ENTERED according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven, by WILLIAM BRIGGS, at the Department of Agriculture. PREFACE. THIS little book has been written for the purpose of inspiring young persons with a love for literature, and of giving them some direction regarding the books that may be read with profit. Many boys and girls have a craving for knowledge, and would read a great many valuable works if they only had the chance. Persons who have lived all their lives in an atmosphere of good books may be slow to realize the lack of reading matter that prevails in many homes. Frequently only a small amount of any kind of literature that would stimulate mental growth is to be found in the houses of even well-to-do classes. In rural districts especially, where public libraries are not available, children are often intellectually starved. It is unfortunately also true that the books read by many persons are far from being of a high order. Apart from the harm to intelligence and morals which is caused by a certain kind of literature, there is a lamentable amount of time wasted in reading what is only third or fourth rate in character. This condition is not due to any inability to buy good books; for, as a matter of fact, the writings of first-class authors are generally less expensive than the light and ephemeral works which satisfy so many readers. This defect, which is partly the result of bad early training, prevails in all quarters, in spite of the |