PREFACE.

Being forbidden to write anything at present I have collected various waifs and strays¹ to appease² the young people who clamor for more, forgetting that mortal³ brains need rest.

As many girls have asked to see what sort of tales Jo March wrote at the beginning of her career, I have added “The Baron’s Gloves,” as a sample of the romantic rubbish which paid so well once upon a time. If it shows them what not to write it will not have been rescued from oblivion in vain.
L. M. ALCOTT.

1 strays   

v.走失( stray的第三人称单数 )；偏离正题；走入歧途；（已婚者或有固定关系者）有外遇

参考例句：

• There are lots of waifs and strays living on the streets here. 这里有很多露宿街头的无家可归者。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• My wife is always inviting various waifs and strays from work to our house.She seems to attract them. 我妻子总是邀请公司里各种各样的单身男女到家中作客，他们很愿意和她交往。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

3 mortal   

adj.终有一死的，致命的，不共戴天的；n.人

参考例句：

• He received a mortal wound soon after the battle began.战争开始后不久，他就受到了致命的重伤。
• They are our mortal enemies.他们是我们不共戴天的仇敌。