PREFACE.

One day while sitting in my garden at my country-seat in New York State, from which, by looking at the title, you will see I have a fine view of the high bridge across the Harlem River, one of my favorite little granddaughters came running to me, just as I had seated myself in my old garden-seat, and earnestly begged me to again read her book to her. But, as I thought she had heard those stories so often, I supposed she would like to hear some new ones much better, so I related to her two or three. With these, and with others that I told her during the holydays which she was spending with me, she was so much pleased, that I thought my numerous juvenile¹ friends throughout the country would also like to possess[iv] them. I have accordingly collected them into a volume, which my publishers have made very attractive by the addition of twenty-eight beautiful engravings; and it is now offered as a Christmas and New Year’s Present, to amuse and instruct you, by your friend,

Grandfather Merryman.

Philadelphia, December, 1848.

1 juvenile   

n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的

参考例句：

• For a grown man he acted in a very juvenile manner.身为成年人，他的行为举止显得十分幼稚。
• Juvenile crime is increasing at a terrifying rate.青少年犯罪正在以惊人的速度增长。