THE LITTLE PEOPLE.

A DREARY place would be this earth,
Were there no little people in it;
The song of life would lose its mirth,
Were there no children to begin it;

No little forms, like buds to grow,

And make the admiring heart surrender;

No little hands on breast and brow,

To keep the thrilling love-chords tender.

The sterner souls would grow more stern, Unfeeling nature more inhuman,

And man to stoic coldness turn,

And woman would be less than woman.

Life's song, indeed, would lose its charm,
Were there no babies to begin it;
A doleful place this world would be,
Were there no little people in it.

NOTE BY THE PUBLISHERS,

N presenting this edition of the charming collection made by

IN

Mr. Whittier, the publishers have to tender their grateful acknowledgments to the numerous authors and publishers whose kind and cordial permission in copyright matters has made the publication possible. To enumerate the authors would simply be to repeat the names of all the living writers which are given in the contents.

Amongst publishers, however, (whose names cannot otherwise appear,) special thanks are due to Messrs. W. Isbister and Co.; Messrs. George Routledge and Sons, and David Robertson, Esq. Glasgow, for their friendly co-operation in the matter.