The tales that go to make up this small volume have alreadyappeared in print: the first part of the Introduction, ‘A LongMain,’ ‘In Memoriov’m,’ in the National Observer; ‘The Protégé,’in the Queen; ‘Quaker John and Yankee Bill,’ ‘T’Owd Squire,’‘An Ammytoor Detective,’ in the Newcastle Courant; ‘Àl’Outrance,’ in the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle; and the remainingsix in the Newcastle Daily Leader. I desire to tender mythanks herewith to the various editors concerned.
It is generally admitted that your Northumbrianpre-eminently possesses thequality which the pious but worldly Scotchmanwas used to pray for, namely, ‘a guidconceit o’ hissel’.’
It is the more unfortunate, therefore, thatof late years a considerable landslip shouldhave taken place in the ground whereon hisreputation rested.
The local poet no longer hymns the‘Champions o’ Tynesid