GOLD AND GLORY

INTRODUCTION.

Only an apology for having written this historical tale.

My private opinion is, that all writers of historical tales shouldreturn me thanks if I apologize for them with myself, all in a body,the truer the tale the ampler being the spirit of the apology.

While I have been writing this tale, sometimes in its most importantor serious portions, I have been startled by detecting my own mouthwidening with an absurd smile, or by hearing a ridiculous chuckleissuing from my own lips, and have suddenly discovered that I was quiteunconsciously repeating to myself the famous old Scotch anecdote of theold woman and the Scotch preacher—"That's good, and that's Robertson;and that's good, and that's Chalmers; ... and that's bad, and that'shimsel'."

Turning the old woman into the more learned among my possible readers,and the Scotch preacher into myself, I read the anecdote—"That's good,and that's Prescott; that's good, and that's Robertson; that's good,and that's guide-book; that's good, and that's Arthur Helps; and that'sbad, and that's hersel'."

I can only wind up my apology by pleading, that at least my badness hasnot gone the length of distorting a single fact, nor of giving to thiswonderful page of history any touch of false colouring.

G. S.

CONTENTS.