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Preface.

The Author concluded his preface to his last year's Christmas Story—“Shadows on the Snow”—with the words, “May we meet again!” The generous encouragement which that book met with from the press and from the public, has stimulated him to fresh efforts, the result of which is contained in the following pages. The design of the story of “Grif” differs materially from that of “Shadows on the Snow.” It possesses none of the purely imaginative features which characterised the Author's previous Christmas Story; but he hopes that it will not, on that account, be less welcome to the general reader.

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Without further preface, the Author leaves his book in the hands of his readers. In years to come, when the Colonies have a literature of their own—a literature worthy of their material advancement—he will be glad to think that he has taken a humble part in its development.