原文 (英语)

INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM, A.M. TO THE LOVING READER WISHETH HEALTH AND PROSPERITY. It would ill become me, whose name has been spread abroad by those former collections bearing this title of "Tales of my Landlord," and who have, by the candid voice of a numerous crowd of readers, been taught to think that I merit not the empty fame alone, but also the more substantial rewards, of successful pencraft—it would, I say, ill become me to suffer this my youngest litera