AUTHOR'S NOTE

The paper on Holland which constitutes Part I
of this book has now been expanded to more than
double the proportions of ‘The Land of Pluck” as
printed a few years ago in “St. Nicholas.”

The stories and sketches composing Part II are
here for the first time collected in book form.

The frontispiece ‘ Two Boys of Holland” has been
engraved from a fine Dutch painting, attributed to
Cuyp, and owned by Mr. Charles T. Barney of New
York, who courteously allowed it to be copied for

use in this volume.