WHO among the readers of this preface has not been invited to write a
few words of sentiment in the Album of a friend? As an aid to the many
thousands who have received this invitation, and have not known what to
write, we offer this collection of choice verse and prose, as an aid to
them and all others, with the hope that our labor shall not have been
spent in vain, nor be altogether unappreciated. Great care has been
taken to procure as many _original pieces_ as possible. Many choice
verses suitable for Birthday, Christmas and New-Year celebrations, have
been added; which, with the collection of articles embracing sentiment,
affection, humor, and miscellany, is offered to a generous public by