7.

THE LISTENER.

BY

CAROLINE FRY,

AUTHOR OF THE ASSISTANT OF EDUCATION," ETC.

Eleventh Edition.

LONDON:

JAMES NISBET AND CO., BERNERS-STREET.

INTRODUCTION

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 entreat 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 peculiar 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? whisper no idle tale in gossip's ear; I write no satires upon innocent mistakes-no dry lectures upon wellknown evils; but I bear about with me, as it were, a reflecting glass, which I present to the actors in the

scenes before me, that, seeing in it what is, they may haply discover what better might be. I may sometimes listen, and sometimes dream, and sometimes be forced to perform the task without the benefit of either; but, however it be, I hope my young friends will accept my monthly communication, without being too curious as to how I came by my information, granting me always the privilege of hearing and overhearing whatever I think proper.