PREFACE

I am about to présent to my schoolgirl friends another story by Jeanne Maîret. I hâve been requested to write a préface. It bas occurred to me that I could not do better than to use the words of the author in the dedication of her work to a little gîrl called Marguerite Simon, granddaughter to the statesman and educator, Jules Simon. She says:

" One day you gave me a great big kîss to thank me for having written La Tâche du Petit Pierre. That kiss went straight from my cheek to my hcart. I thcn and there promised to write another story, not for boys, but for little girls, sweet and dainty like you.

"Between you and me, grown-up peoplc were invented to give pleasure to children, in doing which they find their own happiness. Hère, thcrefore, is the promised story. I give it to you, I dedicate it to you. It is my way of retuming your kiss.

"Jeanne Maîret.'*

I can only add that the author's affectionate f eeling toward the children of France is shared by the translator for ail the school children of America.

Edith Healy