. The so-called engineering, ballooning,
cavemaking, sailing, and other operations, are so accurately
described by those words, that the manlike qualities, motives and
passions attributed to the actors seem almost natural. At one
moment I find myself accepting the representations as a matter of
course, and anticipating the conduct described on the very ground
of known natural habits. At another time I am startled at the
strong tone of human behavior that the descriptions so easily
admit. Certainly, this is something more than what the
naturalists have called "anthropomorphism." What is the
mysterious ligature that binds in this sympathy of movements the
sovereign will of immortal man and the automatic brain cell of a
spider?

Pardon me! it was not in my purpose to start so profound a
question of philosophy and physiology. I only meant to say that
the wishes of yourself and your Brownie acquaintances shall be
cheerfully granted, and the manuscript be given to the public.

I am, very truly,
Your Friend,
FIELDING MAYFIELD.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote A: Psalm lxxiv, 5.]

[Footnote B: Formica fusca.]

[Footnote C: In the little company referred to further on, to whom the
manuscript of this book was read, was a friend's lad, eight years old, a
visitor at the Old Farm. The Mistress noticed him during the intervals
of the readings busy with pencil and paper, amusing himself with such
drawings as children are wont to make. A number of these had been made
and thrown away ere it occurred to the good woman to call my attention
thereto. I was much surprised and delighted to find that the boy had
been engaged in illustrating the Brownie Book (as we then familiarly
called it). It was a good sign of the value of the work that it could
produce such an impression upon a child of his tender years. Moreover,
the rude figures were so apt and interesting to my own mind, that I
fancied others might be equally interested therein. "Why not print
them?" suggested the Mistress. And upon mature deliberation that is just
what I resolved to do. No one but a child could make such pictures. Let
the adult, however good an artist, try as much as he may, he could not
reproduce such drawings. Indeed the better the artist, the further would
he come from achievement. That children will take