
GREAT MYSTERIES - AND LITTLE PLAGUES. - BY JOHN NEAL. - BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS. 1870. - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by ROBERTS BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Dist. of Massachusetts. - STEREOTYPED BY REGAN & LEADBEATER, 55 Water Street.
PREFACE.
CHILDREN—WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR?
GOODY GRACIOUS! - AND THE - FORGET-ME-NOT.
PICKINGS AND STEALINGS.
A lively, tongue‑in‑cheek meditation on childhood opens this modest volume, where the author trades the usual solemn preface for a candid confession of his love‑hate relationship with introductions. He gathers stray observations, humorous sketches, and little “pickings” he’s collected over decades—snippets of playground chatter, quirky anecdotes, and musings on how children unknowingly shape the world around them. The prose swings between witty self‑deprecation and surprisingly deep philosophy, inviting listeners to reconsider the everyday moments that often pass unnoticed.
Interwoven with these reflections are brief, gently crafted fairy‑tale‑like vignettes that aim to entertain without resorting to exaggerated fantasy. Each story feels like a fire‑side chat, offering both amusement and subtle moral insight, while staying grounded in the simple realities of youthful imagination. Listeners will find a charming mix of humor, nostalgia, and thoughtful observation that celebrates the small, often overlooked wonders of childhood.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (216K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from scans of public domain material produced by Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.)
Release date
2011-01-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1793–1876
A restless, fearless voice in early American literature, this writer and critic pushed for a bold national style while taking on subjects from art to politics. His life was as varied as his work, spanning novels, essays, lectures, and reform causes.
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