SEVEN LITTLE PEOPLE
AND THEIR FRIENDS

The Seven Little People who have lived with me for the last two or threeyears, and with whom I have been wont to entertain my friends among thechildren, are now about to leave their quiet home and make theirappearance in society. The experience which they severally have enjoyed,whether under the sea or in Percanian palaces, or on desert islands, orupon birth-nights, has perhaps hardly fitted them for associating withthe world's people; and yet, I trust, they will find some glad toreceive them, and hear them tell of the friends whom they found in theirvarious wanderings. It is true that two of these Little People have nofriends at all, but then it was their own choice, for did they notdeliberately cast themselves away, and abjure all society but that oftheir mute companion? It will be found also that in one of these Storiesthere are no Little People, but it is no more than just that the Friendsshould for once be allowed their drama to themselves. All of these Sevenare the children of my brain, and I am somewhat loth to let them go sofar from me; but if they find no hospitable fireside to receive them,they will at least always be welcome at mine.