 They are all； I am happy to say （unless we except Clover）； in excellent health and spirits。 Primrose is now almost a young lady； and； Eustace tells me； is just as saucy as ever。 She pretends to consider herself quite beyond the age to be interested by such idle stories as these； but； for all that； whenever a story is to be told； Primrose never fails to be one of the listeners； and to make fun of it when finished。 Periwinkle is very much grown； and is expected to shut up her baby house and throw away her doll in a month or two more。 Sweet Fern has learned to read and write； and has put on a jacket and pair of pantaloonsall of which improvements I am sorry for。 Squash Blossom； Blue Eye； Plantain； and Buttercup have had the scarlet fever； but came easily through it。 Huckleberry； Milkweed； and Dandelion were attacked with the whooping cough； but bore it bravely； and kept out of doors whenever the sun shone。 Cowslip； during the autumn； had either the measles； or some eruption that looked very much like it； but was hardly sick a day。 Poor Clover has been a good deal troubled with her second teeth； which have made her meagre in aspect and rather fractious in temper； nor； even when she smiles； is the matter much mended； since it discloses a gap just within her lips； almost as wide as the barn door。 But all this will pass over； and it is predicted that she will turn out a very pretty girl。
As for Mr。 Bright himself； he is now in his senior year at Williams College； and has a prospect of graduating with some degree of honorable distinction at the next Commencement。 In his oration for the bachelor's degree； he gives me to understand； he will treat of the classical myths； viewed in the aspect of baby stories； and has a great mind to discuss the expediency of using up the whole of ancient history； for the same purpose。 I do not know what he means to do with himself after leaving college； but trust that； by dabbling so early with the dangerous and seductive business of authorship； he will not bc tempted to become an author by profession。 If so I shall be very sorry for the little that I have had to do with the matter； in encouraging these first beginnings。
I wish there were any likelihood of my soon seeing Primrose； Periwinkle； Dandelion； Sweet Fern； Clover Plantain； Huckleberry； Milkweed； Cowslip； Buttercup； Blue Eye； and Squash Blossom again。 But as I do not know when I shall re…visit Tanglewood； and as Eustace Bright probably will not ask me to edit a third 〃WonderBook；〃 the public of little folks must not expect to hear any more about those dear children from me。 Heaven bless them； and everybody else； whether grown people or children！
THE MINOTAUR。
In the old city of Troezene； at the foot of a lofty mountain； there lived； a very long time ago； a little boy named Theseus。 His grandfather； King Pittheus； was the sovereign of that country； and was reckoned a very wise man； so that Theseus； being brought up in the royal palace； and being naturally a bright lad； could hardly fail of profiting by the old king's instructions。 His mother's name was Aethra。 As for his father； the boy had never seen him。 But； from his earliest remembrance； Aethra used to go with little Theseus into a wood； and sit down upon a moss…grown rock； which was deeply sunken into the earth。 Here she often talked with her son about his father； and said that he was called Aegeus； and that he was a great king； and ruled over Attica； and dwelt at Athens； which was as famous a city as any in the world。 Theseus was very fond of hearing about King Aegeus； and often asked his good mother Aethra why he did not come and live with them at Troezene。
〃Ah； my dear son；〃 answered Aethra； with a sigh； 〃a monarch has his people to take care of。 The men and women over whom he rules are in the place of children to him； and he can seldom spare time to love his own children as other parents do。 Your father will never be able to leave his kingdom for the sake of seeing his little boy。〃
〃Well； but； dear mother；〃 asked the boy； 〃why cannot I go to this famous city of Athens； and tell King Aegeus that I am his son？〃
〃That may happen by and by；〃 said Aethra。 〃Be patient； and we shall see。 You are not yet big and strong enough to set out on such an errand。〃
〃And how soon shall I be strong enough？〃 Theseus persisted in inquiring。
〃You are but a tiny boy as yet；〃 replied his mother。 〃See if you can lift this rock on which we are sitting？〃
The little fellow had a great opinion of his own strength。 So； grasping the rough protuberances of the rock； he tugged and toiled amain； and got himself quite out of breath； without being able to stir the heavy stone。 It seemed to be rooted into the ground。 No wonder he could not move it； for it would have taken all the force of a very strong man to lift it out of its earthy bed。
His mother stood looking on； with a sad kind of a smile on her lips and in her eyes； to see the zealous and yet puny efforts of her little boy。 She could not help being sorrowful at finding him already so impatient to begin his adventures in the world。
〃You see how it is； my dear Theseus；〃 said she。 〃You must possess far more strength than now before I can trust you to go to Athens； and tell King Aegeus that you are his son。 But when you can lift this rock； and show me what is hidden beneath it； I promise you my permission to depart。〃
Often and often； after this； did Theseus ask his mother whether it was yet time for him to go to Athens； and still his mother pointed to the rock； and told him that； for years to come； he could not be strong enough to move it。 And again and again the rosy…checked and curly…headed boy would tug and strain at the huge mass of stone； striving； child as he was； to do what a giant could hardly have done without taking both of his great hands to the task。 Meanwhile the rock seemed to be sinking farther and farther into the ground。 The moss grew over it thicker and thicker； until at last it looked almost like a soft green seat； with only a few gray knobs of granite peeping out。 The overhanging trees； also； shed their brown leaves upon It； as often as the autumn came； and at its base grew ferns and wild flowers； some of which crept quite over its surface。 To all appearance； the rock was