FOLK-LORE AND LEGENDS

ENGLISH

[ii]

[iii]

FOLK-LORE

AND

LEGENDS

ENGLISH

W. W. GIBBINGS
18 BURY ST., LONDON, W.C.
1890

INTRODUCTORY NOTE.

The old English Folklore Tales are fast dying out.The simplicity of character necessary for the retainingof old memories and beliefs is being lost,more rapidly in England, perhaps, than in any otherpart of the world. Our folk are giving up the oldmyths for new ones. Before remorseless “progress,”and the struggle for existence, the poetry of life isbeing quickly blotted out. In editing this volumeI have endeavoured to select some of the best specimensof our Folklore. With regard to the nurserytales, I have taken pains to give them as they arein the earliest editions I could find. I must say,however, that, while I have taken every care toalter only as much as was absolutely necessary inthese tales, some excision and slight alteration hasat times been required.

C. J. T.