Almost all of the many stories in this book he has himself told at various times before differing audi ences of children, young people, and adults — audiences varying from one or two open-eyed listeners in the home, or the little group in the country Sunday-school or way side schoolhouse, to the large classes and assemblies in high schools, colleges, city libraries, Sunday — schools, churches, and conventions. In many cases children and young people have retold these stories in almost the exact language here given.