4021 COPYRIGHT, 1888, By F. E. CHASE. All rights reserved. Press of Alfred Mudge & Son, Boston, Mass. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE “COME HERE !” From the German, by Miss Genevieve Ward . . . . . . . . 9 A CURE FOR DUDES. John T. Wheelwright, 27 A SEWING - SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL.” John T. Wheelwright . . . . . . . . 61 UNCLE MICAJAH'S TREAT AT SLAMBASKET BEACH. John T. Wheelwright ... 97 Ulf in IRELAND. Charles de Kay ... 139 CLEOPATRA'S DREAM. W. W. Story. . . 144 EUGENE ARAM (condensed). Hood . . . 152 Mother HUBBARD SERMON. Anon. . . . 159 AT MIDNIGHT. Edgar Fawcett . .... 166 BURGLAR Bill. London Punch. .... 168 0191 PREFACE. In compiling this book of readings it has been my aim not only to make it fairly representative of my work as a reader of miscellaneous selections, but also to present to the public a few hitherto unpublished sketches written for my own use. I acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. John T. Wheelwright for his permission to publish “A Sewing School for Scandal,” “ A Cure for Dudes," and “Uncle Micajah's Treat at Slambasket : Beach.” I have publicly read these sketches many hundred times, and I hope other readers will derive as much pleasure and profit from them as I have. My thanks are also given to Miss Genevieve Ward for her trans. lation and adaptation of “Come Here," and to the other American authors who have so kindly given me permission to include their poems in this book. I have purposely refrained from giving specific instructions as to the interpretation of any of the selections herein contained. An instructor in elocution must be present in the flesh, and the indication, by printed symbols, of emphasis, stress, or what-not, is as sane and valuable as the directions given by Mr. Punch in the poem, "Burglar Bill.” I inscribe this book to those "fair eyes and gentle wishes ” in my audiences which have so often “gone with me to my trial.” GEORGE RIDDLE. |