THE LISTEN E R. BY CAROLINE FRY,Tenei wa, AUTHOR OF “ THE ASSISTANT OF EDUCATION," &c. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. 1. LONDON: JAMES NISBET, BERNERS STREET. A1 DCCC XXX, PR5534 PREFACE. PHP The office of Listener is not one of very honourable note, especially when determined to tell what he hears : but to deprecate the wrath of my readers against so treacherous an intermeddler with their studies and their sports, I intreat them to consider that good may be wrought of that with which we usually work evil. If I have the misfortune to have no business of my own, and a particular talent for observing other people's—if my sight is so keen, and my hearing so acute, as to perceive what is passing where I am not present, to see through the roof, and to hear through the walls—what can I do but endeavour to make the best use of so dangerous an endowment, and employ it for the benefit of others? I whisper no idle tale in gossips' ears~I write no satires upon innocent mistakes-no dry |