eals with "Walter's Apprenticeship."

A good deal of the flax, or silk, of his Chinaman's pigtail, to use
Dekker's form of expression, I have unraveled as being extraneous
matter. However, despite these omissions, it is quite possible that
some very sensitive person may still find objectionable allusions in
the book. If so, I must refer that one to the shade of Multatuli. From
his own admission his shoulders were evidently broad; and, no doubt,
they will be able to bear the additional strain.

Hubert Evans.

New York City,
November, 1904.

CONTENTS

Page

Chapter I

The origin of the story: regarding poetry, incurable love,
false hair, and the hero of the story--The dangers of fame and
the advantage of the upper shelf--The Chinaman's pigtail, and
the collar of humanity 1

Chapter II

An Italian robber on the "Buitensingel" in Amsterdam--The bitter
suffering of the virtuous Amalia--Wax candles, the palisades of
morality--The cunning of the little Hallemans--The limitations
of space 9

Chapter III

The difference between a sugar bowl and a Bible--Leentje's virtues
and defects--An unfounded suspicion against Pennewip's honor 18

Chapter IV

The profound silence of Juffrouw Laps--Stoffel's sermon--Walter's
fidelity to Glorioso--The last king of Athens--Ruined stomachs
and bursted ear-drums 24

Chapter V

How one may become a great man--The cleverness of
M'sieu Millaire--Versifying and the art of classifying
everything--Hobby-horses 27

Chapter VI

Preparations for a party--The assignment of roles--The conflict
between wishing and being--Some tricks of fancy--The two
sawmills--Amalia and the ducks 34

Chapter VII

Poetry and wigs--The vexation and despair of the latter 42

Chapter VIII

A tea-evening, and how it began--Some gaps in the author's
knowledge--Stoffel's zoological joke--The cause of the last Punic
war--And the advantage of smoking 48

Chapter IX

Echoes of the last Punic war--The defeat of