Volume 100 / Act 2 — MR. PUNCH'S PRIZE NOVELS.
Reading edition
No. XVIII.—MARIAN MUFFET: A ROMANCE OF BLACKMORE.
(By R.D. EXMOOR, Author of "Born a Spoon;" "Paddock Rowel;" "Wit and Witty;" "Tips for Marriers;" "Scare a Fawn;" "'Brellas for Rain," &c., &c., &c.)
["This," writes Mr. EXMOOR, "is another of my simple tales. Yet I send it forth into the world thinking that haply there may be some, and they not of the baser sort, who reading therein as the humour takes them, may draw from it nurture for their minds. For truly it is in the nature of fruit-trees, whereof, without undue vaunting, I may claim to know somewhat, that the birds of the air, the tits, the wrens, ay, even unto the saucy little sparrows, whose firm spirit in warfare hath ever been one of my chiefest marvels, should gather in the branches seeking for provender. So in books, and herein too I have some small knowledge, those that are of the ripest sort are ever the first to be devoured. And if the public be pleased, how shall he that made the book feel aught but gratitude. Therefore I let it go, not being blind in truth to the faults thereof, but with humble confidence too in much compensating merit."]