Publisher's Synopsis
The Editor thinks that children will readily forgive him for publishing another Fairy Book. Wehave had the Blue, the Red, the Green, and here is the Yellow. If children are pleased, and they areso kind as to say that they are pleased, the Editor does not care very much for what other peoplemay say. Now, there is one gentleman who seems to think that it is not quite right to print so manyfairy tales, with pictures, and to publish them in red and blue covers. He is named Mr. G. LaurenceGomme, and he is president of a learned body called the Folk Lore Society. Once a year he makeshis address to his subjects, of whom the Editor is one, and Mr. Joseph Jacobs (who has publishedmany delightful fairy tales with pretty pictures)(1) is another. Fancy, then, the dismay of Mr. Jacobs, and of the Editor, when they heard their president say that he did not think it very nice in them topublish fairy books, above all, red, green, and blue fairy books! They said that they did not see anyharm in it, and they were ready to 'put themselves on their country, ' and be tried by a jury ofchildren. And, indeed, they still see no harm in what they have done; nay, like Father William in thepoem, they are ready 'to do it again and again.'(1) You may buy them from Mr. Nutt, in the Strand.Where is the harm? The truth is that the Folk Lore Society-made up of the most clever, learned, and beautiful men and women of the country-is fond of studying the history and geography ofFairy Land. This is contained in very old tales, such as country people tell, and savages: 'Little Sioux and little Crow, Little frosty Esk
