A man of the first eminence, in whose day (fortunately perhaps for me) I
was not destined to appear before the public, or to abide the Herculean
crab-tree of his criticism, Dr. Johnson, has said, in his preface to
Shakspeare, that--"Nothing can please many, and please long, but just
representations of general nature." My representations of nature, whatever
may be said of their _justness_, are not _general_, unless we admit, what
I suspect to be the case, that nature in a village is very much like
nature every where else. It will be observed that all my pictures are from
humble life, and most of my heroines servant maids. Such I would have
them: being fully persuaded that, in no other way would my endeavours,
either to please or to instruct, have an equal chance of success.
The path I have thus taken, from necessity, as well as from choice, is
well understood and approved by hundreds, who are capable of ranging in
the higher walks of literature.--But with due deference to their superior
claim, I confess, that no recompense has been half so grateful or half so
agreeable to me as female approbation. To be readily and generally
understood, to have my simple Tales almost instinctively relished by those
who have so decided an influence over the lives, hearts, and manners of us
all, is the utmost stretch of my ambition.
I here venture, before the public eye, a selection from the various pieces
which have been the source of much pleasure, and the solace of my leisure
hours during the last four years, and since the publication of the "Rural
Tales." Perhaps, in some of them, more of mirth is intermingled than many
who know me would expect, or than the severe will be inclined to approve.
But surely what I can say, or can be expected to say, on subjects of
country life, would gain little by the seriousness of a preacher, or by
exhibiting fallacious representations of what has long been termed _Rural
Innocence_.
The Poem of "Good Tidings" is partially known to the world, but, as it
was originally intended to assume its present appearance and size, I have
gladly availed myself of an endeavour to improve it; and, from its present
extended circulation, I trust it will be new to thousands.
I anticipate some approbation from such readers as have been pleased with
the "Rural Tales;" yet, though I will not falsify my own feelings by
assuming a diffidence which I do not conceive to be either manly or
becoming, the conviction that some reputation is hazarded in "a third
attempt," is impressed deeply on my mind.
With such sentiments, and with a lively sense of the high honour, and a
hope of the bright recompence, of applause from the good, when heightened
by the self-approving voice of my own conscience, I commit the book to its
fate.