learned professions. Of seventy thousand readers which remain, there
are many who might be amused and instructed by books which were not
professedly adapted to the classes that have been enumerated. With this
view the following volumes[1] have been composed. The title of POPULAR
TALES has been chosen, not as a presumptuous and premature claim to
popularity, but from the wish that they may be current beyond circles
which are sometimes exclusively considered as polite.

The art of printing has opened to all classes of people various new
channels of entertainment and information.--Amongst the ancients, wisdom
required austere manners and a length of beard to command attention; but
in our days, instruction, in the dress of innocent amusement, is
not denied admittance amongst the wise and good of all ranks. It is
therefore hoped that a succession of stories, adapted to different ages,
sexes, and situations in life, will not be rejected by the public,
unless they offend against morality, tire by their sameness, or disgust
by their imitation of other writers.

RICHARD LOVELL EDGEWORTH.

[Footnote 1: This Work was originally published in three volumes.]
CONTENTS

LAME JERVAS 1
THE WILL 55
THE LIMERICK GLOVES 101
OUT OF DEBT OUT OF DANGER 129
THE LOTTERY 161
ROSANNA 195
MURAD THE UNLUCKY 245