the following stories have been written by a. l. o. e. since her arrival in india, for the use of native readers. it is deemed most desirable by those who thoroughly know the people, that their minds should be trained in the first principles of morality, as well as of religion, by means of amusing fictions, as they are particularly fond of stories. a. l. o. e. desires, therefore, to devote her pen to the service of the land of her adoption, as there are, comparatively speaking, hardly any writers who enjoy the advantage of having the peculiar habits and failings of hindus, mohammedans, sikhs, and native converts, perpetually brought before their notice, as is, or should be, the case with a member of a missionary band.

if her little “indian stories” be acceptable in her dear native land, she will be thankful; but the object which she chiefly aims at is to write in a way to amuse, and through amusement to instruct, the people of the country of her adoption.

as stories placed in the hands of oriental readers would be comparatively useless unless written in an oriental[6] style, and describing scenes and customs familiar to natives, a. l. o. e. has tried to adopt such a style, and depict such scenes. when she reviewed her work, with the mental question, “what would be thought of this in england?” she felt how fanciful and affected her writings might appear to european readers, and almost gave up all idea of sending them home. and yet, as quaint and often grotesque ornaments brought from the east are not despised in britain because they are unlike our own manufactures, but are sometimes even prized for their very quaintness, it is possible that a few of a. l. o. e.’s oriental stories may not be unacceptable in her native land. they may even serve to awaken a little interest in a vast country like india, where a native church is struggling against surrounding evil influences,—a church as yet small compared with the myriads of its opponents, yet gaining strength year by year. that infant church needs tender care and indulgence from those who have been brought up in a land bathed in the light of christianity,—a land where children are taught almost from the cradle the value of honesty and truth, and where little is known of the fearful difficulties and trials which beset converts to the pure faith of the gospel.