THE N

PUBLIC LIB.I.1

550389B

ASIDE, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS 1950 L

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by

THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of District of Massachusetts.

GEO. C. RAND & AVERY,
STEREOTYPERS AND PRINTERS.

48X813

PREFACE.

I HAVE seen good books thrown impatiently aside on the charge that they "painted men as they ought to be, not as they are." "Do you think Tim ever did really talk like that?" I have been asked in a contemptuous tone. I had to confess that I really - that it had not occurred to me as

did suppose so,

unnatural.

I have had the fear of some such critical question before my eyes in writing of "Jerry and his Friends," though I have by no means drawn them as faultless characters. But I felt, when I recorded some things, that my critical friend would surely utter a protest. Though I do not know but it might be of service to the world, once in a while, to look away from things as they are, to things as they ought to be, yet I have not had such a service in mind as I wrote. While I have striven to give a few hints - necessarily but hints, and most imperfect at that—of what a Christian life should be, I know that what I have sketched

has had a broad, firm foundation in facts. Rare facts, some reader's experience and observation may force him to conclude, though perhaps not so rare as he supposes,—but still unvarnished facts, not to be gainsayed, nor to be dated back in the days of the apostles or of the "noble army of martyrs."

In other words, could I give to my reader the data from which I have drawn, he would confess that I have sketched truth, not fiction, and perhaps be more ready to rouse himself to seek a higher type of character, as quite within his own reach.

Many young soldiers of the cross have expressed an eager desire to become more familiar with the Word of God. To such, at least, I hope to have done some slight service by a frequent reference to inspired words, teaching of the Christian hope and warfare.

I earnestly hope, though the simple teaching of this little book may come in homely garb, that it may be as one of those cords which our heavenly Father daily letteth down into our hearts to draw them upwards, slight indeed, and easily severed, but which, cherished and intertwined, are powerful to accomplish that whereunto they are sent.