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MONI THE GOAT BOY
AND OTHER STORIES
 | Translated from the German of Johanna Spyri, author of "Heidi" BY EDITH F. KUNZ GINN & COMPANY BOSTON · NEW YORK · CHICAGO · LONDON |  |
Copyright, 1906
By EDITH F. KUNZ
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
614.3
The Athenæum Press
GINN & COMPANY · PROPRIETORS ·
BOSTON · U.S.A.
INTRODUCTION
Outside of the province of the Märchen, whichconstitutes so rich a field in German literature,there is no writer better known or better loved inthe young German-speaking world than JohannaSpyri. Her stories, written "for children andthose who love children," are read and reread assomething that never grows old. The secret ofthis charm lies, above all, in the author's genuinelove of children, as shown in her sympathetic insightinto the joys, the hopes, and the longings ofchildhood, and in her skillful selection of characteristicdetails, which creates an atmosphere of realitythat is rare in books written for children.
Johanna Heusser Spyri was born in the littleSwiss town of Hirzel, canton of Zürich, in 1827,and died in Zürich in 1901. She wrote especiallyfor young people, her writings dealing mostly withSwiss mountain life and portraying the thrifty,industrious nature of the people. The stories aresometimes sad,—for the peasant's life is full ofhardships,—but through them all a fresh mountainbreeze is blowing and a play of sunlight illuminesthe high Alps.