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FOREWORD.

Eavesdroppers are supposed to be a base and despicable race—but I must confess to having "dropped" an enormous number of "eaves" in the Junior Curlton Club of Karabad.

It was my deceitful practice to occupy the next room to the big club-room at every possible opportunity, to set the communicating-door ajar, and to listen.

To listen to what is surely one of the sweetest, most innocent, most natural, and most instructive of all languages—the unrestrained un-selfconscious chatter of happy children.

"... Ecee quam sempiterna vox juventutis."

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