Indeed , except that there was a necessity for it -- and that the inner life of the legends can not be come at save by making them entirely one 's own property -- there is no defense to be made . Eustace informed me that he had told his stories to the children in various situations -- in the woods , on the shore of the lake , in the dell of Shadow Brook , in the playroom , at Tanglewood fireside , and in a magnificent palace of snow , with ice windows , which he helped his little friends to build . His auditors were even more delighted with the contents of the present volume than with the specimens which have already been given to the world . The classically learned Mr. Pringle , too , had listened to two or three of the tales , and censured them even more bitterly than he did THE THREE GOLDEN APPLES ; so that , what with praise , and what with criticism , Eustace Bright thinks that there is good hope of at least as much success with the public as in the case of the `` WonderBook . '' I made all sorts of inquiries about the children , not doubting that there would be great eagerness to hear of their welfare , among some good little folks who have written to me , to ask for another volume of myths . They are all , I am happy to say -LRB- unless we except Clover -RRB- , in excellent health and spirits . Primrose is now almost a young lady , and , Eustace tells me , is just as saucy as ever . She pretends to consider herself quite beyond the age to be interested by such idle stories as these ; but , for all that , whenever a story is to be told , Primrose never fails to be one of the listeners , and to make fun of it when finished . Periwinkle is very much grown , and is expected to shut up her baby house and throw away her doll in a month or two more . Sweet Fern has learned to read and write , and has put on a jacket and pair of pantaloons -- all of which improvements I am sorry for . Squash Blossom , Blue Eye , Plantain , and Buttercup have had the scarlet fever , but came easily through it . Huckleberry , Milkweed , and Dandelion were attacked with the whooping cough , but bore it bravely , and kept out of doors whenever the sun shone . Cowslip , during the autumn , had either the measles , or some eruption that looked very much like it , but was hardly sick a day . Poor Clover has been a good deal troubled with her second teeth , which have made her meagre in aspect and rather fractious in temper ; nor , even when she smiles , is the matter much mended , since it discloses a gap just within her lips , almost as wide as the barn door . But all this will pass over , and it is predicted that she will turn out a very pretty girl . As for Mr. Bright himself , he is now in his senior year at Williams College , and has a prospect of graduating with some degree of honorable distinction at the next Commencement . In his oration for the bachelor 's degree , he gives me to understand , he will treat of the classical myths , viewed in the aspect of baby stories , and has a great mind to discuss the expediency of using up the whole of ancient history , for the same purpose . I do not know what he means to do with himself after leaving college , but trust that , by dabbling so early with the dangerous and seductive business of authorship , he will not be tempted to become an author by profession . If so I shall be very sorry for the little that I have had to do with the matter , in encouraging these first beginnings . I wish there were any likelihood of my soon seeing Primrose , Periwinkle , Dandelion , Sweet Fern , Clover Plantain , Huckleberry , Milkweed , Cowslip , Buttercup , Blue Eye , and Squash Blossom again .
But as I do not know when I shall re-visit Tanglewood , and as Eustace Bright probably will not ask me to edit a third `` WonderBook , '' the public XXXXX little folks must not expect to hear any more about those dear children from me .
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